Uncorking a Story: Recent Episodes
Michael Carlon
The Uncorking a Story podcast gives storytellers including authors, filmmakers, comedians, and podcasters a place to talk about their work, but that’s not all.
On Uncorking a Story we dig into what I like to call the stories behind the stories. We want to know what inspires people to create, understand how and when they got bit by the writing bug, and uncover what they’ve learned along the way so that they can pass along inspiring advice to others.
Our conversations are light, fun, and there’s always a healthy dose of laughter in each episode.
We hope that these stories aren’t just entertaining, but that they inspire listeners to become better writers and, hopefully, published authors.
Watch our stories on YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.
All of the books promoted on Uncorking a Story can be viewed and purchased here: https://bookshop.org/shop/UncorkingaStory
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 amazing story.
Meet Craig Johnson Craig Johnson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Longmire mysteries, the basis for the hit Netflix original series Longmire. He is the recipient of the Western Writers of America Spur Award for fiction and the Mountain & Plains Independent Booksellers Association's Reading the West Book Award for fiction. He lives in Ucross, Wyoming, population twenty-six and joined me today on Uncorking a Story to talk about his career and latest book, The Longmire Defense.
Key Takeaways
The importance of perseverance: Throughout the conversation, Craig Johnson emphasizes the need to stay focused and dedicated to one's craft. He shares his own experiences of facing challenges and setbacks but ultimately persevering to achieve success as a bestselling author. Listeners will learn the value of persistence in pursuing their own goals.
The power of raw energy and dissatisfaction: Johnson reflects on the early stages of his career and acknowledges that a certain level of restlessness and dissatisfaction can be a driving force for creative individuals. He encourages listeners to embrace their passion and harness their raw energy to fuel their work.
The significance of preparation: Johnson emphasizes the importance of being prepared for the unknown. He uses the analogy of taking a road trip without a map to highlight the need for writers to have a plan and be ready for any obstacles that may arise. Listeners will understand the value of thorough preparation in their own creative endeavors.
The need to challenge conventions: Johnson encourages writers to break the mold and engage readers by offering something unique and different. He advises against writing something that sounds like what has been read before, urging writers to push boundaries and captivate their audience with fresh ideas and innovative storytelling.
The constant battle against complacency: Johnson warns against becoming a lazy writer and stresses the importance of continuously striving for excellence. He encourages writers to keep their readers engaged by maintaining a high level of imagination, imagery, and creativity in their work. Listeners will be inspired to avoid complacency and consistently challenge themselves to improve their craft.
Buy The Longmire Defense Amazon: https://amzn.to/44e4CH0 Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593297315
Connect With Craig Website: https://www.craigallenjohnson.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialCraigJohnson/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ucrosspop25 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ucrosspop25/ Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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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 fictionalized backstory of her young adulthood. Trust me, this episode is packed with more drama than a reality TV show, so grab your popcorn and get ready to uncork this captivating story with us. Let's dive in, shall we?
Meet Wendy Holden Wendy Holden is a British novelist who has authored ten Sunday Times top ten bestsellers and has sold over three million copies worldwide. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss her latest book, The Princess, which explores the astonishing backstory and young adulthood of the ultimate royal celebrity–Diana, Princess of Wales.
Key Takeaways
Persistence is the name of the game: Wendy's journey into the world of writing wasn't a walk in the park. It took grit, determination, and a whole lot of persistence to break into journalism and eventually become a bestselling novelist. So, my fellow scribes, remember to keep pushing forward, even when the rejection letters start piling up. You got this!
Fictionalize like a boss: Wendy's knack for fictionalizing real events is what sets her novels apart. As writers, we have the power to breathe life into historical figures and create captivating stories around them. So, don't be afraid to put your own spin on reality and let your imagination run wild. Just remember to do your research, because accuracy is key!
Unveil the untold stories: Wendy's exploration of Marian's untold story with the royal family is a prime example of the power of shedding light on lesser-known narratives. As writers, we have the opportunity to give a voice to those who have been overlooked or overshadowed. So, dig deep, uncover those hidden gems, and let their stories shine bright like a literary supernova!
Find your unique angle: Wendy's focused perspective on the early years and events leading to engagement in her novel is a masterclass in finding your niche. As writers, it's crucial to approach a subject from a fresh and unique angle. So, don't be afraid to zig when others zag, and bring your own flavor to the literary feast. Trust me, readers will devour it!
Embrace your roots: Wendy's childhood memories of British television shows and music highlight the importance of embracing your roots. Our upbringing and experiences shape our writing style and voice. So, whether you grew up binging on British sitcoms or jamming to pop songs, let those influences infuse your work. Embrace your quirks, your humor, and your unique perspective. It's what makes you, well, you!
Buy The Princess Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Qz2XbH Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593437308
Connect With Wendy Website: https://www.wendyholden.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wendy_Holden Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyholdenauthor/?hl=en Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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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 to speak with Colin Dickey, who recently wrote a book on the history of conspiracy theories, I jumped at the chance.
Meet Colin Dickey Colin is a writer, speaker, and academic, who has made a career out of collecting unusual objects and hidden histories all over the country. He’s the author of multiple books, including Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places and The Unidentified: Mythical Monsters, Alien Encounters, and Our Obsession with the Unexplained. He Joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about his latest book, Under the Eye of Power: How Fear of Secret Societies Shapes American Democracy.
Key Takeaways
The historical roots and implications of conspiracy theories: Colin delves into the origins of conspiracy theories, exploring how they have been used to suppress social change and perpetuate anti-Semitism.
The persistent influence of conspiracy theories and social media: Colin discusses how social media platforms and algorithms have contributed to the spread and popularity of conspiracy theories, emphasizing that they are not going away anytime soon.
The emotional appeal and function of conspiracy theories: Colin explores the psychological aspects of conspiracy theories, highlighting their ability to provide reassurance and make sense of a chaotic world.
Skepticism towards UFO coverage on TV channels: Colin expresses his skepticism towards the way UFO encounters are portrayed in television specials, encouraging listeners to critically analyze the information presented.
Addressing conspiracy theories on an interpersonal level: Colin suggests that combating conspiracy theories requires understanding the underlying motivations and addressing them individually, rather than solely relying on media platforms to solve the issue.
Buy Under the Eye of Power: How Fear of Secret Societies Shapes American Democracy
Amazon: https://amzn.to/44Zmq9A Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593299456
Connect With Colin Website: https://colindickey.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colindickey/ Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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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 Alison Gaylin Alison is the Edgar and Shamus award-winning author of 12 books and many short stories. A USA Today and international bestseller, she joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her latest novel, Robert B. Parker’s Bad Influence.
Key Takeaways
The importance of perseverance: Alison Gaylin's journey to becoming a published author showcases the significance of perseverance in the face of discouragement. Despite not receiving encouragement from her high school English teacher, she pursued her passion for writing and eventually achieved her goal.
The importance of curiosity in storytelling: Gaylin emphasizes the role of curiosity in crafting engaging stories. She believes that a good story starts with the author's curiosity, even in seemingly mundane subjects. This curiosity drives the narrative and captivates readers.
The evolution of writing themes: Gaylin discusses how her writing themes have changed over time, influenced by her own life experiences. She emphasizes the importance of tapping into personal experiences to create relatable and authentic stories that resonate with readers.
The power of human connection in storytelling: Gaylin believes that a good story hinges on the ability to create a connection between the reader and the author. She highlights the role of curiosity in storytelling and how it drives the author's exploration of seemingly mundane topics, ultimately leading to engaging narratives.
The significance of practice and growth: Gaylin emphasizes that writing is a skill that improves with practice and feedback. She encourages aspiring writers to dedicate time to honing their craft through consistent writing and reading.
Buy Robert B. Parker’s Bad Influence Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Yf7MZv Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593540527
Connect With Alison Website: https://www.alisongaylin.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alison.gaylin/#!/profile.php?id=666353590 Twitter: https://twitter.com/alisongaylin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alison.gaylin/ Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 Valerie Constantine, who are today’s guests on Uncorking a Story.
Meet Liv Constantine Liv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne and Valerie Constantine who are Wall St. Journal and USA Today international bestselling authors with over one million copies sold worldwide. Their books have been praised by USA Today, The Sunday Times, The Washington Post, People Magazine, and Good Morning America, among many others. They joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss their career and latest novel, The Senator's Wife.
Key Takeaways
The secrets to executing a great twist: The authors discuss the significance of a satisfying twist in a story and share advice on how to execute it effectively. Listeners will gain insights into creating compelling plot twists that captivate readers.
Collaboration in writing: Liv Constantine talks about the benefits of collaborating with a writing partner. They explain how working together enriches the story and characters, providing a different perspective and allowing for bouncing ideas off each other.
The magic of writing and the Greek connection: The authors reflect on the unique experience of writing and how certain books hold a special place in readers' hearts. They discuss their Greek heritage and how it influenced their writing, including the use of Greek names and themes in their work.
Divvying up responsibilities in co-writing: Liv Constantine shares their process of dividing responsibilities when co-writing. They explain how they split characters and chapters, while also ensuring that both authors are fully invested in every character. Listeners will gain insights into effective collaboration techniques and finding a workflow that works for them.
Editing and revising: The authors emphasize the importance of editing and revising in the writing process. They discuss their thorough editing process, which involves multiple rounds of edits and exchanging chapters for feedback. Listeners will learn the value of editing and refining their work before submitting it for publication.
Buy The Senator’s Wife Amazon: https://amzn.to/3YsenQJ Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593599891
Connect With Liv Website: https://livconstantine.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LivConstantineAuthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/LivConstantine2 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livconstantine2/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtDqlH8AExvMr-eMNIjLBMQ
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 most buzzed about book of the spring/summer isn’t any different—she spent decades in publishing learning the craft by working with some of the world’s most renowned authors before becoming an author herself.
Meet Jenny Jackson Jenny is a Vice President and Executive Editor at Alfred A. Knopf and joined me today to talk about her debut novel, Pineapple Street.
Key Topics
The power of turning personal experiences into stories: Jenny Jackson discusses how writers can embrace life lessons and use them as inspiration for their stories.
The importance of perseverance in writing: Jenny shares advice from a bestselling author who emphasizes the need to keep going even when you get stuck. She encourages writers not to give up and to pick up their work again, even if it takes years to complete.
Navigating personal boundaries in fiction writing: Jenny discusses the challenge of balancing personal experiences and boundaries when writing fiction. She shares insights into how writers can draw inspiration from their own lives while still respecting their own privacy and the privacy of others.
The significance of archiving and valuing your own work: Jenny reflects on the importance of keeping track of your writing and having respect for your own work.
The writer’s revenge: Jenny shares an anecdote of how writers can put people who have treated you poorly into your books without them ever knowing.
Buy Pineapple Street Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Kggp0p Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593490693
Connect With Jenny Website: Facebook: Twitter: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennyjacksonpineapple/
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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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 in my late teens and early twenties as acting on them might have helped me get off my butt and explore my authentic self instead of making decisions that pleased other people, but left me wanting more. Still, it’s never too late to find yourself and try new things so, if writing is your thing, listen up because Peter has more wisdom to share.
Meet Peter Maeck Peter Maeck is a novelist, poet, playwright, and photographer who has served as a US State Department American Cultural Specialist in Tanzania and Morocco. His award-winning photographs are in US and international galleries. He was named one of the "Hot 100 Photographers of 2021" by the Duncan Miller Gallery in Los Angeles and joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about his debut novel, Zänker.
Key Takeaways 1. The power of personal experiences: Peter Meck emphasizes the importance of drawing inspiration from personal experiences when crafting stories. He shares how childhood memories, passions, and even coincidences have influenced his writing, showcasing how our own unique journeys can shape compelling narratives. 2. Overcoming creative obstacles: Peter discusses how he initially struggled with the daunting task of facing a blank page. However, he shares a valuable lesson from his teacher, who encouraged him to find inspiration in everyday objects or images. This teaches listeners that creativity can be sparked by the simplest things, and that perseverance is key in overcoming creative obstacles. 3. The significance of character development: Peter highlights the importance of developing well-rounded and authentic characters in storytelling. He explains how investing time in understanding and fleshing out characters can bring depth and relatability to their stories, ultimately resonating with readers or audiences. 4. Collaboration and friendship: Peter's journey in the theater world showcases the power of collaboration and the impact of strong friendships. He shares how a joint audition with a friend led to exciting opportunities and how transitioning from playwriting to communal novel writing opened up new creative avenues. This emphasizes the value of supportive relationships and the potential for collaborative storytelling. 5. Writing as therapy: Peter discusses how writing has served as a form of therapy and self-reflection throughout his life. He shares how it has helped him process emotions, gain clarity, and find solace. This insight inspires listeners to view storytelling not only as a means of entertainment but also as a powerful tool for personal growth and healing.
Buy Zänker Amazon:https://amzn.to/3K5ZxZQ Bookshop.org: https://amzn.to/3K5ZxZQ
Connect With Peter Website: http://www.petermaeck.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petermaeck/ EMail: pmaeck@gmail.com
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG 3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 hometown, sharing his childhood home with his wife and sister, where his latest novel, Hope, started to take shape.
Meet Andrew Ridker Andrew’s debut novel, The Altruists, was a New York Times Editors’ Choice, a Paris Review Staff Pick, and a People Book of the Week. He is the editor of Privacy Policy: The Anthology of Surveillance Poetics and his writing has appeared in The New York Times, Esquire, Le Monde, and Bookforum, among other publications. He is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about his latest book, HOPE, an intimate portrait of the undoing of a seemingly-perfect family in an era of waning American optimism
Key Takeaways 1. The importance of perseverance: Listeners will learn that Andrew Ridker encourages aspiring writers to keep going despite self-doubt and the challenges of the writing career. His own experiences with self-doubt and the need to overcome obstacles will inspire listeners to persevere in their own creative pursuits. 2. The power of connection: Ridker emphasizes the value of connecting with readers and engaging in correspondence with them. By sharing his website as a means of contact, he demonstrates the importance of building relationships with readers and fostering a sense of community around his work. 3. The impact of personal experiences on storytelling: Ridker's novel, "Hope," explores the undoing of a seemingly perfect family in an era of waning American optimism. Listeners will learn how Ridker draws from his own experiences and observations to create intimate and relatable narratives that resonate with readers. 4. Balancing artistic passion with practicality: Ridker discusses the pressure he feels to choose a practical career path versus pursuing his artistic passions. Listeners will gain insight into the challenges faced by artists who strive to balance their desire to create meaningful art with the need to make a living. 5. The role of humor in art: Ridker reflects on the importance of humor in his writing and the influence of Jewish humor on his work. Listeners will learn how humor can be a powerful tool for engaging readers and exploring complex themes, as well as how personal experiences and cultural influences shape an author's artistic voice.
Buy Hope Amazon:https://amzn.to/3XPiyWk Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593493335
Connect With Andrew Website: https://www.andrewridker.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andrew.ridker
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 really don’t know who we are. Today’s guest, Melissa Giberson, discusses her experiences coming out as a lesbian well into her 40s after being married and raising her children. I found myself captivated and moved by her story, especially how she describes her ex husband’s reaction to her big news. But that is her story to share.
Meet Melissa Giberson Melissa is an author and occupational therapist. As a storyteller, she captures moments by taking pictures and writing. Her essays have appeared online and in print in numerous publications, and she received an Honorable Mention in the Memoirs/Personal Essays category of the 91st Annual Writer's Digest Writing Competition. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss her memoir, Late Bloomer: Finding My Authentic Self at Midlife
Key Takeaways 1. The power of vulnerability: Melissa's decision to reveal her true self and embrace her authentic identity serves as a powerful reminder that being vulnerable can lead to personal growth and stronger relationships. 2. Overcoming fear and embracing change: Melissa's story highlights the courage it takes to face fears and make difficult choices in order to live a more fulfilling life. Her journey serves as an inspiration for listeners who may be facing similar challenges. 3. The healing power of storytelling: Through her writing, Melissa found solace and healing during difficult times. Listeners will learn how storytelling can be a therapeutic outlet for complex emotions and a means of connecting with others. 4. The importance of family bonds: Melissa's strong relationship with her children and their father showcases the significance of open communication, acceptance, and support within a family. Listeners will be inspired to nurture and strengthen their own family connections. 5. Embracing personal growth at any age: Melissa's journey of self-discovery began later in life, proving that it's never too late to embark on a path of personal growth and reflection. Listeners will be encouraged to embrace change and pursue their own journeys of self-discovery, regardless of their age or circumstances.
Buy Late Bloomer Amazon: https://amzn.to/3NMvzLL Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781647425197
Connect With Melissa Website: https://melissagiberson.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076525767684 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissagiberson031/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/LateBloomer823 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-giberson-3a1238261/ Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 our writing stronger. This is just one of the lessons I learned from today’s guest, Jennifer Cody Epstein.
Meet Jennifer Cody EpsteinJennifer is the internationally bestselling author of The Painter from Shanghai, Wunderland, and The Gods of Heavenly Punishment, which won the Asian/Pacific American Honor Award for Literature for Adult Fiction. She has written for The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, Self, Mademoiselle, and others. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss her latest novel, The Mad Woman of Paris.
Key Takeaways
The importance of feedback and confidence in writing: Jennifer discusses how receiving honest feedback and having confidence in your writing are crucial for growth and improvement as a writer. She emphasizes the value of having a supportive writing community that can provide constructive criticism and encouragement.
The collaborative aspect of writing: Epstein highlights the collaborative nature of writing and how it can enhance creativity and the quality of the work. She shares her experiences of collaborating with other writers and the benefits of bouncing ideas off each other, brainstorming, and offering different perspectives.
Generosity and empathy in the writing community: Jennifer emphasizes the generosity and empathy that exists within the writing community. She discusses how writers often support and mentor each other, even if they may be considered competitors. This sense of empathy stems from the understanding of the challenges and difficulties that come with being a writer.
Exploring historical fiction themes: Epstein delves into her latest novel, "The Mad Woman of Paris," and discusses the exploration of themes such as hypnosis and hysteria in historical fiction. She sheds light on the neglected well-being of female hysteria ward patients and the critical examination of ignored and fetishized women in history.
Overcoming doubts and the importance of writing: Epstein shares her insights on the importance of writing and the need to overcome self-doubt. She encourages aspiring writers to have faith in their abilities and to turn to friends and the writing community for support. She emphasizes the perseverance required to continue writing, even during challenging times.
Buy The Mad Woman of Paris Amazon:https://amzn.to/3rxrFyY Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593158005
Connect With Jennifer Website: https://jennifercodyepstein.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.c.epstein Twitter: https://twitter.com/JennCodyEpstein Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennepstein/
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
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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, he has been on set with Kermit the Frog (and Miss Piggy), devoured breakfast with zombies on The Walking Dead, and sat on the Iron Throne on the Dublin set of Game of Thrones. Josh lives in London with his cat Penny and dreams of one day convincing Sigourney Weaver to yell “Goddammit!” at him. He joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about his latest book, Burn the Negative.
Key Topics 00:00:00 Introducing Josh Winning: Author Of The Critically Acclaimed The Shadow Glass 00:04:42 First Movie Experiences 00:07:29 Josh’s latest book: Burn The Negative 00:09:36 Exploring The Dark: The Fascination with Cursed Movies 00:14:36 The Benefits of a Collective Approach To Writing 00:18:05 Eighties Fantasy Films: The Gateway to Darkness 00:21:26 Jennifer Lawrence and the Potential Cast of Thundercats
Buy Burn the Negative Amazon: https://amzn.to/44j3WRl Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593544662
Connect With Josh Website: https://joshuawinning.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoshWinning Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoshWinningAuthor Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joshuawinning/
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 McManus, used “It’s like the breakfast club, but with murder,” as her elevator pitch for One of Us is Lying and that’s when I knew I had to have her on the show.
Meet Karen McManus Karen M. McManus is a #1 New York Times and international bestselling author of young adult thrillers. Her books include the One of Us Is Lying series, which has been turned into a television show on Peacock, as well as the standalone novels Two Can Keep a Secret, The Cousins, You’ll Be the Death of Me, and Nothing More to Tell. Karen's critically acclaimed, award-winning work has been translated into more than forty-two languages. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her career and latest book, One of us is Back.
Key Topics 00:00:00 Introducing Karen McManus 00:01:15 Karen's Journey as an Author Begins: From a Young Reader to a Frustrated Writer 00:06:32 The Importance of Persistence and Growth in Writing 00:09:26 Why Elevator Pitches are so Important 00:11:37 The Unfinished Plot: A Cut Plot Thread that Inspired a New Story 00:24:11 Finding Fulfillment in Unpaid Passion and Its Transition Into a Rewarding Career
Buy One of Us is Back Amazon: https://amzn.to/3r9KM1C Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593485019
Connect With Karen Website: https://www.karenmcmanus.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/writerkmc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writerkmc/
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
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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 TikTok. She has a great story and I’m so glad she let me uncork it with her. Meet Whitney Hanson Whitney is a poet and through her vulnerability and authenticity, she has connected with thousands of readers and adamantly believes that poetry is not a dead language; rather it is the key to unlocking true vulnerability which leads to deeper connection with one another. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her latest collection, Home.
Key Topics 00:00:00 Introducing Whitney Hanson 00:02:32 Discovering Writing as A Personal Outlet 00:07:29 The Challenge of Finding an Agent 00:09:49 Rejection's Impact on Confidence and Creativity 00:12:58 Book Resonates with a Wide Range of Grief and Loss Experiences 00:15:23 The Danger and Importance of Vulnerability in Writing 00:18:53 Writing and Poetry Connecting People and Combating Loneliness 00:20:48 Unrealistic Expectations on Social Media 00:22:12 The Impact of Social Media on Book Deals and Personal Challenges 00:26:07 The Origins of the Book Cover Art
Buy Home Amazon:https://amzn.to/3JICDaL Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780143138006
Connect With Whitney Website: https://www.whitneyhansonpoetry.com/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@whitneyhansonpoetry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whitneyhansonpoetry/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/whitneyhansonpoetry/ Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
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Meet Lynne Hugo 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, Where the Trail Grows Faint, which won the Riverteeth Creative Nonfiction Book Prize. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss her career and her eleventh novel, The Language of Kin.
Key Topics
How Lynne knew she wanted to be a writer since the 4th grade
The importance of encouragement in becoming a writer
Why Lynne decided not to pursue a career as an author until she was older
The linkage between writing and therapy
The inspiration behind her latest book, The Language of Kin
The importance of persistence for writers
Buy The Language of Kin Amazon:https://amzn.to/3CUPJhs Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781943075775
Connect With Lynne Hugo Website: https://www.lynnehugo.com/ Email: lynne@lynnehugo.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063442255413 Twitter: https://twitter.com/LynneHugo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnehugoauthor/
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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:
Success from Anywhere: Create Your Own Future of Work From the Inside Out
Working from Home: Making the New Normal Work for You
Listen Up! How to Tune in to Customers and Turn Down the Noise
Success With Less
Key Topics: 00:00:00 Introducing Karen Mangia 00:04:07 The Power of Curiosity 00:07:33 Exploring the Boundaries: Unveiling the Nuances of Discovery and Market Research 00:09:09 Unleashing Scrappiness: Market Research for Better Concepts 00:12:16 From Customer Engagement to Author: How Storytelling Transformed her Career 00:16:29 Unmasking Toxic Cultures and Embracing Change 00:20:14 Success from the Inside Out: One Choice at a Time, Even During a Pandemic! 00:24:41 The Evolution of The Facts of Life: From Eight Girls to Edna's Edibles 00:28:04 Embracing the Process: Why Writing Can't Be Rushed and Falling in Love with Your Own Words
Buy Karen’s Books Amazon:https://amzn.to/3PG2kga Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780985414870
Connect With Karen Website: https://www.readsuccessfromanywhere.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuk4mH8c0ddKfWD_en1SZ-Q Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenMangiaAuthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/karenmangia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenmangia/
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Meet Hannah MaryMcKinnon 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 Uncorking a Story to chat about her career and latest novel, The Revenge List.
Key Topics
How the failure of her business led to an unexpected career as an author
How Hannah approaches writing both Rom Coms and Thrillers
The secrets to keeping readers engaged
The importance of joining a writing community
Listen to Mike and Hannah craft a ridiculous story in real time while playing The Alphabet Game
Buy The Revenge List Amazon:https://amzn.to/3N4IHeK Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781685132019
Connect With Hannah Mary McKinnon Website: https://hannahmarymckinnon.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hannahmarymckinnon Twitter: https://twitter.com/hannahmmckinnon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahmarymckinnon Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15144570.Hannah_Mary_McKinnon
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Buy The Revenge List Amazon:https://amzn.to/3N4IHeK Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781685132019
Connect With Hannah Mary McKinnon Website: https://hannahmarymckinnon.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hannahmarymckinnon Twitter: https://twitter.com/hannahmmckinnon Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahmarymckinnon Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15144570.Hannah_Mary_McKinnon
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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, The Girl from Home, A Matter of Will, and The Perfect Marriage. He joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about his latest novel, Love Betrayal Murder.
Key Topics 00:00:00 Introducing Adam Mitzner 00:02:58 From Legal Briefs to Bestsellers: The Rollercoaster Ride of His First Book 00:08:15 From Discouragement to Growth: Turning 'Failures' into Successes 00:12:26 From Courtroom to Bestseller: A Trial Lawyer's Journey into Captivating Characters 00:14:35 The Illusion of Instant Justice: How Pop Culture Distorts Our Perception of the Legal System 00:17:43 From Robert Culp to William Shatner: Navigating Pop Culture and Musical Envy in the Seventies 00:21:54 Connect with Adam Mitzner: Website, Social Media, and More!
Buy Love Betrayal Murder Amazon:https://amzn.to/3P0OTHa Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798212179867
Connect With Adam Website: https://adammitzner.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adammitznerbooks/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/adammitzner Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4654375.Adam_Mitzner?from_search=true&search_version=service
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 the recent past. When given the opportunity to interview Dr. Gary Simonds, a neurosurgeon who is an expert on Alzheimer's Disease and dementia, I jumped at the chance.
Meet Dr. Gary Simonds Dr. Simonds is a neurosurgeon who has treated tens of thousands of patients with devastating illnesses. He is a professor at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and the Virginia Tech School of Neuroscience. He has published three nonfiction books on burnout and psychological distress in healthcare providers and routinely writes about, and gives talks on, neuroscience, neurosurgery, medical socioeconomics, medical humanism, medical ethics, and burnout. He joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about his debut novel, Death’s Pale Flag.
Key Topics 00:00:00 Introducing Neurosurgeon Dr. Gary Simonds. 00:02:23 Retiring from Neurosurgery: Unleashing Untold Stories and Exploring Burnout 00:04:50 The Hidden Truth About Burnout: Why We're All on a Spectrum 00:08:19 Finding Inspiration 00:10:48 Drills and Chills: Exploring the Terrifying Intersection of Supernatural and Reality in Death's Pale Flag 00:12:45 From a 260,000-word Epic to a Streamlined Masterpiece: How Editors Shaped the Novel 00:15:24 A Journey of Positivity and Curiosity: Unveiling the Intriguing Origins of 'Death's Pale Flag' 00:18:16 The Clash of Science and Spirituality: Can They Coexist or Are They Natural Adversaries? 00:26:46 The Mysterious Process of Brain Shutdown: Unveiling the Chilling Reality 00:32:16 Musical Time Travel: Exploring the Timeless Songs That Defined a Generation
Buy Death’s Pale Flag Amazon: https://amzn.to/3P7EjhT Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798886330045
Connect With Dr. Gary Simonds Website: https://garyrsimonds.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garyrsimonds/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garyrsimonds Twitter: https://twitter.com/garyrsimonds TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@garyrsimonds
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 to leave her job as a civil litigator in Portland, Oregon as the lifestyle associated with that career triggered her seizures. As such, she had to close her law practice and bid farewell to that chapter of her life for good but, for Sara, writing was the next frontier. She has contributed to several publications including: Huffington Post, Flash Fiction Magazine, In Parentheses Literary Journal, Five Minute Lit, and Tiny Seed Literary Journal literary journals. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her debut novel, UNCONTROLLABLE, an inspirational story of a woman whose life is derailed by something out of her control, and how she chooses to face life on its terms, abandoning what she once dreamed she could be.
Key Topics 00:00:00 About Sarah Staggs 00:05:20 From Legal Briefs to Fiction: A Journey of Relearning the Art of Writing 00:08:50 Unlocking the Power of Collaboration: How a Group of Writers Achieved Publishing Success 00:14:59 Blurring the Lines: Exploring the Authenticity of Auto Fiction and the Journey of a Writer 00:16:29 Nostalgic TV Delights: Exploring Sarah's Favorite Childhood Shows, from Care Bears to Thundercats 00:20:16 Discovering Hidden Potential: A Journey of Self-Discovery Through Writing 00:21:35 Empowering Writers: The Impact of Encouragement and Validation in the Epilepsy Community
Buy Uncontrollable Amazon:https://amzn.to/3P2fNhT Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781685132019
Connect With Sara Website: https://www.sarastaggswrites.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaraStaggs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarastaggswrites/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-staggs-28b82925a/
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 in behavioral problems that caused her adoptive family to shatter, that that is where our story begins.
Meet Jenell Jones Jenell is an author and early education entrepreneur currently operating multiple early learning centers which specialize in providing high quality learning experiences to children who experience trauma in low-income areas. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss her memoir Shattered.
Key Topics 00:00:00 Introducing Jenell Jones 00:05:45 The Urgent Need for Reform in the US Foster and Adoptive Systems: A Story of Two Children with Different Paths 00:07:36 Unraveling the Unknown: Navigating the Journey of Adoption and Uncovering the Backstory 00:09:54 Missed Opportunities: The Devastating Impact of Withholding Information in Adoption and Foster Care 00:14:05 The Barbaric Reality of Juvenile Detention for Homeless Foster Children: A Call for Change 00:15:46 Why I Wrote My First Book: Shedding Light on the Dark Realities of the US Foster Care System 00:18:00 Behind Every Successful First-Time Author: The Importance of Building a Writing Team 00:21:39 From Trauma to Triumph: How Writing Shattered Helped Jenell Jones Overcome Self-Doubt and Shed Light on the Broken System 00:22:49 Discovering My Strength: How My Troubled Past Helped Me Show Myself Grace 00:25:48 Get Your Copy of Shattered Today: A Memoir of Adoption and Foster Care, Plus Exclusive Resources on Janelle Jones' Website 00:27:00 From MTV to Video Jukebox: How Music Videos Shaped My High School Years
Buy Shattered Amazon:https://amzn.to/3oCQ58U Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798823000314
Connect With Jenell Website: https://www.jenelljones.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090561567415 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenellmjones
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 parenting forum influenced the story behind her latest book, No One Needs to Know.
Meet Lindsay Cameron Lindsay Cameron worked as a corporate lawyer for many years in Vancouver and New York City before leaving the law behind to write books. Her first novel, Biglaw, was published in 2015. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to chat about her latest book, No One Needs to Know.
Key Topics 00:00:00 Introducing Lindsay Cameron 00:04:07 From Corporate Law to Fiction Writing: How Lindsay Cameron Had to Unlearn Legal Writing to Tell a Compelling Story 00:06:54 The Secret Life of a Lawyer Turned Novelist: Why I Kept My Writing Dreams Hidden from Everyone 00:08:48 From Diapers to Deadline: How Three Kids Inspired Lindsay Cameron's Writing Journey 00:11:00 Lindsay Cameron on her latest book, 'No One Needs to Know' 00:12:38 New Mom Discovers Shocking Truths on Anonymous Parenting Forum 00:15:32 Behind the Scenes of Big Law: Lindsay Cameron's Authentic Take on Law Firm Culture 00:19:04 Why 'Cheers' and 'Family Ties' Still Hold Up 00:23:06 From Lawyer to Writer: Navigating Identity Shifts and Self-Motivation
Buy No One Needs to Know Amazon:https://amzn.to/3MkLXDt Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593159101
Connect With Lindsay Website: https://www.lindsayjcameron.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lindsayjcameron Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaycameronauthor/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063130395560
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 Reese's Book Club pick 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 bestselling debut, THE LOST NIGHT, was optioned for TV development by Mila Kunis. She joins me today to talk about her latest novel, THE SPARE ROOM.
Key Topics 00:00:00 Introducing Andrea Bartz 00:02:46 The Rise and Fall of Magazines: An Insider's Perspective 00:05:30 Author Andrea Bartz on the Importance of Sensitivity Readers 00:08:57 Andrea's Journey of Self-Discovery Through Fiction 00:10:29 Unpacking Complex Emotions Through Writing 00:13:04 Why Writing is the Ultimate Tool for Processing Emotions and Thoughts 00:23:45 From Wrestling with Plot to Bestseller: How Andrea Bartz Found Her Writing Process 00:26:27 The True Definition of a Writer: A Conversation on Control and Collaboration in the Writing Process 00:28:44 Choosing the Right Agent: How Andrea Bartz Found the Perfect Match for Her Thriller Writing Career
Buy The Spare Room Amazon:https://amzn.to/413yLHf Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781984820495
Connect With Andrea Website: https://www.andreabartz.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/andibartz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andibartz/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/andreabartzauthor/ TicTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andibartz?lang=en&is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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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 offered the opportunity to interview author Charlie Jenkins about his book American Wrestling 1989, I leapt at the chance like Jimmy Snooka off the top rope.
Meet Charlie Jenkins Charlie has worked as the Creative Director of a film and television industry and as an assistant to the writer’s room of the Amazon Original Series Lost in Oz. He has led or worked on digital campaigns for The CW, NBC, Hulu and Blizzard Entertainment properties. He joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss his debut novel American Wrestling: 1989, a heartfelt and funny novel set behind the scenes of the pro wrestling industry’s golden era, for which he drew on his experiences working for an independent promotion.
Key Topics 00:00:00 Introducing Charlie Jenkins 00:04:09 How The Undertaker Captivated a Young Wrestling Fan 00:06:50 Behind the Scenes of Wrestling: A Firsthand Account of the Minor Leagues 00:08:42 Why I Chose Fandom Over Corporate: A Creative's Journey in the Entertainment Industry 00:11:40 Behind the Scenes of a $20 Million Fantasy Franchise: The Rise and Fall of a Creative Director's Dream 00:13:06 From Screenplay to Novel: The Genesis of American Wrestling in 1989 00:16:04 From Passion to Page: A Journey of Wrestling and Writing 00:20:19 Lessons Learned: How My First Book Taught Me to Be a Better Writer and Entrepreneur 00:22:40 From Novel to Netflix: The Potential for a Wrestling Series Adaptation 00:26:32 The Bully Hero: Why Hulk Hogan Wasn't Always a Fan Favorite 00:28:34 The Dark Side of Wrestling: Drug Abuse, Death, and Unpleasant Fantasies 00:30:38 From Metal to Wrestling: Exploring the Best Wrestling Songs of All Time
Buy American Wrestling: 1989 Amazon:https://amzn.to/3p3NDbB Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781647424367
Connect With Charlie Website: https://www.charlie-jenkins.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/CharlieGJenkins
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
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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 successful children’s book author searching to teach children about compassion for animals through her writing, that’s where the similarities may end. Meet Karen Winnick: Karen is the author of more than a dozen picture books for children, most of which she illustrated. An animal lover, she serves on several boards devoted to the well-being of animals. She joins me today to talk about her life and latest book, Can You Spot the Leopard?: An African Safari, which was inspired by a real Safari Karen went on before the pandemic. Key Topics:
How a friend’s eccentric pair of shoes inspired her first attempt at writing an animated children’s book entitled Happy Soles.
Why she wants to teach children compassion for animals through her picture books.
The importance of her work giving children a voice.
How she stayed connected to her passion of reading to children throughout the pandemic, and the new opportunities it brought her.
What we can learn from disabled animals.
Buy Can You Spot the Leopard?: An African Safari: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3U0quRM Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781626349759
Connect with Karen: Website: https://karenbwinnick.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenbwinnick/ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/171244.Karen_B_Winnick
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
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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. Dr. Richard Gallagher, though, might argue about the last item on my list as he’s spent the past quarter of a century investigating cases of demonic possession from a medical expert’s point of view—but that is his story to share! Meet Richard Gallagher, MD: A board-certified psychiatrist and highly experienced clinician and teacher, Dr. Gallagher is a professor of psychiatry at NY Medical College and a psychoanalyst on the faculty of Columbia University. In addition, he is the longest-standing member of the International Association of Exorcists since the early 1990's, serving for a time as a scientific adviser on its governing board. He has devoted many years to distinguishing the rare cases of overt demonic attacks from the much more common conditions of medical and psychiatric disorders. He joined me on Uncorking a Story about his career and book Demonic Foes: My Twenty-Five Years as a Psychiatrist Investigating Possessions, Diabolic Attacks, and the Paranormal. Key Topics:
How he got invited to investigate suspected cases of demonic possession.
The numerous criteria he uses to differentiate between mental illnesses such as dissociative disorder and demonic possession.
Why staying involved in the work relates to why he became a physician in the first place.
Being approached by A-List Hollywood filmmakers to make a movie inspired by his book and experience.
What Hollywood gets right about demonic possession and what it gets wrong.
Buy Demonic Foes: My Twenty-Five Years as a Psychiatrist Investigating Possessions, Diabolic Attacks, and the Paranormal Amazon: https://amzn.to/3UhemM8 Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780062876478
Connect with Dr. Richard Gallagher: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18483110.Richard_Gallagher
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
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My guest today, Nathanael Garret 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 whereas yours truly watched Monty Python’s The Meaning of Life. It’s no surprise, then, that Nate grew up to write a book on finding purpose and meaning in life, and I’m on the other side of the microphone asking him questions. Meet Nathanael Garrett Novosel: Nathanael is a professional researcher and advisor with over 20 years of experience studying individual and group behavior. Over that time, he has researched psychology, evolutionary biology, organizational best practices, leadership decision making, business, technology, finance, and philosophy to understand how the world as we know it works and why. He spent much of his career using the insights from this research to help the world’s leading executives solve their most pressing organizational challenges and create their strategic plans. Noticing the common drivers of success in all areas of life, he decided to devote his research, problem-solving, and advisory skills to helping people live the best lives possible. He joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss his new book The Meaning of Life: A guide to finding your life's purpose.
Key Topics:
The impact his father leaving the home when he was 5 years old had on his choice to write this book.
Why growth is so important in finding meaning and purpose in life.
Identifying the influencers on our emotions and how we can change them.
The importance of taking action.
Why having faith, not necessarily religious faith, can lead us to a more successful life.
Buy The Meaning of Life: A guide to finding your life's purpose: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3sPhdjC Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781948220019
Connect with Nathanael: Website: https://yourmeaninginlife.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themeaningoflifebook/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lifethebook Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LifetheBook/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMDu5IsEGvKXLZefdTBbmaA
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
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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 everything I did. Today’s guest, Brian O’Hare can relate. Imagine having a larger than life character as a father—someone who casts so wide a shadow, you might lose yourself in it. Well, that’s where Brian’s story begins! Meet Brian O’Hare: Brian is a graduate of the US Naval Academy and former US Marine Corps officer. His storytelling career began in a Baltimore bar, the legendary Club Charles, where director John Waters cast him to appear in his film Cry Baby. Currently, Brian an award-winning writer and filmmaker living in Los Angeles. His work has appeared in War, Literature and the Arts; Santa Fe Writers Project; Hobart; and other journals, and he has been nominated for two Pushcart Prizes. He was named a Writing Fellow at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and recently served as Visiting Writer at CUNY/Kingsborough. He joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss his career and new book, Surrender. Key Topics:
Feeling as if we have to constantly search for the approval of a parent.
The danger of denying parts of self to appease another person.
How writing Surrender was Brian’s way of breaking the cycle of constantly searching for approval in his life for his own benefit and for the benefit of his children.
Why, in Brian’s case, the notion of surrender ironically equates to freedom.
Buy Surrender: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3WjrodF Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780815611509
Connect with Brian: Website: https://brianohare.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bohare13x/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/bohare13x
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
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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 physicist—and there was nothing theoretical about this conversation! Meet Dilani Kahawala: Dilani earned her Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Harvard and began her career by working on extra dimensions. She figured out pretty quickly that there weren’t many people who wanted to read her work as a theoretical physicist, so she began exploring new dimensions in fantasy fiction. Many of the characters in her stories are inspired by the various cultures she grew up in. Born in Sri Lanka, she has lived in New Zealand and Australia and now lives in the United States and joins me today to talk about her debut novel, Blood Moon Prophecy. Key Topics:
Why Dilani was attracted to studying theoretical physics and why she ultimately left the field.
How growing up on three continents has impacted her writing.
The backstory to her debut novel, Blood Moon Prophecy.
What Dilani has learned about character development.
Dilani’s point of view on whether time travel is possible.
Buy Blood Moon Prophecy Amazon: https://amzn.to/3FywhK8 Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798986443706
Connect with Dilani Website: https://dilaniwrites.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dilaniwrites/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dilaniwrites/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/DilaniWrites
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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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, at that point, writing becomes more of a collaborative process. Well, today’s guests do things a little bit differently—Alli Frank and Asha Youmans met while teaching at the same school. One day, Alli approached Asha with the idea to co-write a novel and the rest is history. They joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about their career and latest novel Never Meant to Meet You. Meet Alli and Asha: Alli Frank has worked in education for more than twenty years, from boisterous public high schools to small, progressive private schools. A graduate of Cornell and Stanford University, she lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two daughters. Asha Youmans spent two decades teaching elementary school students. A graduate of University of California, Berkeley, she lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. Key Topics:
How working at a small, progressive private school influenced Alli and Asha’s first, and subsequent, novels.
What it is like to write collaboratively.
How humor can be a vehicle for bigger life lessons.
Why we can learn important lessons through fiction as well as non fiction.
What it means to write from the human perspective.
Buy Never Meant to Meet You Amazon: https://amzn.to/3UdqHAI Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781542034104
Connect with Ali and Asha Website:https://alliandasha.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AlliandAsha/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alliandasha/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/alliandasha
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 something as random as someone coming up to you and saying something off beat? Probably not, right? Well, my guest today not only remembered a random (and creepy) comment in crisp detail, it inspired her to craft a novel about it! That totally didn’t happen to me. Meet Lygia Day Peñaflor: Lygia Day Peñaflor is the author of ALL OF THIS IS TRUE, and UNSCRIPTED JOSS BYRD. She also teaches young Hollywood stars on television and movie sets. Her students have included cast members of Gossip Girl, Boardwalk Empire, Spielberg's West Side Story, and others. She recently joined me to talk about her career and latest novel CREEP: A LOVE STORY.
Key Topics:
How she found her passion for writing and storytelling at a young age.
The impact she’s had on the lives of her students.
What it’s like teaching child actors on set.
Her path to publishing and the ups and downs along the way.
The real life inspiration behind her latest novel Creep: A Love Story.
Buy Creep: A Love Story Amazon: https://amzn.to/3SUDKa9 Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780358692928
Connect with Lygia Website: https://www.lygiadaypenaflor.com/ Instagram :https://www.instagram.com/lygiaday/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lygiaday
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get yours. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 depression is real, and many mothers don’t realize they are living with it. This leads to feelings of shame, guilt, and oftentimes resentment. Now you may be asking yourself, “Mike is not a mother, why is he talking about postpartum depression?” Well, my guest today, Suzanne Yatim Aslam, was living with postpartum depression and turned to writing to help manage her way through it. This ultimately led to a book called Post Pardon Me, which she came on Uncorking a Story to chat about. Meet Suzanne Yatim Aslam: Suzanne is a former actor and Miss Arab USA turned writer. Her personal experience with postpartum depression and anxiety left her feeling alone and confused. In her book Post Pardon Me, she addresses the dark thoughts that so many mothers have but are too scared to say out loud. She's thrilled to get this book into the hands of mothers who may be struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety. Key Topics:
How Suzanne’s mental health changed after becoming a mother.
How she turned to writing and visualization to help process and manage her postpartum depression.
How telling her story not only helped her address her feelings, but how her story has been therapeutic to other women who saw themselves on Suzanne’s pages.
Why Suzanne felt as if she had imposter syndrome when going through the publishing process.
Why she’d tell her younger self to not take things so seriously and to play more.
Buy Post Pardon Me: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EQk4jF
Connect with Suzanne Website: https://www.suzanneyatimaslam.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzyatimaslam/
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get yours. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 wait is over with Rachel Harrison’s Such Sharp Teeth! Meet Rachel Harrison: Rachel Harrison took the horror genre by storm with debut novel The Return, which was praised by readers and reviewers and called marvelous by the New York Times. Then, in her highly anticipated sophomore novel, Cackle, she delivered a clever and splendidly witchy look at women’s relationships and self-empowerment that was hailed a must-read by USA Today, Elle, Bustle, Buzzfeed and more. She’s back with a new novel to get you into the Halloween spirit. SUCH SHARP TEETH is a wild, witty and razor-sharp horror novel about a young woman in need of a transformation who finds herself in touch with the animal inside. Key Topics:
Why authors shouldn’t move the goalposts when celebrating their successes.
Why Rachel chose to write in the horror genre.
Rachel’s belief that monsters help create tension easier than other antagonists.
How she used Twitter successfully to find an agent.
Words of advice she’d offer to aspiring authors.
Buy Such Sharp Teeth Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Voa1rU Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593545829
Connect with Rachel Harrison Website: https://www.rachel-harrison.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelharrisonsghost/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/rachfacelogic
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get yours. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 being very curious about them. I was reminded of this while interviewing the celestial Barbara Linn Probst. Meet Barbara Linn Probst: Barbara Linn Probst is an award-winning author of contemporary women’s fiction living. Her acclaimed novels Queen of the Owls (2020) and The Sound Between the Notes (2021) were gold and silver medalists for prestigious national awards, including the Sarton and Nautilus Book Awards. The Sound Between the Notes was also selected by Kirkus Reviews as one of the Best Indie Books of 2021. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss her careers and latest novel, The Color of Ice. Key Topics:
The important role the subconscious mind plays in sparking all of Barbra’s story ideas.
Barbara’s technique of imagining having a conversation with her protagonists as a way of getting to know them (and fueling her creativity).
Barbara’s seemingly contradictory advice to forget everything you know about writing and to trust that you’ve learned some things about what makes a clean sentence when making the leap from writing non-fiction to writing fiction.
Her belief that it will all work out in the end.
Buy The Color of Ice Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EgH0rT Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781647422592
Connect with Barbara Linn Probst Website: https://www.barbaralinnprobst.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011410511548 Instagram :https://www.instagram.com/barbara_linn_probst/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqT4f95REYKgYJPFzpU_84g
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 admit. She recently joined me to talk about her latest novel, Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting. Meet Clare Pooley: Clare spent twenty years in the world of advertising before becoming a full-time writer. Her memoir - The Sober Diaries - has helped thousands of people worldwide to quit drinking. Her first novel - The Authenticity Project - was a BBC Radio 2 Bookclub pick, a New York Times Bestseller and the winner of the RNA debut novel award. Her latest book is Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting. Key Topics:
How Clare went from advertising executive to blogger to published author.
How writing a memoir helped Clare find her voice for writing fiction.
Clare’s process of visualizing scenes before writing them.
Her belief that movement unsticks creativity.
Why she’d tell her younger self to be less afraid of making mistakes and failing.
“I spent most of my life being fearful of making mistakes and failing. Part of the reason I didn’t write a novel until I was fifty was because I didn’t think I’d be able to do it or, if I did it, that no one would read it.”
Buy Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting Amazon: https://amzn.to/3SZrZ1L Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781984878649
Connect with Clare Website: www.clarepooley.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clare_pooley/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/cpooleywriter
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 been unresponsive for some time. Undeterred, I climbed up the stairs and sat by her bedside. As if on cue, her eyes opened and said, “My Michael, I’ve been waiting for you.” I won’t mention what else was said between us, but after our chat, she closed her eyes again and never woke up. She slipped away later that night. I share this personal story because today’s guest, Jeannée Sacken, shared a similar experience with her father—but you will have to listen in for that beautiful story. Meet Jeannée Sacken: A former English professor at Rochester Institute of Technology, Jeannée is now a photojournalist who travels the world documenting the lives of women and children. She also photographs wildlife and is deeply committed to the conservation of endangered species. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her career and latest book, Double Exposure.
Key Topics:
How complex stories made for Barbie and Ken and putting on plays in neighborhood backyards planted the seed that one day Jeannée might be a storyteller.
How encouragement from a strict teacher blew some wind in Jeannée’s sails and encouraged her to write more.
How her father’s dying wish for her to not die with regrets changed her life forever.
How a Twilight Zone experience with a Seer in Zimbabwe put her on the path to pursuing a career as a photojournalist.
Why she’d tell her younger self to experience it all and to not be afraid.
“I was sitting in the ICU at my father's bedside and it was clear he was dying. He took my hand and he said, “Don't die with regrets.” And that was the last thing he said because he went into a coma after that. And it took me a while to figure out exactly what that meant.” — Jeannée Sacken
Buy: Double Exposure Amazon: https://amzn.to/3e5v2Xd Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781645383703
Connect with Jeannée Website: https://jeanneesacken.com/home/index.html Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjeanneesacken/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeannee.sacken
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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, though, I really started to dig what I was hearing. I can honestly say I love that album even more today than I did back then. What’s the connection between U2’s Mysterious Ways and today’s guest Kamila Shamsie, well, you will just have to listen to find out! Meet Kamila Shamsie: Kamila Shamsie is the author of several novels, including Home Fire, which won the Women’s Prize for Fiction, was longlisted for the Booker Prize, and was a finalist for the International Dublin Literary Award, among other honors. She recently joined me to talk about her career and latest novel, Best of Friends. Key Topics:
How she pursued writing as a career even though it took five books before she could earn a living by being an author.
Why she was inspired to write about childhood friendships in her latest novel, Best of Friends.
How the America she envisioned while growing up in Pakistan did not live up to the expectations she had watching pirated videotapes as a child.
Why would she tell her younger self to take more risks.
“Having complete control over what you are writing also means having complete responsibility. And that can be terrifying.” — Kamila Shamise
Buy Best of Friends Amazon: https://amzn.to/3SFpTE4 Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593421826
Connect with Kamila Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kshamsie/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kamilashamsie
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 did something with the same intentions, but went about it in a completely different manner—and I was delighted to uncork his story. Meet Robert Kerbeck: Robert Kerbeck is the founder of the Malibu Writers Circle and a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee. His essays and short stories have been featured in numerous magazines and literary journals, including Narratively, Los Angeles Magazine, and Shondaland. One of his stories was adapted into the award-winning film, Reconnected, which has appeared at film festivals worldwide. A lifetime member of The Actors Studio, Robert has worked extensively in theater, film, and television, appearing in lead roles in major shows and earning several awards. He joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about his career and memoir RU$E: Lying the American Dream from Hollywood to Wall Street, which provides a look into his career as a secret corporate spy. Key Topics:
How an English professor at Drexel set him on the path of becoming a writer and actor (and encouraged him to switch schools to UPenn).
His decision to leave his father’s successful automotive business and pursue a career as an actor.
Why and how he turned to corporate spying to make ends meet while pursuing his dream of becoming an actor.
How he started his own successful firm and how he wound up being targeted by the government.
What it was like to work with OJ Simpson and know that Al Pacino was in the audience watching him on stage.
How a suicide note led to this memoir, which is now being developed as a TV series. How his artistic ambitions came full circle.
Buy Ruse: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3eQUTCD Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593545829
Connect with Robert: Website: https://www.robertkerbeck.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robertkerbeck/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/robertkerbeck/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008371966485
Connect with Mike: Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get yours. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 during our conversation, but make no mistake, this really isn’t a conversation about the writing process. It’s a conversation about her path to working towards racial equity through her writing. I really enjoyed this conversation and learned so much from Ali, and I hope you do too. Meet Ali Michael, Ph.D.: Ali Michael works with schools and organizations across the country to help make research on race, Whiteness, and education more accessible and relevant to educators. She is the author of Raising Race Questions: Whiteness, Inquiry and Education, which won the 2017 Society of Professors of Education Outstanding Book Award. She recently joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her latest book, Our Problem, Our Path: Collective Antiracism for White People, which she co authored with Elenora Bartoli. Key Topics:
Why, even though she has multiple books published, Ali does not identify as an author.
How Ali’s experience in an African American Literature class helped her talk about race without freezing up.
Her path to working towards racial equity.
How we can have better, more productive conversations about race without “knocking people out.”
Why sometimes the waiting is the hardest part of the writing process.
“I guess, because right now I'm just sitting around waiting for people to read what I wrote and I'm not writing anything right now, so I feel very adrift. I'm just sitting around waiting to hear the response. I don't feel like a writer right now, I just feel like I'm just in this writer's purgatory waiting for feedback.” — Ali Michael, Ph.D.
Buy: Our Problem, Our Path Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xJ2Obk Bookshop.org:https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781071851326 Corwin.com: https://us.corwin.com/en-us/nam/our-problem-our-path/book278155
Connect with Ali Website: https://www.alimichael.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ali.michael.3726 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alimichaelphd/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/alimichaelphd?lang=en
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 and what it was like not being able to speak the language. She told me how the Italians would mime out the things they needed at the grocery store and my favorite story was how she once saw someone clucking like a chicken in an attempt to locate eggs. Why take this walk down memory lane? Well, my guest today, Ellen Nichols, shared a memory of how, as a little girl, she used to sneak downstairs after her bedtime and hide behind the couch listening to her grandparents tell stories. She was captivated by these tales of old, and that is really where her story as an author began; as a little girl hiding behind a sofa. Meet Ellen Nichols: Ellen grew up in the American Deep South, but with a spirit of adventure, she went up to Toronto, Canada, for graduate school, and stayed fifty years. She has been writing for a living for years, but always for someone else. Her grant proposals, direct-marketing letters, and especially her thank-you letters are legendary and her persuasive writing skills raised millions of dollars. Those Canadians loved her tales about her Southern life so much, she decided to write them down and they became her memoir, Remember Whose Little Girl You Are, which she joined me on Uncorking a Story to Discuss. Key Topics:
Ellen’s motivation for writing her memoir.
How she moved around every three or four years as her father was a Methodist minister.
How moving around so much helped Ellen develop stronger communication skills.
The significance behind the title of her book.
The story behind the Teddy Bear in the frame of her video and the significance of the man who gave it to her.
I wanted people to know that not everybody who was white and living in the Deep South in the 40s, and 50s, and 60s, were all racist. Some of us were quite liberal and I wanted people to know that because I don't think history made a big deal about that. And that was one of the reasons I wanted to publish it.” — Ellen Nichols.
Buy: Remember Whose Little Girl You Are Amazon:https://amzn.to/3qnnT79 Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781646635146
Connect with Ellen Website: https://ellennichols.com
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 one of the three pillars of a brand storytelling framework, my heart started to race a bit more! If you are seeking a successful career in marketing, and don’t smell what Sarah is cooking, you need to listen to this episode! Meet Sarah Panus: Sarah has over 20 years’ experience helping billion-dollar brands attract upper-funnel leads that drive lower-funnel results through storytelling. Sarah is a content strategist, podcast host of Marketing With Empathy®, and owner of Kindred Speak®. She’s on a mission to humanize brands, help content marketers reduce overwhelm/confusion, and raise money to fund child trafficking rescue missions. Listeners to Uncorking a Story can enjoy a freebie from Sarah: 3 Ways to Improve Your Content Strategy This Year https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6161f93cc71e8685f183c63e
Key Topics:
How her passion for storytelling began while growing up as a small town Minnesota farm girl.
How a side hustle turned into self-employment after being furloughed during the pandemic.
How she builds her client base through personal connections and LinkedIn.
Her focus on upper funnel content and why storytelling is so critical to brand building.
Why every brand storytelling framework needs three things; focus, empathy, and data.
Dove Beauty Self-Esteem Project brand storytelling AI example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sF3iRZtkyAQ
Sleep Number Sleep30 storytelling site example: www.sleep30.com
Connect with Sarah Website: https://www.kindredspeak.com/ Marketing with Empathy Podcast: https://marketingpodcasts.net/show/marketing-with-empathy/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamsarahpanus/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahpanus/ Sked.Link: https://sked.link/iamsarahpanus
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 road. Fortunately, we were only in Darien, Connecticut and a block away from a gas station so disaster was averted. I bring this up for two reasons; 1. Today’s guest, Kelley Holland, had a similar experience while driving to her first job and 2. I simply can’t resist taking a jab at my brother. Meet Kelley Holland: Kelley is the founder and CEO of Own Your Destiny, which provides financial coaching and empowerment programs to help women gain the confidence and knowledge they need to achieve well-being and live life on their terms. She blends her knowledge of finance with communications expertise developed over two decades as an award-winning business and personal finance journalist with The New York Times, BusinessWeek, and CNBC. She recently joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss her book, You Are Worthy: Change Your Money Mindset, Build Your Wealth, and Fund Your Future. Key Topics:
How the one-two punch of having a mother who worked for decades on women’s empowerment and a father who was an English professor put her on the path of becoming a coach and writer focused on helping women gain financial freedom.
How her own experience literally running on fumes while driving to her first job taught her a valuable life lesson.
How Kelley helps women change their mindset around money and build the skills to take charge of their financial life.
Why Kelley doesn’t refer to mistakes with regards to poor financial decisions and prefers the term hurdles.
Why it is important for her to donate a portion of her book sales to CAMFED, the campaign for female education.
“You can do this. You know more than you think you do. You deserve this, and it’s within your reach. Trust yourself, take your time, and you can get to a better place.” — Kelley Holland
Buy You are Worthy Amazon:https://amzn.to/3Mn4qhj Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781647422394
Connect with Kelley Website: https://ownyourdestinycoaching.com/ Instagram: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OYDFinanceCoach Twitter: https://twitter.com/OYDFinanceCoach LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/own-your-destiny/
Learn more about CAMFED, the Campaign for Female Education: https://camfed.org/us/
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 heavy that I’d fall asleep with a book over my nose (usually it was Harold and the Purple Crayon). Today’s guest, Maya Smart, reminded me of the importance of reading to your kids when they are young (maybe it’s my fault that I have three avid readers!). Meet Maya Smart: Maya is a writer, parent educator, and literacy advocate who has served on the boards of numerous library and literacy organizations. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her book, Reading for Our Lives: A Literacy Action Plan from Birth to Six, in which she provides a clear, step-by-step guide to helping your child thrive as a reader and a learner. Key Topics:
The iconic literary figure she was named after.
The importance of encouragement when learning to read.
Her path from investment banking to writing.
How her daughter inspired her to write Reading for our Lives to fill a gap Maya identified in reading development.
Why it is so important to join writing groups for both personal development and networking purposes.
Buy Reading for Our Lives Amazon: https://amzn.to/3cfWgK7 Bookshop.org:https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593332177
Connect with Maya Website: https://mayasmart.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mayasmarty/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mayasmart Twitter: https://twitter.com/MayaSmart
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 meet solely by their writing, but there’s a difference between having a day job and treating writing as a hobby vs. treating writing as a passion. It’s only after we really treat it as a passion that we have the possibility of finding any success as writers. Meet Joy Jordan Lake: Joy’s varied professional experience has included working as a college professor, author, journalist, waitress, director of a program for homeless families, university chaplain, horseback riding instructor, freelance photographer, and the job title that remains her personal favorite--head sailing instructor. She recently joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her latest novel, A Bend of Light. Key Topics:
How her love of reading fueled her career as a writer.
Why elementary school teachers are the ones who “rock the world.”
How investing in herself, by going to a writer’s conference when she had very little money in the bank, was a turning point in Joy Jordan’s life.
The importance of vulnerability in the writing process.
The importance of persistence and having thick skin while going through the agent querying process.
“I would tell myself to not build so many safety nets under myself. I had an embarrassing list of long jobs…part of that was because I was scared to fail as a writer. I wish I’d taken writing more seriously earlier.” — Joy Jordan Lake
Buy A Bend of Light Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AFU33P Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781542037907
Connect with Joy Website: https://www.joyjordanlake.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyjordanlake_books/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joyjordanlakeauthor/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/joyjordanlake
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get yours. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 about a nightclub in New York City. I was unaware of the Zanzibar Revolution and the dangerous living conditions that caused Abdulrazak to flee his home country and seek asylum in the UK. Meet Abdulrazak Gurnah: Abdulrazak Gurnah is the 2021 winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. Among his many novels are Paradise, By the Sea, and Desertion. Born and raised in Zanzibar, he is Professor Emeritus of English and Postcolonial Literatures at the University of Kent. He recently joined me on Uncorking a Story me today to talk about his new novel, Afterlives. Key Topics:
His decision to leave Zanzibar in the 1960s to seek asylum in the UK.
How he was treated living as a refugee in the UK.
Why, after studying engineering, Abdulrazak decided to start writing.
How he weaves his life’s experiences into the story lines of his novels.
Important words of advice he would share with aspiring authors looking to write their first book.
“What I write about is what I see. And if what I see is unjust, then I will write about it.” — Abdulrazak Gurnah. Buy After Lives Amazon: https://amzn.to/3KjQRy6 Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593541883
Connect with Abdulrazak Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/44089.Abdulrazak_Gurnah Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/addulrazak_gurnah/
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get yours. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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? Well, today’s Guest, Steve Borys, has been struggling with these questions all his life and graciously let me uncork his story. Meet Steve Borys: Steve Grew up in Sayville, NY on the east end of Long Island. He Attended Fordham University, where he earned a BA in History and an MAT in Social Studies. At Fordham, Steve played football and was a team captain, 2 time all patriot league and an honorable mention All American. After college, Steve has been teaching and coaching for the last 25 years and just wrote his first book called, ‘How to beat Stalin, Hitler, and the Southern State Parkway’. Key Topics:
The important role that joining a football team played in Steve’s life.
How Steve got through the darkest times of his life.
The impact losing his mother and sister had on his life.
Why Steve believes that the answers to most of our problems are love and community.
Why he believes that his story can help people who are struggling through these chaotic times.
Buy How to Beat Stalin, Hilter and the Southern State Parkway Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Ql2C9s Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781662445316 Connect with Steve e-mail: mailto:steve.borys@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steveborys/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steve.borys YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCERbpmmk0_4qPTbZ3YT3mhA
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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, “Oh really. Well, put those minor pentatonic scales to use and come up with something different.” I simply couldn’t do it. Why am I sharing this embarrassing story? Well, my guest today, Rhys Bowen, tells a similar tale, but with a more favorable outcome. While working in Drama for the BBC, she decided that she didn’t like the ending to a play they were running so decided to write her own. With the confidence that only a twenty-two year old amateur playwright could have, she walked down the hall and put it on the head of Drama’s desk. A week later she got the call that the BBC was going to do it. Rhys has been a working writer ever since. She recently joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss her career and latest novel, Where the Sky Begins. Meet Rhys Bowen Rhys is the New York Times bestselling author of two historical mystery series as well as the #1Kindle bestseller In Farleigh Field and the international bestseller The Tuscan Child. Key Topics
The importance of letting your brain rest and percolate in between projects.
Why World War Two provides fertile ground for storytelling.
The importance of play to feed one’s inner child.
How writing was therapy for Rhys during the early days of the pandemic.
Rhys' creative trick for preventing writer’s block.
Buy Where the Sky Begins Amazon: https://amzn.to/3zlnSF3 Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781542028868
Connect with Rhys Website: https://rhysbowen.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorrhysbowen/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RhysBowenAuthor Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rhysbowen
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 wrote Silence of the Lambs. The former was an amazing teacher who brought the subject to life in such a way that I was captivated to read everything I could on the topic. Which led me to the latter— Harris’ Silence of the Lambs led me to his first book featuring Hannibal Lecter, The Red Dragon, and I thought working as an FBI profiler would be a lot more interesting than sitting at a desk all day. Spoiler alert, I never became a psychologist or a profiler, but that’s a story for another time. I mention all of this because my guest today, Alicia Thompson, and I share a love of psychology, reading and writing, and I had a lot of fun uncorking her story. Meet Alicia Thompson: Alicia is a writer who wrote her debut novel between pulling all-nighters on her senior thesis. Her short stories have appeared in Girls’ Life magazine and, as a teen, she appeared in an episode of 48 hours in the audience of a local murder trial, where she broke the fourth wall by looking directly into the camera. She recently joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her latest book, Love in the Time of Serial Killers. Key Topics:
What it’s like having success at such a young age.
How to maintain your confidence and persevere while waiting 10 years between books.
Transitioning from Young Adult fiction to Adult Fiction.
The importance of having a writer community.
Buy Love in the Time of Serial Killers: Amazon: https://amzn.to/3vw0DH6 Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593438657 Connect with Alicia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aliciabooks/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/aliciabooks
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 Halo show, in which the host, Fr. Dave Dwyer, took calls from the audience who posed questions of faith. The host had a very relaxed and very humorous approach to answering all of the questions posed to him and I thought to myself, “There’s no way this guy is a priest.” I became a loyal listener, dare I say a fan, and made it a personal mission to meet the one and only Fr. Dave Dwyer, who had such an interesting backstory that, after coming up with the idea for Uncorking a Story, I asked him to be my first guest. Meet Fr. Dave Dwyer, CSP: Fr. Dave Dwyer, CSP, is Executive Director of Busted Halo, a media ministry of the Paulist Fathers that helps Catholics share their faith joyfully. He’s also the award-winning host of The Busted Halo Show weeknights on SiriusXM radio. He is a popular speaker, mission preacher, and television commentator, having appeared on CNN, Fox News, EWTN, The History Channel, NBC, Entertainment Tonight, and The Daily Show . The Catholic Media Association bestowed on Father Dave its inaugural Gabriel Award for Personal Achievement in 2021. He has worked in campus ministry at the Universities of Colorado and Texas, and has developed ministry programs for the Military Archdiocese. Prior to ordination, he directed television for MTV and Comedy Central. He recently joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss his latest book, Mass Class: Your Questions Answered. Key Topics:
The origin story of his book, Mass Class: Your Questions Answered.
How answering questions posed to him by college students as a young seminarian inspired Fr. Dave to embrace answering questions of faith.
What Fr. Dave does when someone stumps him with a question.
Why writing the book was not the fun part of the publishing process for Fr. Dave.
How the book is not just a resource for Catholics, but anyone interested in learning more about the Catholic faith.
Buy Mass Class: Your Questions Answered Paulist Press: https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/0666-0/mass-class.aspx Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CtMDl4
Connect with Fr. Dave Website: https://bustedhalo.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fatherdavedwyer/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/fatherdavedwyer Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fatherdave YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/bustedhalovideo
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 catching a wave, and I’m totally stealing that metaphor. Meet Lauren Forsythe: By day, Lauren is a content marketing manager, finding ways to get writing into people’s eagerly waiting eye-holes, and by night…well it’s the same thing, but with more wine. Lauren writes books about strong women, men with pretty eyelashes, and friends that save your life. She recently joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss her career and latest book, the Fixer Upper. Key Topics:
The path to publishing her debut novel, including collaborating with her agent.
How the imbalance of labor she noticed between men and women working from home during the pandemic inspired the ideas behind her debut.
How being silly and joyful are great ways of feeding one’s inner child and (fueling one’s creativity).
Why we should stop wasting time on fear and doubt when it comes to writing and simply write what we love to read regardless of what other people tell us.
Buy The Fixer Upper Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Qa5wgV Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593422519
Connect with Lauren Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenforsythe_author/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurenf_writer
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 interviewed David Pepper Meet David Pepper: David Pepper is the author of The Voter File, The People's House, and The Wingman, all of which feature Jack Sharpe. He earned his B.A. from Yale University and his J.D. from Yale Law School. He has clerked for a judge on the United States Court of Appeals, served in local elected office in Ohio, worked for major law firms, and taught election and voting rights law. Prior to law school, Pepper worked in St. Petersburg, Russia, for the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. In 2015, he was unanimously elected Chairman of the Democratic Party of Ohio. He recently joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss his latest novel, A Simple Plan. Key Topics:
The similarities between being an author and being a lawyer.
How writing an authentic story that gets momentum can help overcome the challenges posed by not having an agent or a publisher.
How a harsh rejection from an agent led to David’s writing what became the 2016 sleeper thriller of the year, per the Wall Street Journal.
How timing is everything when it comes to publishing.
The importance of maintaining your connections throughout life.
“Even before I had an agent and even before I had a publisher, thousands of people had read The People’s House and got a lot out of it. And that itself was great for me.” — David Pepper
Buy: A Simple Choice Amazon: https://amzn.to/3DuXqfK Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593419731
Connect with David Website: https://davidpepper.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidpepperOH/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_davidpepper/ Twitter:https://twitter.com/DavidPepper
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 went off to college and it took me some time to identify with other parts of my identity that I had suppressed or even forgotten. Today’s guest, Giovanni Ruscitti, only discovered a significant part of his identity later in adulthood upon visiting his father’s ancestral town in Italy. His father fled Italy in 1943 after the Nazis came in and, after surviving in the mountains for a while, managed to immigrate to the United States where he worked a series of odd jobs while beginning and raising a family. Meet Giovanni Ruscitti: Giovanni is a first generation Italian-American who grew up in Frederick, Colorado, a small coal mining town that his parents and grandparents immigrated to in the 1950s and early 1960s. He is a nationally recognized attorney, arbitrator, and mediator, as well as a frequent speaker at national legal events and was named as one of the most influential business leaders in Colorado, and has served on numerous non-profit boards. Giovanni joined me today to talk about his memoir, Cobblestones, Conversations, and Corks: A Son's Discovery of His Italian Heritage. Topics Covered:
Learning empathy for one’s parents after seeing firsthand the circumstances in which they were raised.
How outrage towards the death of George Floyd and the spotlight on the Black Lives Matter movement encouraged Giovanni to tell his father’s story.
The Importance of not judging others so quickly and recognizing that everyone has a backstory of which we are unaware.
Why Giovanni believes that forgiveness is freedom and how forgiving his father led to having a closer personal relationship with him.
“Forgiveness is freedom. Most people are doing the best they can under the circumstances with the tools that they have. I learned that from my father and was able to forgive the things that put us apart for a period of time. I’ve learned you have to try to understand why someone is doing what they're doing and who they are. Don’t be so quick to judge.” — Giovanni Ruscitti Buy: Cobblestones, Conversations, and Corks: A Son's Discovery of His Italian Heritage Amazon: https://amzn.to/3d1X9q0
Connect with Giovanni LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giovanni-ruscitti-5070835/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gio_1966/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1120740796 Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/rusc66
Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 about her latest novel, The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. In this episode, Mike and Sangu discuss:
Sangu’s lifelong love of writing and her path to being a novelist.
The timing of writing a book and getting it published.
The importance of persistence and encouragement.
Embracing the lessons from children’s books and movies as an adult.
Key Takeaways:
You don’t need to have a degree to be a writer.
Books are written and reflect who you, as an author, are at that point in time.
Encouragement and critique do not need to come from someone in the industry, they could be from a trusted friend or family member.
Let your imposter syndrome work for you. You have made it to where you are by pushing through, and you will make it to where you are going by pushing through.
“No matter how blank the page is, it never stays blank.” – Sangu Mandanna Buy The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches Amazon: https://amzn.to/3OO5dXZ Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593439357
Connect with Sangu Mandanna: Website: https://sangumandanna.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SanguMandanna Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sangumandanna/ Connect with Mike Carlon: Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/ If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
About Allison Gilbert: 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 of a timeless maverick, capturing what it means to take a gamble on self-fulfillment and find freedom along the way. In this episode, Mike and Allison discuss: Allison’s journey from journalist to book author (including her near death on September 11th). Writing as catharsis and therapy. How our education system keeps us from learning about the impact of women and where we can learn more. Stories to bring you into another family and world. Key Takeaways: The practical skills that you learn in other careers can often be applied to your writing. Writing can be a form of therapy, for authors of both fiction and non-fiction. It is a way of getting lost in a world that you have control over. When you downplay the role of women in the creation of your country and current culture, then we learn fewer histories. When you get stuck on a project, do more work. Having a good outline to start can help, but if you don’t know what to write, you just need more information. "If you are so passionate about your topic, do not give up. Ultimately, it just took one editor to say ‘yes.’" – Allison Gilbert Buy Listen, World!: How the Intrepid Elsie Robinson Became America’s Most-Read Woman Amazon: https://amzn.to/3P6xklR Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781541674356 Connect with Allison Website: https://www.allisongilbert.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/agilbertwriter/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agilbertwriter/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/agilbertwriter LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agilbertwriter/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNUhHAyA9RBL3sav6W2qo8Q Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/ If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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, but what I appreciated more than his talent was his calm and serene demeanor which complimented the naturescapes he was fond of painting. One phrase he used often when he may have made unanticipated brush strokes was “Happy little accidents.” And a happy little accident is where author Katherine Linn Caire’s story begins. About Katherine Linn Caire Kathe was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. She attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where she swam for the Mustangs and received her BBA (Finance), with Minors in Art History and Economics. Although her career has spanned the gamut from commercial banking lender to advertising account executive, from calligrapher/artist to tennis official, she has found her true delight in putting pen to paper. She recently joined me to discuss her memoir Accidental Sisters: The Story of My 52-Year Wait to Meet My Biological Sibling. The happy little accident that set the events of this memoir into motion was when her birth mother’s full name was not redacted in a file including her birth parents’ health history. Curiosity got the better of her and Kathe did some Googling to try and find her birth mother, but kept hitting wall after wall. One year, for Mother’s Day, her daughters gave her a birth mother search as a gift. While it turned out her birth mother had died years earlier, it did reveal something Kathe didn’t anticipate—she had a sister. In our conversation, Kathe and I discuss: Her belief that divine intervention was at play, bringing her together with her sister. Why the best gifts are the ones you never anticipated asking for. What it was like talking and meeting her sister for the first time. Why your book is never 95% done when you hand it over to your editor. The importance of collaborating with your content editor to make your book as good as it can be. “Don't be so sure that you know what you want until you're faced with the situation. I think for many years, I was very sure that having my mom and my dad, my brother, and my grandmother and my grandfather, was all I needed. And that there wasn't really anything more to my life than the family that I had.I did not have any idea whatsoever that I felt the way that I did, until I was actually faced with the situation.” — Kathe Caire Buy: Accidental Sisters:The Story of My 52-Year Wait to Meet My Biological Sibling. Amazon: https://amzn.to/3BAbUK8 Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781953865571 Connect with Katherine Website: https://klcairebooks.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skilletfam910/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/klcairebooks/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/klcairebooks Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/ If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 Story to talk about her career and latest novel, Alias Emma. In this episode, Mike and Ava discuss: Being captured by writing while living on the careening train of life. Your first published book not being your first attempt at writing a book. Surprises in the publishing industry. Worrying too much and living the advice you would tell your younger self. Key Takeaways: Reading is not necessarily the path to being a writer, but it does help cultivate an active imagination. Story ideas can come from anywhere - careers, television, news articles, travel, and so many more places. Keep your eyes and ears open and you will become inspired. You can learn a lot about yourself as you write fiction. No chapter gets more rewritten than chapter one. You don’t have to worry if it is awful, because it is just going to be rewritten. "Making things up for a living is the ultimate indulgence of your inner child. I make up people; I make up stories. I tell stories to myself constantly. I feel like, in every book, I'm going to be telling stories to people. So that is the ultimate gift I could give my inner kid." – Ava Glass Buy Alias Emma Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PtYFhW Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593496794 Connect with Ava Website: https://www.avaglass.uk/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/avaglassbooks/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AvaGlassBooks Connect with Mike Carlon: Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 this is not a tragedy. In fact, it is a story about overcoming trauma and learning how to adapt when the winds of change are blowing in your face. In our rich and emotional conversation centered around her latest memoir, Aftermath: Coming-of-Age on Three Continents, Annette and I cover: Why, when growing up in post-war Poland, Annette felt she did not see in color, only black and white. How she felt when moving to the fledgling state of Israel, the challenges of learning a new language, Hebrew, and how she began seeing in color during this time. The heartbreak she felt when her father left Israel for America. How Annette adjusted to life in America after settling in the Bronx, all the while not knowing the language with her only frame of reference of the United States being the propaganda the Soviets taught her about America when she was in Poland. Why learning from the past is important and how it does not have to define what the future holds for us. “My father populated my entire childhood with people who were murdered, not just his family, but also his friends and his teachers and and I just feel a responsibility to pass it on. And recently, my daughter wrote a story about the impact of anti-semitism that she just had published in the Jewish Writing Project. So that history, as you say, gets passed down the generations, and when it doesn't it's a real problem.” — Annette Libeskind Berkovits Annette’s story is really one of overcoming hardship, adversity, and the trauma of the past. I know you will be inspired by our conversation and ask that you take the time to listen to this in its entirety. Buy: Aftermath: Coming-of-Age on Three Continents Amazon: https://amzn.to/3qFBVRX Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9789493276390 Connect with Annette Website: https://annetteberkovits.com Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/3eUZmEh Facebook:https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013598386903 Connect with Mike Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/ If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 Defeat Burnout. In this episode, Mike and Jim discuss: Staking a claim to who you are. The multiple paths we take in life. Taking a risk to open yourself to vulnerability. Embracing the youness. Key Takeaways: You don’t have to know what you want to do at 18. That’s crazy! You will find yourself as you live your life and learn who you are. Burnout can feel different to everyone. Listen to your body and your mental health and be willing to take the actions needed to help yourself, even if it is terrifying. You cannot connect with everybody. Be honest, be authentic, and be yourself and you will connect with those who you are meant to be around. You have something nobody else has and that is all that you need. "If there's a secret weapon, it's dealing with the really uncomfortable feelings of shame." – Jim Young Buy Expansive Intimacy: How Tough Guys Defeat Burnout Amazon: https://amzn.to/3BtcSI2 Connect with Jim Young: Website: https://www.thecenteredcoach.com/ Connect with Mike Carlon: Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 divorces, piles of debt, abuse, religious mind games, the death of loved ones, and the loss of close friends. In her debut memoir, Blooming: Finding Gifts in the Shit of Life, Carrington combines wit and wisdom to share her journey through the shit, with a positive attitude and a shift of mindset, into a life bursting with joy, opportunity, and purpose. A graduate of UT Austin and Tulane Law School, Carrington resides in Austin, Texas, with her two teenage boys. In this episode, Mike and Carrington discuss: How changing your mindset can change your life Why it's better to stand out than to fit in How sometimes we don’t really discover who we are until later in life Why being given everything isn’t necessarily a blessing “I like to say that we spend most of our life trying to fit in, and what God really intended us to do was to stand out. And so it's really our differences that we need to celebrate, not our similarities.” — Carrington Smith Buy Blooming: Finding Gifts in the Shit of Life Amazon:https://amzn.to/3CQ0T8v Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781544523781 Connect with Carrington Smith Website: https://www.carrington-smith.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carringtonatx/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarringtonATX Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarringtonATX LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carriesmithtrabue/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5HWX6jTM_F-nZAaShyx8SQ Connect with Mike Carlon: Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 several bestseller lists, nominated for the Pushcart Prize five times, and, recently his thirteenth novel, KILL ALL YOUR DARLINGS, was nominated for a 2022 Edgar Award. In this episode, Mike and David discuss: Why David blames his parents for becoming a bestselling author. Reading as the best teacher of the craft of writing. How David’s career influenced his latest book, The Finalists. The impact of childhood stories on other stories in our lives. Key Takeaways: Not all authors are dead! Many are attempting to make a living doing it now, and you can too. Succeeding young in writing is rare. Many publish their first books, and become accomplished writers, in their 30s or 40s or even later. While writing itself is a solitary process, the book and the publishing of that book is a team effort to get that book out in the world. It is going to take time - you don’t play an instrument perfectly when you first pick it up, and you also won’t write the perfect novel the first time you pick up a pen. "Enjoy the day-to-day process of writing the book. Enjoy the day-to-day process of a book coming out. Yes, you're responsible for a lot of what happens and you can't just abdicate responsibility to publishing for promoting the book, but try to enjoy the ride." – David Bell Buy The Finalists Amazon: https://amzn.to/3yQWA9r Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593198698 Connect with David Bell: Website: https://davidbellnovels.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidbellnovels/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidBellNovels Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidBellNovels Connect with Mike Carlon: Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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 finding joy in our families, the challenge of figuring out what makes us happy and the need to value the people in front of us more than the ones in our phones and laptops, every single time.
Her latest novel, In Her Boots, is about the gap between the adult we think we have become, the child our mother will always see, and our horrible fear that our mother is right.
In this episode, Mike and KJ discuss:
KJ’s journey to publishing from fanfiction to nonfiction journalism to published fiction with a Reese Witherspoon book club pick.
The challenges of finding out what makes us happy and then voicing it.
Enjoying life now, not waiting for the nebulous future.
Creating and inhabiting new worlds.
Key Takeaways:
Just because something is hard does not mean that it needs to be terrible too.
We are conditioned to want stuff, but what we are really looking for in life is connection.
We are all wearing masks in different aspects of our lives. The key is understanding who we are inside and recognizing that we are good as we are.
If you’re not going to sell yourself and your works, who is going to?
"We're all taught not to toot our own horns. But, hopefully, you think the thing that you're putting out in the world is the best thing you can and people want to share that and be part of it." – KJ Dell'Antonia
Buy In Her Boots
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3O4ldF5
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593542460
Connect with KJ Dell'Antonia:
Website: https://kjdellantonia.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KJDellAntoniaAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KJDellAntonia
Podcast: https://amwriting.substack.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kjda/
Connect with Mike Carlon:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
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 book.
Her love and passion for historical fiction bring a breath of fresh air and a contemporary energy to the genre. Her debut novel is A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting and joining me today to talk about that, and so much more, is author Sophie Irwin.
In this episode, Mike and Sophie discuss:
- Why her writing starts with consuming stories across multiple genres and media platforms.
- The draw of historical fiction (and how it is similar to fantasy).
- Building an immersive world without overwhelming your readers.
- Embracing and feeding your inner selves - past, present, and future.
- Finding a community within the solitary process of writing.
Key Takeaways:
- Historical fiction has a texture that is rich and gorgeous in a way that is different from modern reality.
- Turn the trope on its head and consider giving your protagonist a reason that isn’t altruistic and is honest about their drive.
- For your character to break the rules, you have to establish what they are. In historical fiction, there’s different rules depending on the time and location of your setting.
- Tell the story you want to tell and the rest will work itself out.
- Your first draft is going to be bad and you’re going to hate it (and maybe hate yourself). Push through that. The second draft is for making the writing better.
"You have to try and retain some of that childlike ability to try and fail and carry on anyway." – Sophie Irwin
Buy A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AI8aWW
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593491348
Connect with Sophie Irwin:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sophie.irwin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SophieHIrwin
Connect with Mike Carlon:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
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 laugh-out-loud columns that appeared in the Huffington Post, The Week, and The Rye Record. She joins me today to talk about Nora Goes Off Script, which is her adult debut novel.
In this episode, Mike and Annabel discuss:
- Annabel’s path to publishing
- What she learned during the writing process
- How Annabel crafted Nora's character and why she chose to make Nora a mother
- How writing is therapy for Annabel
Key Takeaways:
- Learn how to embrace and create opportunities for success yourself.
- Be vulnerable. By having the courage to be vulnerable in your writing, you enhance your characters and give them a sense of life, which could help you connect with your readers.
- It's not an easy job being a mom–raising a child while accomplishing other responsibilities every single day.
- Taking the time to write down what is going through your mind is an effective way of expressing yourself, as well as processing your life.
"You're going to be okay, just keep going. It’s not going to work out right away, but it's going to be okay." – Annabel Monaghan
Buy Nora Goes Off Script:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3w4elBi
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593420034
Connect with Annabel Monaghan:
Website: http://annabelmonaghan.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnabelMonaghan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnabelMonaghan
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/annabel-monaghan/79/b1a/2a7
Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/annabel-monaghan/79/b1a/2a7
Email: annabelmonaghan@gmail.com
Connect with Mike Carlon:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
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 encouragement to millions of couples every week through her lifestyle blog and coaching practice. She also co-hosts a podcast for content creators looking to grow their platform. She's here with us today to discuss her newest book, Keeping it Hot: The Workbook.
In this episode, Mike and Ashleigh discuss:
- The motivation behind writing Keeping it Hot, the Workbook
- The role uncovering your own needs plays in building intimacy
- How intimacy outside the bedroom can lead to intimacy inside the bedroom
- How to speak openly and honestly about your needs
Key Takeaways:
- Bringing the spark back to the relationship should be fun, not a fight.
- Self-awareness, or knowing what you want from yourself and a partner, is crucial in every relationship. The first step to finding out what you want is to allow yourself to listen to your inner voice and then practice self-care.
- There's nothing wrong with discussing your sexual desires with your partner. You can’t expect them to know what you want unless you tell them. Sharing your true feelings gives them permission to do the same.
- Being a parent doesn't mean you can't have intimate time with your partner or yourself. Planning is everything—take the time to continually invest in your relationship and your kids will grow up with a better understanding of romantic love.
"Both people in the partnership need time to themselves. They need time to be in their body, they need time to laugh with friends, they need time to really do the things that they love. They need some time for that or else they're not going to have any empathy for the other person who also needs something." – Ashleigh Renard
Buy Keeping it Hot: The Workbook
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3zZmY2B
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781736596807
Connect with Ashleigh
Website: https://ashleighrenard.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleighrenard/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ashleighrenard
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashleigh.renard/
Email: ashleighrenard@gmail.com
Connect with Mike Carlon:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
Every now and then I uncork a story that simply inspires the hell out of me—and this is one of those stories.
As Founder and CEO of Encourage LLC, Johnny Sirpilla specializes in leadership development. Every year he addresses organizations with his message of the importance of managing and reframing thoughts, modeling healthy thinking, and searching for positive meaning. Developing meaningful professional and personal relationships that genuinely reflect the personal brand of the individual and organization create synergies that drive growth for all stakeholders.
I didn’t know it going into my interview with Johnny, but he and I have a lot in common. We are both Italian (well, I’m only half, but that’s the half I identify with), we both have written books, and we both have fathered triplets. He and his wife, however, lost Nicholas, Mary, and Peter not long after they were born. More tragedies would follow Johnny and his wife as they attempted to start their family and you might assume that so much loss would lead to a dark place and maybe even the dissolution of their marriage, but the opposite was true.
Yes, Johnny and his wife grieved hard together, but they were also able to reframe their experiences into something positive. The loss of their babies led to a ripple effect of positivity in the lives they have touched. Johnny decided to document his experiences and beliefs in a memoir entitled, Life is Hard but I'll Be OK: The Power of Hope Emerging through Pain and Learning to Live with Gratitude and joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about it. During our conversation we touch on:
- How he and his wife dealt with so much loss and the importance of grieving together.
- How he was able to hang onto his faith and not hate God in the face of so much tragedy.
- How he and his family celebrate and honor Nicholas, Mary, and Peter every year.
- How an empty nest can lead to a rediscovery of one’s relationship with their partner.
Quote from Johnny:
A young man asked me, what do you wish you knew when you were sitting in our seats that would prepare you for the life you're going to live? The answer came to me quickly. I said, I wish I knew that life will be hard, but I'll be okay. And that's where the title of my book came from. As a young guy I think you set goals, you reach them, you set the next goal, and life just keeps going in that great trajectory. And you almost don't prepare yourself for those unexplained situations that happen. A child passing, an illness, adoption nightmares. So you know, I wish I knew that life will be hard, but I'll be okay.
Buy Life is Hard but I’ll Be Ok.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PPT5qX
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781956642872
Connect with Johnny
Website: https://www.encourage33.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnnysirpilla/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/john.sirpilla
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnnySirpilla
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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 have appeared in a range of periodicals and anthologies. She has facilitated workshops for community activist social workers and psychologists on violence against women and has lectured on women's issues nationally and internationally. She joins us today to talk about her latest book, The Kitchen Is Closed: And Other Benefits of Being Old.
In this episode, Mike and Sandra discuss:
- The motivation behind Sandra’s latest book
- Why it is important to listen to your inner voices
- Defining love in its truest sense
- The truth about keeping secrets
Key Takeaways:
- Your story may have the potential to spark conversations about important issues, so go ahead and let the world hear your story. Be the change you want to see in the world.
- Listen to the voices in your head, but remember to silence the negative ones. Listening to and trusting your inner voice can help you make wise decisions and make significant changes in your life.
- Love should satisfy both parties' needs and desires. If a relationship no longer fulfills you, it may be time to move on.
- Setting boundaries is fine, but keeping secrets may hurt you in the long run.
"Your job is to leave the world better than you found it." – Sandra Butler
Buy The Kitchen Is Closed: And Other Benefits of Being Old
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3c5QAla
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798985756005
Connect with Sandra
Website: https://sandrabutler.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandraButlerWrites/
Connect with Mike Carlon:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
About
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 here today to talk about Blurred Fates, her first novel.
Connect with Anastasia
Amazon: https://amzn.to/39SQkpb
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781647423797
Website :https://anastasiazadeik.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anastasiazadeik/?utm_medium=copy_link
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/anastasiazadeik/
Twitter :https://twitter.com/anastasiazadeik
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
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 centers nationwide Her latest book is entitled Any Other Family and is available wherever books are sold.
Why is it important to write with the door closed? What is her special connection to Paris? Why is this story so near and dear to her heart? Listen in to find out the answers to these questions and discover her take on how writers can show how good they are.
Buy Any Other Family
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ImWj2n
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593328545
Connect with Eleanor
Website: https://www.eleanor-brown.com/
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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 a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital. He and I recently sat down to talk about his new book, Rewired: Protecting Your Brain in the Digital Age.
What got Carl interested in psychology and neuroscience? What’s the overlap between getting likes on social media and psychoactive drugs like cocaine? How do Carl’s former marketing and tech clients feel about this book? Listen in to hear the answers to these questions and learn what Carl thinks we can do to rewire our brains (and protect our children).
Buy Rewired: Protecting Your Brain in the Digital Age.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3P1Yhra
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780674983663
Connect with Dr. Marci
Website:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-d-marci-m-d-05b84a1/
Twitter:https://twitter.com/cmbiometrics?lang=en
Connect with Mike:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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 depicts the time he spent being a sugar daddy. If that’s not a term that’s familiar to you, that will change in the next few minutes.
In this episode, Mike and David discuss:
- Why did David decided to share his story
- The lessons he learned about himself while writing his memoir
- The differences between writing a memoir and writing a screenplay
- How David came full circle in his beliefs about monogamy
Key Takeaways:
- Writing about your personal life is a complicated process as you must put yourself in a vulnerable position and expose very personal details. But if writing something truly personal is your goal, then go for it — just be prepared for some fallout.
- There is nothing wrong with using a dating website. It is sometimes the place where you can unintentionally reveal your true self, without attempting to conceal aspects of yourself or your past.
- Sometimes, through your writing process, you'll discover something about yourself that you couldn't have predicted would change your life. And, when writing a memoir, don't be too harsh on yourself. Don't worry about the outcome; what matters is that you finish what you started.
- It is in writing a memoir that will allow you to be brutally honest while still trying to tell an entertaining story.
"If you go in with the best of intentions, and care and caution, you're likely to meet somebody really interesting." – David Winkler
Grab a copy of The Arrangement: A Love Story
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PQUrRJ
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781644282687
Connect with David Winkler:
Website: https://www.davidwinklerauthor.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidadamwinkler/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dawinkler
Connect with Mike Carlon:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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 experiences, as well as a book entitled, “Way Out There: Adventures of a Wilderness Trekker.”
How did a kid from the concrete jungle of New York City fall in love with the great outdoors? What role did going to Boy Scout camp play in his love of adventure? How does he encourage younger generations of city dwellers to explore the wilderness? Listen in to hear the answers to these questions and learn why it is so important to stay curious in life.
Buy Way Out There: Adventures of a Wilderness Trekker
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ypg7gM
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781680511208
Connect with JR
Website: https://www.jrinthewilderness.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jrinthewilderness/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrobharris/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jrobert.harris.7
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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 his father’s death play in his career path? Why did he return to the Church after being away for a while? What role does his faith play in his approach to business building? Listen in to find the answers to these questions as well as hear the inspiration behind his book, On Marketing: The Definitive Guide for Small Business Owners.
Buy On Marketing
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3IquPZB
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781511412056
Connect with Michael DeLon
Website: https://paperbackexpert.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldelon/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaperbackExpert
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa05hG7SObdPO-M03mlgcKA
Connect with Mike Carlon
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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 Summer Darlings, which has been called a potent cocktail of desire and deceit. Listen in to hear all about her career, new book, and our mutual admiration for the original Legend of Zelda Video Game.
Buy My Summer Darlings
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ysID0V
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593101162
Connect with May
Website: https://www.maycobb.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/may_cobb/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maykcobb/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17151210.May_Cobb
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Fabian is a comic book writer and editor who is best known as the co-creator of Marvel's Deadpool and for his work on titles such as X-Men, X-Force, New Warriors, Cable, and Thunderbolts. He is the author of Suburban Dicks, a finalist for the Edgar Award for Best First Novel by an American Author.
He recently joined me to talk about his latest novel, The Self Made Widow, which has been called a diabolically funny murder mystery featuring two unlikely sleuths investigating a murder that reveals the dark underbelly of suburban marriage.
How did he learn English after immigrating to the United States? What role did comic books play in his early life? What was it like going from the business side of the comic book business to the creative side? Listen in to hear the answers to these questions and learn why Fabian has a beef with the band Styx.
Buy The Self Made Widow
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3yP2NDM
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593191293
Connect with Fabian
Website: https://www.fabiannicieza.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fnicieza/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabian.nicieza/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/fabiannicieza
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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 real estate industries. A Letter in the Wall is her first novel, Eileen’s short story “Christmas Angel” appeared in the international literary magazine Beyond Words in 2021.
In this episode, Mike and Eileen discuss:
- Where Eileen's story as a writer began
- The inspiration for A Letter in the Wall
- The lost art for writing letters
- Publishing your own book
Key Takeaways:
- A child's passion for writing may stem from their parents' writing abilities, but it is up to the child to turn that inspiration into a career in the future. Writing at a young age gives children more opportunities to learn, grow, and develop their creativity.
- Inspiration for writing can sometimes be found unexpectedly in unusual things found in your surroundings. You have complete control over the stories you write, but you must also be intimately familiar with your characters' thoughts and motivations.
- There are many advantages to modern modes of communication, but there is something very special about writing and receiving letters, and it deserves to be kept alive now more than ever. Writing letters should not become a lost art.
- If you believe your story is good enough to be published and read by others, you must be willing to put yourself out there, especially if you are a debut author. Publishing a book is not an easy process but it is well worth the effort.
"When you have an idea in your head, talk to people you respect and get their opinion because you do not know everything. So move forward, don't be afraid and talk to people and get it out of your brain in and out of the atmosphere." – Eileen Brill
Grab a copy of A Letter on the Wall:
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/books/a-letter-in-the-wall/9781684631339
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Letter-Wall-Novel-Eileen-Brill-ebook/dp/B09CD27NTF/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a%20letter%20in%20the%20wall&qid=1628790843&s=books&sr=1-1
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-letter-in-the-wall-eileen-brill/1140012422?ean=9781684631339
Connect with Eileen Brill:
Website: https://www.eileenbrill.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EileenBrillAuthor
Instagram: http://instagram.com/EileenGraceBrill
Email: msleen46@gmail.com
Connect with Mike Carlon:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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 latest release is Iris in the Dark, which she recently joined me to talk about.
Buy Iris in the Dark
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AINkGL
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781542037822
Connect with Elissa
Website: https://elissadickey.com/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/elissaadickey/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elissa.dickey
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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 When We Let Go, and is chock-full of warmth, heartache, and hope. She joined me to talk about her latest release as well as her path to becoming an author.
Buy When We Let Go
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3umydyD
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593436813
Connect with Rochelle
Website: https://www.rochelleweinstein.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rochelle.b.weinstein
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rochwein
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rochellebweinstein/
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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 including The Sunday Times Style, The Mail on Sunday's YOU magazine, The Telegraph, the Tatler Weddings Guide, Glamour, Stella magazine, and is one of The Mail on Sunday’s regular fiction and nonfiction book reviewers.She joins me today to talk about her latest book, The Last Dress from Paris.
Buy The Last Dress from Paris
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3umydyD
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593436813
Connect with Jade
Website: https://jadebeer.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jadebeerbrides/
Email: mailto:jadebeereditor@gmail.com
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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 — particularly for dark chocolate. She is the author of two picture books and three early chapter books. She joins me today to talk about Angry Me, her sixth book.
Why did she start writing children’s books? Why is important to recognize anger as an emotion? What advice would she give her younger self? Listen in to uncover the answers to these questions and learn how being a children’s author can be a rewarding experience.
Buy Angry Me
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3IdUsNa
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781773063386
Connect with Sandra
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/sandravfeder
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandravfeder/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandra-feder-598633123/
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
About Allison Raskin: Allison 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 created the original scripted podcast, Gossip. A vocal mental health advocate, Allison also runs the mental health-focused Instagram account Emotional Support Lady. Her latest book is called Overthinking About You: Navigating Romantic Relationships When You Have Anxiety, OCD And/Or Depression.
In this episode, Mike and Allison discuss:
- The benefits that Allison receives from writing
- Why laughter is medicine
- Allison’s motivation for writing her book
- How to figure out what you need (and how to ask for it)
Key Takeaways:
- Writing not only helps us express ourselves better, but it also helps us process a lot of things and is an excellent way to get your point and purpose across, whatever that may be.
- Laughter is the best medicine, and we need it now more than ever to get us through these difficult times and remind us that life is not something to be endured.
- You can have a mental health issue while also having a healthy relationship. It just comes down to finding the right person who is worth your time and effort and understands your situation.
- It is important to figure out what you need and communicate it to those around you. People will never understand or know what you are feeling unless you tell them.
"Have more self-compassion for yourself. You shouldn't deprive yourself of what you want. Instead, you should really honor that desire and put in the work so that you can have the life that you want." – Allison Raskin
Grab a copy of Overthinking About You:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3yLESFr
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781523513222
Connect with Allison Raskin:
Website: https://www.allisonraskin.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisonraskin/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AllisonRaskin
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/justbetweenusshow
Connect with Mike Carlon:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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 hundreds of original revues with talent such as Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Keegan Michael Key, Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler. His book, "Yes, And," received rave reviews in Vanity Fair and the Washington Post.
What role did his father play in pursuing a career in arts/entertainment? How did he go from being a dishwasher to becoming producer of Second City? How can improvisational techniques be used to improve romantic relationships? Listen in to hear the answers to these questions as well as learn who shot JR.
Buy Yes, And,
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3NKhwUI
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780062248541
Connect with Kelly
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/klsecondcity
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/klsecondcity/
Website: https://www.secondcity.com/people/kelly-leonard+
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
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 comes to writing a book? Why do authors seek institutional validation of talent? What advice would she give her younger self? Listen in to uncover the answers to these questions as well as learn why The Haunted Mansion is her favorite Disney attraction.
Buy Family of Liars
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3nop19d
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593485859
Connect with E. Lockhart
Twitter: https://twitter.com/elockhart
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elockhartbooks/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/10154068084943083
Website: http://www.emilylockhart.com/
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on Instagram @uncorkingastory.
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 her to write American Blues? Tune into the deep episode of Uncorking a Story to learn the answers to these questions and uncover how American Blues is, in part, her personal story.
Buy American Blues
Amazon:https://amzn.to/3u8v8lR
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781647420772
Connect with Polly
Website: https://www.pollyhamiltonhilsabeck.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pollyhamiltonhilsabeck/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pollyhamiltonhilsabeck
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
About
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 thousands of students and teachers. She joins me today to talk about her life and her book Living and Leaving My Legacy: Volume 1.
Connect with Merle
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3OmEank
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593335321
Website: https://merlersaferstein.com/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/merles1212/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/merle.saferstein
Twitter: https://twitter.com/safer1212
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
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 talk about her third novel, Crazy to Leave You.
She graduated from New York University with a degree in Journalism, began her writing career at Seventeen magazine, and owned an advertising agency for over twenty-five years.
Marilyn holds an MA in liberal studies from Wesleyan University and an MA in Judaic studies from the University of Connecticut. She enjoys giving talks at book festivals and community events.
In this episode, Mike and Marilyn discuss:
- Marilyn's journey towards writing her first book
- Why marketing your book is so important
- Marilyn's new book book, Crazy to Leave You
- How Marilyn used her sense of humor to her advantage
Key Takeaways:
- Every writer will face rejection at some point in their career, but can’t give up. Someone will find value in your story and timing is everything.
- Writing is the fun part, but books have to be marketed, promoted, and distributed. Marilyn’s career in advertising gave her a leg up when it came time for her books to hit the shelves.
- Everything happens for a reason. Things will not go as planned, but keep in mind that you are simply being prepared for something bigger and better. Don’t let rejection impact your sense of self esteem. Writers have to persevere through setbacks.
- Comedy has the ability to heal us. Writers must embrace their sense of humor. Those with a good sense of humor have the power to change people's lives.
"Take it easy, it's gonna be alright." – Marilyn Simon Rothstein
Connect with Marilyn Simon Rothstein:
Website: https://www.marilynsimonrothstein.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=552642036
https://mobile.facebook.com/liftandseparate?_rdc=1&_rdr
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nounsandverbs1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marilynsimonrothstein/
Email: nounsandverbs1@gmail.com
Grab a copy of Crazy to Leave You:
Amazon
Bookshop.org
Connect with Mike Carlon:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
About
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 media attention from People, Entertainment Weekly, Woman’s World and more. Her latest book. OUT OF THE CLEAR BLUE SKY, is a story of betrayal, revenge, and healing.
Connect with Kristan
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3QPkGJD
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593335321
Website: https://www.kristanhiggins.com/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/kristan.higgins/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/kristanhiggins
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/KristanHigginsBooks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kristan_higgins
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
About
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 published, Shaun has uncovered a passion for helping others unlock their untold stories and share them with the world through books, videos, podcasts and live performances.
What impact did being read to as a child help steer Shaun to his interest in writing and publishing? What role did vulnerability play in him sharing his work with others? How did the encouragement from others give him the confidence to publish his first book? Tune in to hear the answers to these questions as well as learn how you can work with Shaun to help start you on your own publishing journey?
Connect with Shaun
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3HWer2K
Website: https://shaunphillips.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shaunhphillips/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4nGEyPc2pvYwke3xm9SoOA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shaunhphillips
Connect with Mike Carlon:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
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 Hole. Along with his husband and business partner Todd Hughes, he is Executive Producer and Director of several documentaries including the new, MY NAME IS LOPEZ (2021) about trailblazing Latino rock and roller Trini Lopez.
His debut novel, 99 Miles From LA, is a fast-paced, noir caper with a fresh twist. It has everything you want a crime story to have, including a bi-sexual love triangle and more double-crosses than Pulp Fiction!
In this episode, Mike and P. David discuss:
- David’s background as a filmmaker and making the transition to becoming a novelist
- How winning an award can change your life
- The author's motivation for making a documentary about Patty Schemel's life
- Palm Strings as the setting of 99 Miles from L.A.
Key Takeaways:
- Winning an award can serve as validation that someone else appreciates what you're doing and believes you'll succeed. Validation is important for storytellers of all stripes.
- Choose a life story that deals with a person's struggles and how he overcomes them, or a societal issue. These are extremely relatable to the general public and have the potential to move people's hearts and minds.
- Being a part of a community and being immersed in its system, culture, and visual elements can inspire you to choose that location as the setting for your story.
"Just do it…someone will always say something to you that will make you stop. So, the important thing is you've got to power through, you gotta get through, you got to get to the end, and then you can go back." – P. David Ebersole
Connect with P. David Ebersole
Website: http://ebersolehughes.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ebersolehughes
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ebersole-Hughes-Company/297978877676
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ebersolehughes/videos?view=0&flow=grid
Grab a copy of 99 Miles from L.A:
Amazon
Bookshop.org
Connect with Mike Carlon:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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 it inspired the book
- How they made the story come alive as being so real on the page
- What it's like working with your father in writing a story
- Learning about yourself during the writing process
Key Takeaways:
- Your travels can be turned into a fantastic adventure story, it’s simply a matter of figuring out how to incorporate the various elements into your journey in order to create a one-of-a-kind story.
- Plotting out your journey, attempting to create dialogue and movement, incorporating your life experiences, and attempting to form something that creates a character at his core all work together to help your story feel more realistic.
- Allow yourself to be vulnerable in front of your parents. You may feel awkward sharing your journey with them, but sharing more of yourself is essential to developing a stronger bond.
- Reflecting on your own story can be both enlightening and difficult, but it will undoubtedly teach you something.
"If you're reading what you like and reading a lot of it, that translates into your writing style." – Kurt Johnson
"Stop taking everything. If you could just keep moving forward and try to have fun sometimes, things will work out as they were meant to pretty much either way, but you might be a little bit happier at the end of it" – Ellie Johnson
Connect with Kurt Johnson:
Website: https://www.kurtjohnsonbooks.com/
Email: kurtjbooks@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kurtjohnsonbooks/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KurtJohnsonBooks
Connect with Ellie Johnson:
Email: elliejohnson418@gmail.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/elliej418?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Grab a copy of The Barrens:
Bookshop.org
Amazon
Connect with Mike Carlon:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelica Rayco.
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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 parents
- Knowing what you stand for
- Detaching yourself from the outcomes
- Finding meaning in the work you do
Key Takeaways:
- A near-death experience may prompt you to evaluate your life, discover your life's purpose, and pursue your passions in order to feel fulfilled.
- Do not let the fear of disappointing your parents stop you from pursuing your dreams. You will not be disrespecting them if you follow your heart. You have control of your fate and you are capable of making decisions that you think are the best ones for you.
- The magic happens when you detach yourself from the outcome of what you want to achieve. Focus on the story, create space for the people who are there with you, and you will be able to shift hearts and minds.
- Your creativity is the ocean. Despite your negative experiences and struggles, you will be able to emerge strong and determined, willing to take risks and push yourself to your limits.
"When you get close to death, and when you get close to people that are closer to the exit than the entrance, you see all this wisdom come through and you see this detachment from the material world." – Farhoud Meybodi
Connect with Farhoud Meybodi:
Website: https://farhoudmeybodi.com/
Email: hello@farhoudmeybodi.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farhoudmeybodi/?hl=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/farhoudmeybodi1212
Connect with Mike Carlon:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelica Rayco.
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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 UC Berkeley. A working mom of three, she is the head of business affairs for a television network in Los Angeles. Like a House on Fire is her adult debut.
In this episode, Mike and Lauren discuss:
- Having someone in your life who will push you to be your best
- Curiosity for the characters you are writing
- Pivoting during the writing process
- The importance of love winning
Key Takeaways:
- Having someone in your life who encourages and pushes you to do better or be your best is critical to becoming the writer you were meant to be.
- Sometimes we unknowingly become intrigued by the characters we are writing because they are, in a strange way, a part of us talking to ourselves. When we listen to this inner voice, we discover insights into ourselves.
- It's inevitable to change your mind while writing, especially when you're immersed in the characters and the plot's turning point. It is okay (and expected) to deviate from your initial outline.
- Letting love win is about finding peace, contentment, and genuine happiness by accepting and displaying your true self, even if it means letting go of the life you worked so hard to build.
"If you can write something that serves you personally, it changes the whole ballgame." - Lauren McBrayer
Buy Like a House on Fire:
Amazon
Bookshop.org
Connect with Lauren McBrayer:
Website: http://laurenmcbrayer.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/1591454627550555
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenmcbrayerwrites
Connect with Mike Carlon:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelica Rayco.
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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 protection law, being hired on Steven Spielberg's series seaQuest confirmed him as a television writer and producer. He has shared an Edgar and Saturn Awards and is a former board member of the Writers Guild of America West and a past president of PEN Center USA and he is here today to talk about his book Monkey Business.
In this episode, Mike and Carleton discuss:
- The importance of having people who recognize your potential
- The truth about being a television writer
- Carleton's book, Monkey Business
Key Takeaways:
- Having a strong network of supportive people who recognize your potential helps in bringing out the best in you, which absolutely influences your success.
- Writing a novel is a lot different than writing for a TV series. The former is a very isolated process while the latter is more of a group effort.
- Working in show business is not always as glamorous as we imagine. It also has an underside, particularly when the show is run by a toxic team of producers vying for primate superiority.
"There's politics everywhere because we are noisy monkeys - we are very smart apes and we have all the dominance moves, all those impulses pushing on our consciousness to find expression." - Carleton Eastlake
Buy Monkey Business:
Amazon
Bookshop.org
Connect with Carleton Eastlake:
Website: https://carletoneastlake.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carleton.eastlake
Twitter: https://twitter.com/c_eastlake
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carleton-eastlake-923b396/
Connect with Mike Carlon:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelica Rayco.
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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 Lucky Ones, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2020.
Together, they have a book called The Agathas, a fun, young adult mystery which is a departure from the contemporary realistic fiction that both tend to write.
In this episode, Mike, Kathleen, and Liz discuss:
- How Kathleen and Liz met and why they chose to collaborate on young adult mystery
- Writing with someone else
- Doing whatever you want
- Kathleen and Liz's book, The Agathas
Key Takeaways:
- It's nice to recognize the works of other authors and try to contact them. Meeting them in person allows you to get to know them in a different way, build connections, and eventually collaborate with them.
- Writing with someone else not only gives you more ideas for the book and improves your relationship, but it also encourages you to share your work, which is a great way to figure out what works and what doesn't.
- You are free to do whatever you want with your story. Don't be afraid to play with your characters; make it exciting! Reality can be boring at times.
- Nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself and each other, no matter how unlikely your personalities are or how much people underestimate you.
"If it's really something you want to do, it's going to usually take more work than you might expect when you're starting out." - Liz Lawson
"You don't need anyone else's permission to call yourself a writer… Give yourself space and time to write when you can and don't let anyone try to stop you." - Kathleen Glasgow
Buy The Agathas:
Amazon
Bookshop.org
Connect with Kathleen Glasgow:
Website: https://www.kathleenglasgowbooks.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kathglasgow
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misskathleenglasgow/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13479611.Kathleen_Glasgow
TikTok: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSdqWWdtk/
Connect with Liz Lawson:
Website: https://www.lizlawsonauthor.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lzlwsn
Instagram: http://instagram.com/lzlwsn
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42104979-the-lucky-ones
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@lzlwsn
Connect with Mike Carlon:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelica Rayco.
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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 has written for LA Weekly, the Los Angeles Times, Elle, and the Miami Herald, and adapted her article, "How to Get Divorced by 30" into both a memoir and a screenplay for Universal Studios. Blood Sugar, her fiction debut, is a dark and utterly delicious noir thriller. In this episode, Mike and Sascha discuss:
- How Sascha's writing journey began
- Differences between writing for television and writing a novel
- Sascha's fiction debut, Blood Sugar
- Receiving notes as a TV writer
Key Takeaways:
- Having a passion for writing is important, but it is your own will and perseverance to follow that path that will make you a great writer.
- Breaking into the world of writing for television is not easy. You must start at the bottom and be persistent, as well as work on your networking skills and try to enjoy the process until you climb the ladder and become a showrunner.
- What-ifs can be turned into great stories. All you have to do is follow your curiosity and swirl it into a plot while infusing your imagination into its structure.
- There are people who will give you notes, and they are often correct. A good writer does not become defensive when receiving notes; instead, they take them in and make it better.
"Sit down and write because everyone has an idea in the middle of the night, everyone thinks they have an idea for a movie or book. But unless you write it down, you're not a writer." - Sascha Rothchild
Buy Blood Sugar
Amazon
Bookshop.org
Connect with Sascha Rothchild:
Website: https://www.sascharothchild.com/
Email: contact@sascharothchild.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/sascharothchild
Instagram: https://instagram.com/saschagrothchild
Connect with Mike Carlon:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelica Rayco.
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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 crime-stopping duo Jane Rizzoli & Maura Isles return in Gerritsen’s new novel, LISTEN TO ME which will be available on July 5.
In this episode, Mike and Tess discuss:
- Placing your parents' wishes before your own
- Writing outside your genre
- The importance of curiosity to being a writer
- Being more adventurous
Key Takeaways:
- It is not easy to let go of a dream or a passion, but if you truly want to do something different with your life, there is no such thing as "too late."
- Breaking out of a genre is difficult, but keep writing regardless of the outcome. Simply dedicate yourself to the journey.
- If you're curious, there's always something new to discover in your everyday life. Following your curiosity increases your creativity and prevents you from running out of ideas that will lead to success.
- Be more adventurous. Do not let your fears or anxieties get in your way of enjoying life. Take risks, you can do it.
"Trust your process, no matter how ridiculous it is." - Tess Gerritsen
Buy Listen to Me:
Amazon
Bookshop.org
Connect with Tess Gerritsen:
Website: https://www.tessgerritsen.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tessgerritsen
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TessGerritsen
Email: tess@tessgerritsen.com
Connect with Mike Carlon:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelica Rayco.
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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 Award. Her latest book, Search, is available now wherever books are sold and has been named One the 10 Most Anticipated Fiction Books of 2022 by Kirkus.
In this episode, Mike and Michelle discuss:
- A love of reading
- Taking constructive feedback and criticism
- Everything is a jolt
Key Takeaways:
- Reading stimulates your creativity significantly. Being a bookworm is essential for becoming a successful writer.
- Constructive feedback and criticism is not meant to make you feel bad about yourself; rather, it's intended to inspire you to work harder and develop your craft.
- Being disturbed or pushed extremely hard gives you an unsettling feeling as a writer. However, it provides you with additional possibilities to hear people's reactions to your work, whether positive or bad.
"Write more than you did. Stop dreaming about being a writer and be a writer. Write everyday and work really hard." - Michelle Huneven
Connect with Michelle Huneven:
Website: https://www.michellehuneven.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MHuneven
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellehuneven
Buy Search on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3LNrp2V
Buy Search on Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593300053
Connect with Mike Carlon:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelica Rayco.
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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, becoming a reporter and then an editor. She developed a passion for romantic novels and published her debut 1995. Her stories have been described as "poignant and sweet" with "beautiful honest storytelling that goes straight to the heart." In this episode, Mike and RaeAnne discuss:
- Making time to write while dealing with important life events
- Writing stories with happy endings
- Benefits of having literary agents
Key Takeaways:
- An important life event should never destroy a writer's constant and burning desire to express herself through writing and get it done. To attain work-life balance, they simply need to practice flexibility.
- There's so much need for authors to write books with happy endings especially in these trying times because happy stories give people hope and comfort, the courage to move forward, and remind them of the significance of love and generosity at all times.
- Working with literary agents can give you peace of mind since they can assist you in finding an editor, determine whether or not your manuscripts have significant market potential, and guide you through the publishing process.
"Believe in yourself. Anybody who wants to be successful in this career can be successful, but it's not going to happen overnight. It's going to take work, you're gonna have to write a lot of words." - RaeAnne Thayne
Connect with RaeAnne Thayne:
Website: https://www.raeannethayne.com/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/AuthorRaeAnneThayne/?_rdc=1&_rdr
Twitter: https://twitter.com/raeannethayne
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/raeannethayne/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raeannethayne/
TikTok: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSdCdSHvd/
Buy on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Gj6B2f
Buy on Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781335936356
Connect with Mike Carlon:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelica Rayco.
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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 program in creative writing, where she earned the Head of School Prize with a distinction. In this episode, Mike and Colleen discuss:
- Taking small steps
- Complicated family relationships
- The role of mentorship
Key Takeaways:
- Make a one-page outline for the book you're working on. It doesn't matter if you can just write a few words per day; as long as you're taking little steps toward your goal, you'll stay on track and avoid becoming lost in the story.
- There are some complicated and complex family relationships worth investigating and repairing. Both sides would benefit from forgiveness, but do not force it on anyone. Boundaries can be beneficial at times.
- Mentorship may help you form a relationship that leads to increased self-confidence and career advancement, but your chances of success as a writer are still dependent on the authenticity of the story you're writing, which can only come through vulnerability and life experiences.
"In order to feel like your story to tell is interesting or important, I don't think that we should have to be linked to success in order to be successful ourselves because I think it pushes people who already might see themselves as outsiders further outside the realm of power and possibility and success." — Colleen Hubbard
Connect with Colleen Hubbard:
Website: http://colleenhubbard.com/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/theformermrsstanleyzbornak?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Get a copy of her book “Housebreaking” at:
Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593337028
Amazon: https://amzn.to/39MLBoD
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/housebreaking-colleen-hubbard/1139874634?ean=9780593337028
Connect with Mike Carlon:
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
Show notes by Podcastologist: Angelica Rayco.
Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
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 kids. One of my go-to questions is, “What were some of your favorite TV shows when you were younger?” James Crews surprised the hell out of me when he mentioned Small Wonder, and a friendship was born. MEET JAMES CREWS
James Crews is the editor of the best-selling anthology, How to Love the World, which has been featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, as well as in The Boston Globe, and The Washington Post. He is the author of four prize-winning collections of poetry: The Book of What Stays, Telling My Father, Bluebird, and Every Waking Moment, and his poems have been published in the New York Times, Ploughshares, The New Republic, and The Sun Magazine.
His new collection, THE PATH TO KINDNESS, offers more than 100 poems of connection and joy from a diverse range of voices.
How can poetry be a way of connecting with others and spreading kindness? What’s the importance and influence of poetry? What are reflective pauses and how can they help readers get more out of poems? Listen in to hear the answers to these questions and enjoy a poem read by James!
GET IN TOUCH WITH JAMES
- Learn more about James at his website
- Follow James on Instagram @james.crews.poet
- Buy his latest collection on Amazon or Bookshop.org
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on Instagram @uncorkingastory.
Visit us at https://uncorkingastory.com
When I worked at the consumer products giant Unilever, I got an insider’s view into how products go from the idea stage all the way to being available for sale on the store shelf. It’s a long and comprehensive process characterized by different stages and gates a team has to pass through to keep the project (and idea) alive. While not on the same scale, authors have to follow a similar process to bring a book to market. In many ways, authors and product managers have a lot in common. My guest today knows something about that.
MEET MOSHE MIKANOVSKY
Moshe MIKANOVSKY is a Software Engineer and Product Management Leader who turns his creativity towards building software products, hosting a podcast, creating visual art, and writing. He participates in the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and, in 2013, began writing his first novel The Resurrector, which can be purchased wherever books are sold online. In addition to his love for the written word, Moshe loves mentoring and coaching product managers and startup founders, helping them to realize their entrepreneurial dreams.
How did he come up with the idea for the Resurrector? How did his nine year old daughter influence him to start writing the story? What is the inspiration behind the symbolism on the cover? Listen in to hear the answers to these questions and learn how Moshe’s professors and publisher helped turn his dream into a reality.
GET IN TOUCH WITH MOSHE
- Learn more about Moshe at his website
- Follow Moshe on Instagram @moshe.mikanovsky.author
- Buy is book on Amazon
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on Instagram @uncorkingastory.
Visit us at https://uncorkingastory.com
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. It had pictures in color, and was much easier to read than other newspapers. And don’t get me started on the purple section! I loved the purple section—it was always the first one I’d read!
Why am I sharing this? Well, today’s guest Laura Trujillo just happens to be the managing editor of the purple section for the USA Today. That’s right, the managing editor for Life and Entertainment at USA Today joined me to talk about her memoir: Stepping Back from the Ledge: A Daughter’s Search for Truth and Renewal.
MEET LAURA TRUJILLO
Laura Tujillo is the managing editor for Life and Entertainment at USA Today and a former reporter and editor for The Cincinnati Enquirer, The Arizona Republic, and The Oregonian. In addition, she does advocacy work on behalf of suicide awareness.
How did her mother’s suicide impact her life? How Laura get back into writing after a long time away? How did she transform a column on her mother’s death into a memoir? Tune in to hear the answer to these questions as well as uncover the special story behind a picture of Laura’s grandmother and some of her friends.
GET IN TOUCH WITH LAURA
- Learn more about Laura on her website
- Follow her on twitter @lauraftrujillo
- Check out her Instagram @lauraktrujillo
- Buy her book on Amazon or Bookshop.org
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on Instagram @uncorkingastory.
Visit us at https://uncorkingastory.com
When I was early in my career, I had this recurring anxiety dream where all my teeth would fall out, one at a time. Later in my life, that dream morphed into being thrust back into high school unprepared for a test while naked (Freud would have a field day with me). These days, anxiety dreams take the form of doing down in a plane crash. Why am I sharing all of this? Today’s guest, Steve Fretzin, knows what it’s like to go down in a plane and survive—and that event changed the course of his life forever.
MEET STEVE FRETZIN
Steve Fretzin is the host of the Be That Lawyer podcast. After surviving a near death experience in a small plane crash in 1996, Steve vowed to turn each day into an extraordinary experience. Today, he is one of the most respected business leaders and advisers on sales effectiveness. Steve has transformed thousands of sales professionals, entrepreneurs and professional service practitioners into business development stars through his proprietary system of Sales-Free Selling. He joined me to talk about his life, career, and latest book Legal Business Development Isn’t Rocket Science.
How did he characterize his life before the plane crash? How did such a life changing event impact the trajectory of his career? What drew him to sales and to later become a successful sales trainer? Listen in to find the answer to these questions as well as enjoy a bit of nostalgia as Steve talks about his first sales job ever at Kinney Shoes.
GET IN TOUCH
- Get in touch with Steve at his website
- Follow him on Instagram @Fretzinsteve
- Buy his books at Amazon
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on Instagram @uncorkingastory.
Visit us at https://uncorkingastory.com
When I was a kid, I used to dread gym class. My Physical Education teacher was fond of picking two captains for opposing teams, typically the most athletic kids in the grade, and then they’d hand select their team members. I was typically picked at the bottom of the list because I just wasn’t that good at sports. It was embarrassing to always be picked last, or close to last, and it really impacted my desire to go to school. Kids can be mean, plain and simple.
My guest today, Rob Volpe, knows exactly what I mean. Our interview started off by him telling me about a painful experience he had in grammar school but, as I came to learn, everything happens for a reason and Rob learned a very valuable lesson that day, even if he didn’t realize it until decades later.
MEET ROB VOLPE
Rob Volpe is an astute observer of life and a master storyteller who brings empathy and compassion to the human experience. As CEO of Ignite 360, he leads a team of insights, strategy, and creative professionals helping the world’s leading brands across a range of industries release untapped potential.
As a thought leader in the role of empathy in marketing and the workplace, Rob frequently speaks on the topic at conferences, corporations, and college classes, and he has been quoted in Advertising Week, Mashable, Huffington Post, TheStreet.com, Gourmet Retailer, and the Chicago Tribune, among others.
In his new book, Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation at a Time, Rob draws on his years conducting thousands of in-home interviews with everyday people to illustrate the 5 Steps to Empathy―the actions you can take to build a strong and reflexive empathy muscle.
Where did his interest in empathy come from? What’s the impact of empathy being in short supply these days? How can we build empathy within ourselves and others? Listen in for the answer to these questions and learn how you can be a part of solving the empathy crisis.
Tell Me More About That can be purchased at Amazon, Bookshop.org or ask for it wherever books are sold. Learn more about Rob at his website and follow him on Instagram @RMVOLPE.
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on Instagram @uncorkingastory.
Visit us at https://uncorkingastory.com
I remember being in business school and learning about successful founders who left college to start their businesses without a degree—people like Bill Gates, Michael Dell, and Steve Jobs. There’s another name to add to the list—Chandler Bolt, and I had the pleasure of interviewing him about his latest book Published: The Proven Path From Blank Page to 10,000 Copies Sold. MEET CHANDLER BOLT As a seven-time bestselling author and CEO of Self-Publishing School and selfpublishing.com, Chandler Bolt knows exactly how instrumental writing books can be in sharing your message and even growing and scaling your business. His message is that you can’t wait for the “perfect time” in life to get writing, the perfect time to get writing is now.
He's an investor, the CEO of Self-Publishing School & SelfPublishing.com, made it on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and the host of the 7 Figure Principles Podcast and the Self Publishing School Podcast. Through his books, podcasts, YouTube channels, and Self-Publishing School, he’s helped thousands of people write a book that grows their income, impact, and business.
Why did he drop out of college? How did he publish his first book? What is the secret to becoming a best-selling author? Listen in as Chandler discusses this and shares the backstory behind the Self Publishing School.
Purchcase Chandler’s latest book at Amazon and You learn more about Chandler at his website. Follow him on Instagram @self_publishing_school.
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on Instagram @uncorkingastory.
Visit us at https://uncorkingastory.com
All families have secrets. The big one in my family, at least for me anyway, was the fact that my older brother Greg was adopted.
When I was in high school, I was sitting in room with extended family and my auntie Joan, who really wasn’t my aunt but rather a very close friend of my mother, said to me, “You know, you are very special Michael because you are the first-born son of the family.” This was an odd comment as I knew that A. Auntie Joan was aware of my brother Gregory who is 9 years my senior and B. that she wasn’t off her rocker. When I asked, “What about Greg?” I saw her face go pale and she pretended to have forgotten about him.
Later that night, on the way to dinner, my mother and father told me that Greg was adopted as a way of explaining Auntie Joan’s comment. I turned to my twin brother Jimmy (I was older by a minute, therefore technically was the first-born son) and he said, “Mia told me years ago.” Apparently, I was the only one who didn’t know.
This walk down memory lane is relevant to today’s guest, author Laura Engel, who joined me to talk about her book You’ll Forget This Ever Happened: Secrets, Shame, and Adoption in the 1960s.
MEET LAURA ENGEL
Laura L. Engel likes to say she is late to the game as a budding new author. Originally from Biloxi, Mississippi, Laura has lived in Southern California for over 50 years. She and her husband, Gene are the proud parents of six grown children along with their significant others. They are delighted to be Grammy and PaPa to ten grandchildren.
What was it like giving up a child for adoption when she was just a teenager? How did her birth son track her down? What emotions did she experience when setting her eyes on him for the first time? Find out the answers to these questions and the heartbreaking lie she was told which inspired the title of her book.
Laura’s emotional memoir can be purchased at Amazon, Bookshop.org, or ask for it wherever you buy books. You can learn more about Laura by visiting her website or by following her on Instagram @StorytellerLaura.
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on Instagram @uncorkingastory.
Visit us at https://uncorkingastory.com
I was able to spend some time with my parents earlier this week. A last-minute business trip brought me down to Florida and, instead of staying near my clients in Miami, I decided to take advantage of the very reasonable rates at my parent’s condo on the beach in Ft. Lauderdale. Dad even through in a free rental car and dinner at my favorite spot—Gianni’s in Pompano. As I’m writing this, Mother’s Day is just about a week away and I was happy I could spend two short days with my mom because we won’t be able to see her on Mother’s Day. She really does mean the world to me and, at 88, she’s still a very happy person, even if her memory isn’t what it used to be (an understatement). When I left, she had it in her head that it was Thanksgiving and that she had to make a Turkey which would have been interesting given their oven doesn’t work, but I digress.
On today’s episode, I talk about mothers with Kim Dower, who joined me to talk about her poetry collection, “I Wore This Dress Today for You, Mom.”
MEET KIM DOWER
Kim has published four collections of poetry and has been Nominated for five Pushcart Prizes. Kim’s work has been featured in numerous literary journals including Plume, Plough shares, Rattle, The James Dickey Review, Garrison Keillor's "The Writer's Almanac," and Ted Kooser’s “American Life in Poetry.” Kim is also known as Kim from LA, a literary publicist, many of whose clients have appeared on Uncorking a Story.
Her latest collection of poems has been called a rich, complex, heartbreaking, and funny anthology of poems on motherhood—being one and having one
How did Kim’s love of poetry as a child impact her life? What inspired her to put this collection together? How did she get started as a publicist? Listen in to find the answers to these questions as well as her advice on finding your voice as a poet.
I Wore This Dress Today for You, Mom can be purchased at Amazon, Bookshop.org, and wherever books are sold.
Follow Kim on Instagram and learn more about her on her website.
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on Instagram @uncorkingastory.
Visit us at https://uncorkingastory.com
When I was in college, I studied psychology because I was fascinated by the mind-body connection. I wanted to understand what made people tick and why they do what they do. My guest today had a similar curiosity into the human condition, although went about indulging it differently—by studying anthropology.
Juliette Blackwell is the New York Times bestselling author of Off the Wild Coast of Brittany and The Vineyards of Champagne. In addition to writing the beloved Witchcraft Mystery series and the Haunted Home Renovation series, she also coauthored the Agatha Award–nominated Art Lover’s Mystery series with her sister.
She joined me to talk about her latest book, The Paris Showroom, which takes place during World War II. What’s the true story that sparked the idea for this book? What role does observation play in Juliet’s writing process? What is her fascination with haunted houses? Listen in to today’s episode for the answers to these questions plus learn my link to WWII era France. As a teaser, it has something to do with Anthony Fauci!
The Pairs showroom can be purchased at Amazon.com, at Bookshop.org, or wherever you buy books. Learn more about Juliet Blackwell at https://julietblackwell.net/
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Visit us at https://uncorkingastory.com
Matthew Fray is a relationship coach and writer who leans on the lessons of his failed marriage and divorce to help others avoid making the same mistakes he did. His writing has been featured in The New York Times, The Sunday Times, The Huffington Post, Babble, and many more. His blog, Must Be This Tall To Ride, has a dedicated following and has reached millions of readers. Filtered through the lens of his own surprising, life-changing experience and his years counseling couples, his book THIS IS HOW YOUR MARRIAGE ENDS: A Hopeful Approach to Saving Relationships exposes the root problem of so many relationships that go wrong: we simply haven’t been taught any of the necessary skills. Why did Matthew’s marriage go south? How did a call to a therapist motivate him to turn his experience into a blog and later a book? What’s the dating reality for people in their 40s? Matthew discusses all of this and more in this insightful episode.
What you will Learn in this Episode
- How we accidentally damage our relationships via habits that we honestly don’t know are harmful. This is how good people end up being “bad” spouses.
- How few things can destroy relationships as reliably as inequality in our shared domestic responsibilities (usually housework and parenting).
- Why the quality of intimacy correlates closely with how competently we manage and participate in this shared domestic work. Men, in particular, should take heed. If she feels like your mom, she’s not going to want to sleep with you.
- Why two relationship-damaging habits “invisible” to many people are especially harmful because we often don’t notice them or the paper-cut wounds that build up because of them — our tendency to invalidate others’ emotional experiences when we disagree with them; and our frequent failure to consider a partner’s emotional wants and needs when making decisions due to thoughtlessness or forgetfulness.
- That relationships require safety and trust in order to survive and thrive. Unfortunately, many people are blind to the ways we accidentally erode trust or take away another’s sense of safety through our daily routines. Our relationships crumble to the point of no return, often while one or both partners are too busy or distracted to notice.
Where to buy Matthew Fray's This is How Your Marriage Ends
Amazon | Bookshop.org
Visit https://matthewfray.com/ for more information.
Imagine that one simple, humbling question could change the trajectory of your career forever. By simply asking his clients, “What would you do if you were me?” today’s guest, John Saunders, uncorked the guidance he needed to excel in his role as a Wall Street SVP and sales team leader. He joined me to talk about parlaying his wisdom into a book and his career as a coach.
MEET JOHN SAUNDERS
John Saunders spent many years as a Wall Street Senior Vice President, sales team leader, and award-winning sales executive. He followed his passion for helping others grow and founded coaching and consulting company, Forward Advisory Solutions. He’s also the author of The Optimizer: Building and Leading a Team of Serial Innovators.
KEY TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:
- John’s career in sales and how he took it into overdrive
- How John pivoted to becoming and author
- How a pitch meeting led to John’s new career as an author coach
- Why we sometimes need to look inside, rather than outside, to overcome limitations
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM MY TALK WITH JOHN
- Look inside. John is fond of saying, “The worst lies are the ones we tell ourselves.” If things are not going right in your life or career, look inside and identify what you can change. Oftentimes after accepting responsibility for outcomes, we can get past our limitations and excel in our lives and careers.
- Align structure and story. When writing a book, you must start with a solid structure for what you want to write about, but it is important to balance that structure with a compelling story to keep readers engaged.
- Solicit feedback. John helps authors get published by helping them navigate a structured process involving pre-selling, beta readers, and editors. The pre-sale is an important component as it serves as a proof of concept. Once a project gets the greenlight and an author starts developing content, they are asked to share their work with those “investors” along the way. During this humbling process, the author learns what works, what doesn’t work, and can create a stronger, more marketable book.
WHERE TO BUY THE OPTIMIZER: BUILDING AND LEADING A TEAM OF SERIAL INNOVATORS
Amazon | Bookshop.org
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH JOHN
Website: https://www.johncsaunders.com/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcs-optimizer/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jcs_optimizer/
MEMORABLE QUOTE FROM JOHN
“Creation is an incredibly powerful force, and if you want to find something interesting to do in life, immerse yourself in something and create something out of that. You'll find a great outcome from that.”
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One of the biggest challenges for a new author is to find their voice while writing something that will make a difference in the world. That's why Linda Griffin decided to become a book coach and help new authors find their path through the publishing process. Linda shares her story of how she became a book coach and why she’s motivated to help new authors tell their story. She explains the importance of following the right process and providing guidance along the way.
MEET LINDA GRIFFIN
Linda Griffin who a published author and book coach. Her mentoring program is designed to give busy professionals, coaches, consultants, CEO’s and business owners a step-by-step process to write and publish a non-fiction book based on their knowledge and expertise.
KEY TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE
- Why she pivoted from her desire to work in travel and hospitality to a career as an author coach.
- What she learned about writing and publishing the hard way.
- Her role as an author coach and why it is important for authors to consider hiring one.
- The three important questions she asks aspiring writers to answer before beginning the process.
- How she motivates new authors who are struggling to put the words in their head onto a piece of paper.
- Who the ideal candidates for her program are.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM MY TALK WITH LINDA
- Ask for help. Being a new author can be tough. Not only do you have to worry about the creative aspects of writing a book, but you also need to navigate the murky waters of the publishing world. Fortunately, book coaches can provide valuable guidance and support throughout the process; from the initial brainstorming stage all the way through to publication.
- Follow your passion. There's something special about writing a book. It's a passion that not everyone understands, but for those of us who do, it's a path we can't imagine not taking. Writing is our love language. It’s our way of communicating our deepest thoughts and feelings and it’s how we make sense of the world around us. When we share our writing with others, it has the power to change lives.
- Find your path. Linda started out wanting to be in the travel industry and thought that writing would be a good way to help her break into it. After realizing that writing is her true passion, she pivoted and became a writer and an author coach. Now she helps people find their way on the writing path.
- Start with 3 questions. Linda encourages authors to ask themselves the following questions: who are you writing this book for? How will their live be better if they read your book? What do you want the book to do for you? The answers to these questions should serve as the foundation for your work.
- Be teachable. Being teachable is one of the most important traits an author can have, especially if they're new to the publishing world. A book coach is someone who guides authors through the writing process, from start to finish. They'll be able to offer advice and feedback on your work, as well as provide insight into the publishing industry. As a book coach is a partner in this journey, it's important that you trust their judgment and be open to their suggestions.
MEMORABLE QUOTES FROM LINDA
“Follow your passion. Write about something that you're passionate about, because you're going to bring that energy with you to the book”
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH LINDA
Buy her books: Amazon
Website: https://www.expertauthor411.com/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindagriffin/
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Every now and then I get a reminder that I’m only human, and that reminder came in the introduction to this episode where I mispronounce the title of my guest’s book. Thankfully, Beth Anstandig had a sense of humor about it, and we had a good laugh. It is someone apropos, as laughing is a part of the human experience and that was a big topic of conversation today!
MEET BETH ANSTANDIG
As a self-described life-long cowgirl, licensed psychotherapist, and professor Beth Anstandig has 25 years of experience developing, implementing and training people in Natural Leadership, a model she pioneered. She’s trained thousands of leaders and teams from some of the most renowned corporations, universities, and nonprofits, helping them awaken their innate power and awareness to live, lead, and work with more authentic relationships and connection. Her book, The Human Herd: Awakening our Natural Leadership is available wherever books are sold.
KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:
- How observing animals impacted her life at a very young age.
- How she identified and nurtured a love of writing.
- Why she pivoted from an academic to becoming a writer.
- The Natural Leadership model explained.
- The idea behind her book: The Human Herd: Awakening Our Natural Leadership
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM MY TALK WITH BETH
- At an early age, Beth was fascinated by animal behavior and how it differed from that of humans. Her curiosity guided her to her present career where she coaches people on making more authentic connections to others.
- Writing as an escape. For Beth, writing has always been a way to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It's a safe place where she can retreat from the outside world and explore her own thoughts and feelings.
- The herd. Animals have always been a big part of Beth's life, and she sees something in them that she doesn't see in many humans—honesty and freedom. When Beth watches animals, she feels as though they are living in the moment and not afraid to show their emotions.
- Following the human herd. It's important to remember that being honest about our needs is not a sign of weakness, but a strength. It shows that we are confident enough to express ourselves and be vulnerable. When we are honest about our feelings and needs, we open up the possibility for deeper connections with others.
WHERE TO BUY THE HUMAN HERD:
Amazon | Bookshop.org
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH BETH
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecircleupexperience/
Website: https://www.thecircleupexperience.com/about/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethanstandig992861132/
MEMORABLE QUOTES FROM BETH
“Reading poetry has always been huge for me; it really broke down so many barriers and allowed me to find my own voice. Sometimes it was imitating voices or there were lines that would inspire me and serve as a launching place. The more I did that, the more I was becoming part of a family of poetry and feeling like it has its own current like a river. It is important for artists to become part of the world that their art resides in.”
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Over the years on Uncorking a Story, I’ve interviewed many lawyers who have tapped into their creative side and written a debut novel and I can now add Matthew Necci’s name to that list. Who is the inspiration behind the story? What motivates him to write? How important was his wife’s support in moving him from aspiring to published author? Listen in to hear the answers to these questions and hear his perspective on my beloved UConn Huskies.
MEET MATTHEW NECCI
Matthew Necci is the author of The Road Will Someday Bend. He is a practicing attorney by trade, with a penchant for social media and community building. Matt's daily musings about the UConn Huskies, the New York Mets, Greater Hartford, and the Adirondacks can be found on Twitter: @UConnNetch
KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST:
- How he identified a love of writing early in his life.
- Why he approaches legal briefs as exercises in persuasive storytelling.
- The importance of encouragement in the writing process.
- Why he started writing his debut novel The Road Will Someday Bend.
- The importance of vulnerability in the writing process.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM MY TALK WITH MATTHEW
- The power of encouragement. Matthew and his wife have a true partnership. She not only encouraged him to write his debut novel but also helped edit his work.
- Tell the story you want to tell. Matthew was inspired by his grandfather’s life—an Italian immigrant sent to the United States by his family in pursuit of a better life who found himself drafted into the Army fighting against his kinfolk. While Matt’s book is a novel, it is based in large part on his Grandfather’s experiences in the war.
- Being open to pivot. When it comes to writing fiction, Matt understands that having an outline is important, but flexibility to pivot during the writing process is very important.
WHERE TO BUY THE ROAD WILL SOMEDAY BEND
Amazon | Bookshop.org
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH MATTHEW
Website: http://www.matthewnecciwrites.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/UConnNetch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uconnnetch/
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-necci/
MEMORABLE QUOTE FROM MATTHEW
"My wife is my absolute partner in everything. Every time I'd write a chapter, she would be the first person that would read it and give some third-party thoughts about where the story was going. And I kind of made the commitment to her that I knew I was going to finish this book. I wanted her to be brutally honest, so that if she was really interested, I was going to keep showing it to her. And if she wasn't interested, I think I still would have finished, but I'm not sure I would have gone about putting it out in the world the way I did. So I'm incredibly thankful for her."
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The stories my father has told me about his childhood are ones that have stayed with me. There are stories about the ice cream shop he worked in, the pranks he played on his bus driver, and the trouble he used to get into with his partner-in-crime Bobby MacGyver, but the one that always stuck with me was one he’d tell about his mother. My grandfather was a police officer in New Rochelle and my dad would tell me my grandmother would ask him to bring home a pint of ice cream and she’d eat it while waiting for him to walk through the door after his shift had ended. I can vividly picture her waiting in a chair by the door eating coffee ice cream while anxiously waiting for my grandpa to come home. I share this because today’s guest, Karen White, was also impacted by some of the stories her father would tell her as well and elements of those stories are featured in her bestselling novels.
MEET KAREN WHITE
Karen White is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of 31 books, including the Tradd Street series, The Last Night in London, Dreams of Falling, The Night the Lights Went Out, Flight Patterns, The Sound of Glass, and A Long Time Gone. She is the coauthor of All the Ways We Said Goodbye, The Glass Ocean and The Forgotten Room with New York Times bestselling authors Beatriz Williams and Lauren Willig. Her latest novel, The Shop on Royal Street, came out on March 29th.
KEY TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE
- How reading was a form of escape for Karen
- How her dad’s real ghost stories impacted her imagination and writing
- The role of encouragement played in Karen’s writing journey
- Why she went from being a reader to a writer after becoming a mother
- The idea behind her new series first book
- Why validation is important for authors
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM MY TALK WITH KAREN
- Writing as an escape. Karen enjoys escaping into a good book. For her, it's more than just entertainment; reading actually provides an opportunity for self-reflection and world excavation that she can't get any other way!
- When she was young, Karen’s dad used to tell stories about growing up poor in the South during the Great Depression. These stories stayed with her and elements of them wind up in her own writing.
- The importance of encouragement. Karen's 6th grade teacher saw potential in her and encouraged to explore her talent, which put her on the path of becoming an author.
- Just do it. Karen takes a page out of the Nike playbook while dishing out advice to aspiring authors—to just do it!
WHERE TO BUY THE SHOP ON ROYAL STREET
Amazon | Bookshop.org
MEMORABLE QUOTES FROM KAREN
“Just do it. My sixth-grade teacher used to say where there's a will there's a way. I know a mother of four who just who started writing she's now a New York Times bestselling author. She would get up at four o'clock in the morning to write before she had to get up with the kids and then go do her full-time job. So, where there's a will there's a way. Don’t’ picture anybody looking behind you; write the story that you want to write, and then the rest will fall into place.
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH KAREN
Website: https://www.karen-white.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenwhitewrite/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KarenWhiteWrite
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Imagine walking into a newspaper editor’s office, interviewing for a job as a sportswriter having never written a sports related article before, getting the gig and totally rocking it. That’s just what Carol Finizza did and I’m very excited to share her story with you today.
MEET CAROL FINIZZA
Carol has had a passion for storytelling since crafting articles for her college newspaper. She was a former sportswriter for the Orange County Register and a regular contributor to Orange Coast Magazine. She is the author of The Surf-Vival Handbook for Land and Sea, a girl’s guide to life at the beach. Murder on Hollywood Beach is her debut novel in The Messy Girl Murder Series.
KEY TOPICS IN THIS PODCAST
- When she discovered her talent for writing and storytelling
- How writing can be a form of therapy
- The true story that inspired Murder on Hollywood Beach
- Why aspiring writers should be fearless and to follow their passion.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM MY TALK WITH CAROL
- Writing is therapy. Writing can be a form of therapy and can be used as an escape from the reality of the world. It can be used to explore emotions and thoughts that might be difficult to express out loud.
- Follow your curiosity. Curiosity is fuel for authors, who follow their noses to interesting—and sometimes unlikely—places for the benefit of their readers.
- Be persistent. Writing is a talent and like any other talent it must be nurtured and developed through practice and persistence. Most authors will be rejected many times before getting that publication deal and being a successful writer means more than just having the ability to put words on paper; it requires dedication, discipline, and a willingness to continue learning and growing as an author.
- Sharing is caring. Writing communities are a wonderful place for beginners and experienced professionals alike to hone their craft. By sharing their knowledge and being generous with their time, experienced writers can help those just starting out on their writing journey.
- There’s always room for improvement. Carol's love for writing was always there, even though she’ll be the first to tell you that she wasn't the best at spelling or grammar. However, she was able to overcome this limitation by making herself vulnerable and asking for help from others.
WHERE TO BUY MURDER ON HOLLYWOOD BEACH
Amazon Bookshop.org
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH CAROL
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolfinizza/
Website: https://www.carolfinizzaauthor.com/
Linked In: linkedin.com/in/carol-finizza-10079525
MEMORABLE QUOTE FROM CAROL
“What I would say to any writer like me, is to follow your heart. It’s a passion and you have to take the word can’t out of your vocabulary. Don’t let the obstacles of what other people say or think get in your way.”
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I have a confession to make–I always wanted to be a gameshow host; unfortunately, I have a face for radio. That said, a guy can dream and I always saw myself hosting Jeopardy and if there was a clue about today’s guest it would be, A Pulitzer Prize winning author who does not identify as a writer. The answer, of course, would be ‘Who is Debby Applegate?’
MEET DEBBY APPLEGATE
Debby Applegate is an American historian and biographer. She is the author of The Most Famous Man in America: The Biography of Henry Ward Beecher, for which she won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography. Her latest book is Madam: The Biography of Polly Adler, Icon of the Jazz Age.
KEY TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE
- How Debby transitioned from a career in academia to a career as a writer.
- What she found most curious about the life of Henry Ward Beecher.
- The inspiration behind her latest biography about a Madam during the Jazz Age.
- The noteworthy people, including a US President, who were known to visit Polly Adler’s brothel.
- Our mutual appreciation for The Love Boat!
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM MY TALK WITH DEBBY
- Research pays off. Debby is a research addict, which explains why it took over a decade to write Madam. It paid off though, the book was an instant bestseller, earning well-deserved recognition from audiences and critics alike.
- Get them turning the page. Debby’s contract for her first book, for which she won a Pulitzer Prize, was canceled by the publisher after they received some early chapters. Debby decided to take it upon herself to learn how to write in a way that would keep readers turning the page. To do that, she studied how to write mysteries, thrillers, and even pornography!
- Be resilient. Many may have thrown in the towel after having their contract canceled, but Debby rolled up her sleeves and went back to the drawing board. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from successful authors like Debby is that talent alone isn’t enough to make it as an author—resilience is key.
WHERE TO BUY MADAM
AMAZON.COM; BOOKSHOP.ORG
GET IN TOUCH WITH DEBBY
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debbyapplegate/
Website: http://www.themostfamousmaninamerica.com/
Linked In: linkedin.com/in/debby-applegate-0459446
MEMORABLE QUOTE
"My goal was to get the reader to read the next sentence and then the next paragraph. To then turn the page and, God willing, to get to the end of the chapter and then to the end of the boo. To do that, I had to get people wondering what's going to happen next, or what's going to be said next, or wondering why that thing that they just described happened. So I thought, well, okay, that means suspense essentially. How do you create a feeling of suspense that gets people to keep going? So I went to the library and looked up books about how to write thrillers and how to write mysteries, which I knew nothing about. And I started doing the exercise; what does my protagonist want? What is standing in the way of my protagonist? What is the backstory? What is the climax? I even read one great essay about how to write pornography because I mean, who succeeds better and putting ideas in your head than pornographers?"
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I’ve been following Cindy Gallop for some time on LinkedIn—she’s one of those LinkedIn influencers who certainly takes the boring out of the platform. If there is one word that I would use to describe her, it’s provocative, and I know that I’m not alone in feeling that way—she caught the attention of my moderator friend and colleague Laura Nozicka too. So, when Cindy said yes to an interview request, I just had to bring Laura along for the ride, and I am so glad that I did.
MEET CINDY GALLOP
Cindy has been called the Michael Bay of Business because, well ,she likes to blow things up. Her background includes over 30 years in brand-building, marketing and advertising. She started up the US office of ad agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) in New York in 1998 and in 2003 was named Advertising Woman of the Year. She didn’t come onto the show to talk about that, though—she was eager to promote her new venture MakeLoveNotPorn and we had a blast—and learned a lot—but speaking with her.
KEY TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE
- How and empathy building exercise led her to start dating younger men
- Why she started MakeLoveNotPorn (MLNP)
- Why she believes MLNP can change relationship dynamics for the better and put a nail in the coffin of rape culture
- How diversity is the backbone of empathy
- The importance of building diverse teams so that advertising can better reflect (and not stereotype) the consumers who are targeted by it
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM OUR TALK WITH CINDY
- Sex Education needs to Change. In the United States, we do not do a great job teaching our kids about sex beyond reproduction. In turn, kids watch pornography and learn about sex in a way that is not truthful and that can damage interpersonal relationships. MLNP is meant to show sex using real couples and provides a more truthful look at sexual relationships.
- We Must do Better. We need to hire, mentor, reward, and promote women and people of color in our creative teams in order to end stereotypes in advertising and speak to the people we are creating for in more relevant ways and using more relevant messages.
- The Best is Yet to Come. The marketing industry’s best days are ahead of it, and we won’t see them until we start building more diverse leadership and creative teams including women and people of color.
MEMORABLE QUOTES FROM CINDY
“Advertising is an industry dominated by white men, especially in the creative department. You don’t have young, single black female creatives, or, importantly, older, single, black female creatives, who are in those creative departments with the power to create the ads that would really speak to you and me. Don’t even get me started on older women in advertising. Advertising is racist as hell. We need to end stereotypes in advertising. When you're a young, white male creative, it's really easy to default to a heterosexual married couple, you know, because you are dealing in stereotypes, because that's all you know. Whereas if you are an older black woman, creating the ad, boy oh boy we'd be represented very differently in that ad. That's the problem. It all goes back to hire, promote, welcome, champion, reward, compensate, and value diverse talent. And you'll be amazed at the creative output that you then get. Our industry thinks that its glory days are over. Our industry's glory days have not even begun, because we have not even begun to see what our industry could be with the talents and skills and creativity of women and people of color.”
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH CINDY GALLOP
MLNP Website: https://makelovenotporn.tv/
Website: https://cindygallop.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindygallop/
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Many of you long-time listeners know that I’m the proud father of triplets—the fact that they are turning twenty in a few short weeks is mindboggling to me. What many of you don’t know is that my wife was on supervised bedrest in the hospital for six weeks before giving birth to them. I spent all but two nights with her in the hospital during that time, and, while I admired the hell out of her for the sacrifices she was making for our unborn children, it pained me to see how uncomfortable she was. As a very active person, it was very difficult for her to have so little movement during this time. In short, her freedom was gone. When I was pitched the opportunity to interview Aileen Weintraub about the memoir she wrote about her time on bedrest, I jumped at the chance, and am so glad that I did. It is an amazing conversation.
MEET AILEEN WEINTRAUB
Aileen Weintraub is an award-winning author, journalist, and editor whose latest book, Knocked Down: A High-Risk Memoir, is about a Brooklyn girl who moves to the country, gets married, and finds herself living in a rickety farmhouse, knocked up, and faced with the prospect of five months of bed rest. Despite the seriousness of the topic, and the craziness that so many life changes coming at her brought, Aileen delivered her story with warmth, insight, and a very healthy dose of humor.
KEY TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:
- How, as a little girl, her relationship with a librarian inspired her career as a writer and author.
- How writing children's books restored the creativity that was missing in a previous job.
- How writing her memoir helped her deal with depression and improved her mental health.
- How pre-natal depression is not discussed as much as it should be.
- Why it was so important for her to include humor in her story.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM MY TALK WITH AILEEN
- Life is the curveball. The phrase life sometimes throws you curveballs is misleading. While it’s true that we all have good times and bad times, life is ever changing and it’s up to use to adapt to the changing conditions around us.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help. Whether you are trying to get published or need mental health counseling, resources are available to help. While it takes vulnerability to ask for help, there’s no shame in doing so.
- Getting a book should be considered a marathon, not a sprint. While many of us are eager to get our work out there as quickly as possible, take the time to embrace feedback from editors and beta readers. Doing so will make your book stronger, and more marketable.
- Be an advocate. Aileen observed that, while post-partum depression is a popular topic around new mothers, pre-natal depression is a reality that is not often discussed for mothers-to-be. High-risk pregnancies can leave a woman feeling as if they are failing because they have difficulty enjoying what they are told should be a very happy time. Aileen addresses this in her book and has helped other women feel as if they are not so alone while dealing with pre-natal depression.
WHERE TO BUY KNOCKED DOWN: A HIGH-RISK MEMOIR:
Amazon Bookshop.org
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH AILEEN WEINTRAUB
Website: https://www.aileenweintraub.com/
Instagram: @aileenweintraub
MEMORABLE QUOTES FROM AILEEN
“And one thing that I realized while writing this book, is that life doesn't throw you curveballs, life is the curveball, and nothing happens in a linear fashion. So, you don't get pregnant, have a high risk pregnancy, and then have something else bad happen. These things all happen together. And that's what life is. And so, for me, having a high-risk pregnancy, and finally processing my father's death, because here I am in bed five months in an old farmhouse, I know very few people, and now it's just me and my grief. And what I realized is, my father didn't want me to grieve, or at least that's what I thought, because he had always raised me to be very strong. And I think he knew what a sensitive person I was. So, I was trying to honor his memory by not letting it affect me. And then suddenly, I'm on bed rest. And I can feel myself slipping into this pre-natal depression, which by the way, nobody else talks about really. And so, if we're not happy and joyous during our pregnancy, we feel shamed because we should just be so happy that we are pregnant. And that is not the case for so many people. And so, it's really important to shed light on this. And what I realized, while I'm dealing with this depression, is that my father was dealing with depression. And it's not something I've ever understood, and being able to unpack that while on bed rest really helped me come to terms with who he was as a man.”
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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 anything from the Conjuring series as classics. Maybe it’s my Catholic upbringing, but if we believe that goodness exists and came to Earth in the form of a God, then the opposite must be true, right? If God and the Angels can do it, why not the devil and his demons? When I was given the opportunity to interview Lynn Hightower about her latest book, The Enlightenment Project, in which an exorcism features prominently, I simply couldn’t pass it up.
MEET LYNN HIGHTOWER
Lynn Hightower the author of numerous thrillers, including the Sonora Blair and Lena Padget detective series. Her internationally-bestselling novels have been included in the New York Times List of Notable Books, the London Times bestseller lists, the WH Smith Fresh Talent Awards, and the Shamus award. Lynn teaches Master Novel classes in the UCLA Extension Writing Program and works as a Manuscript Consultant/Writing Coach for novelists. Her latest book, The Enlightenment Project, is available now wherever books are sold.
KEY TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:
- How her love of writing in grammar school got her into trouble in History, Math and geography class.
- Her fascination with haunted places and how she lived in one while writing a book.
- The interesting premise behind her latest book, The Enlightenment Project.
- Why cases of Exorcism are on the rise in Italy.
- How her creativity and investigative research fuel her successful career.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM MY TALK WITH LYNN
- Put yourself in the reader’s seat. Tell a story you want to read, but that hasn’t been written yet.
- Give yourself permission. Allow yourself to follow your dream, if your dream is writing a book.
- Boundaries matters. The business side of the publishing world is juxtaposition to the creativity that fuels writing. Create a boundary between the two to keep your sanity!
- Follow your instinct. As an author, the best decisions are sometimes made through gut instinct.
- Love wins. The only thing that matters in life is who you love, so love well.
WHERE TO BUY THE ENLIGHTENMENT PROJECT:
Amazon Bookshop.org
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH LYNN HIGHTOWER
Website: https://www.lynnhightower.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnhightowerauthor/
Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/lynnshightower
MEMORABLE QUOTES FROM LYNN
“I have a lot of advice for aspiring authors. Tell the story you wish someone would tell you, the kind of story you would just love to curl up with and read. Readers will forgive you anything if you deliver on once upon a time. I really believe that. Second, give yourself permission to be a novelist. This is the work of your heart. It's what you really want to do, and it's not for the cool kids or for the special people. If you have a story to tell, go ahead and tell it and get it down as best you can. After that, it's a brutal business. Not every novel that should be published is published. So, the only way to keep yourself sane, is to do everything you can, but just accept that your story is going to find its place in the universe, and send it out there and hope that it finds its way into the hands of somebody who would like to read it. That's how I survive.”
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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 deserving of every accolade it has received.
MEET NITA PROSE
Nita Prose is a longtime editor, serving many bestselling authors and their books. What drew her from a job as a special needs teacher to a career as an editor? What motivates her most when working on an author’s manuscript? How did she make the leap from being an editor to having a smash-hit debut novel? Listen in to uncover the answers to these questions as well as learn the newfound appreciation Nita Prose has for authors after walking in their shoes.
KEY TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:
- Why Nita made the leap from special education teacher to editor.
- Nita’s perspective on a successful editor/author relationship.
- How she taps into empathy while editing an author’s work and how she tapped into empathy while writing her debut novel.
- How the idea of The Maid came to her and why it’s so important for authors to follow their curiosity.
- How she has dealt with success of her debut novel and what she’s learned about being an author that she can now use when working as an editor.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM MY TALK WITH NITA:
- Always be curious. Nita followed her curiosity about what it’s like to be a hotel room maid and turned it into a #1 bestselling novel.
- Write what you know. Nita leaned on her experiences as a special needs teacher to inform key elements of her protagonist.
- Love what you do. Nita loves working with authors to make their work as good as it can be. Loving what you do is a true blessing and a key to a successful career.
- It’s never too late. Nita’s debut novel came out when she was 49. You are never too old to follow your dreams!
- Success never comes overnight. Nita's debut novel The Mai” went on to be a best-seller, but she had a long career before ever seeing success as an author.
MEMORABLE QUOTES FROM NITA
I love working with my authors and I love being involved in their creative processes and helping them survive it and get through on the other side. I didn't have a master plan to write a debut novel. In 2019, I went to the London book fair, and I was staying in a London area hotel, and I stepped out for a bit for a meeting and came back at an unusual hour in the morning. I opened my hotel room door, and completely startled the maid who was cleaning it. And I remember her, you know, jumping backwards into a dark corner. The highly embarrassing part is that she had my pants in her hands, because I’d gone for a run that morning and I left my sweatpants in a tangled mess on my bed. And she was holding those and looking shocked to see me and I just thought to myself, wow, it's such an intimate and invisible job to be a room maid. You know, she'd been cleaning my room for days, so she knew so much about me, but I knew nothing about her. So that's, how it started. A few days later, I was on my plane ride home after my trip and that's when it started to really gel for me. I started to hear Molly's voice, the protagonist from The Maid, and it was crisp, it was clean, and precise and it was polished to perfection. And I heard it, I heard it just like that. And I grabbed the napkin from under my drink because I didn't have any paper and I started to write what is now the prologue to the book in a single burst. And that is when, even though I didn't know it at the time, I started my debut novel.
WHERE TO BUY THE MAID:
Amazon Bookshop.org
HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH NITA PROSE
Website: https://www.nitaprose.com/
Twitter and Instagram: @NitaProse
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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 vulnerability that makes it possible. What am I talking about? I’m glad you asked. I’m talking about empathy. Empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. This deep understanding of how other people feel can be honed to fuel both new product ideas as well as innovations to make existing products more useful. April Bell, today’s guest, knows this well and describes how we can further develop our own empathy so that it fuels inspiration, and I couldn’t have been more excited to speak with her about that.
MEET APRIL BELL
April loves to solve problems. She has conducted more than 11,000 hours of empathy research through her boutique research agency, April Bell Research Group, working with many of the world’s giant brands such as PepsiCo, P&G, Hewlett Packard, and Pfizer to name a few.
She’s observed the impact of empathy, not only on user experiences but also on personal and organizational transformation. These experiences inspired April to write her first book, The Fire Starter: Igniting Innovation with Empathy.
KEY TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE
- How April got into the insights business and how she uncovered how important empathy is to her work.
- Where the idea for The Fire Starter came from.
- What she learned about herself during the writing process.
- The distinction between empathy and sympathy, and why so many people confuse the two.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM MY TALK WITH APRIL
- Ask for help. The Fire Starter is April’s first book and, while she was inspired to write it, she had a difficult time maintaining focus. Working with an author coach will help with the process of crafting your book so that it is structured well and well-paced from start to finish.
- Empathy is not easy. It takes vulnerability to put yourself in someone else's shoes and understand their feelings as if they are your own. While there’s always a risk associated with doing this, it pays off in the form of having a deeper understanding of what other people are going through. In this way, it is fuel for innovation.
- Gateway to empathizing. Being in tune with your senses can help you be more empathetic.
- Innovation is key. New products and processes will always be needed to meet our every changing needs as a society. Necessity may be the mother of invention, but empathy is required to help craft the right inventions.
ADVICE FROM APRIL
“If you thought about emotion differently, that emotion is actually a gift to give you information in order to create something new and use it as that, it actually does solve really big problems. I mean, you and I know that it when we're innovating products, the way to the key to the kingdom is to find the emotional attachment associated with whatever is wanting to be created, because that gives a purpose or a point for it. But when we allow like our bodily sensations and our emotional sensations and our mental sensations to kind of come together, the sixth, seventh and eighth sense, then we can actually create, you know, a more holistic way of thinking or solving a problem. And so I think, you know, again, you know, empathy is kind of a gateway to doing that.”
WHERE TO BUY
Amazon
GET IN TOUCH
Instagram Website
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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 romantic ones. We do things for other people while ignoring or not even realizing what it is we really want. This can lead to resentment, frustration, and feeling like our needs don’t matter. Oftentimes, this is something we learned in childhood when high expectations are thrust upon us, and we don’t realize the wounds that cause until later in life when we can process it with more fully formed minds.
Ashleigh Renard knows what I mean all too well. She spent her childhood, and a good part of her young adult life, on the ice. She skated through injury and pain because she felt she needed to be perfect. During this time in her life, she was rewarded for suppressing her needs and living for others. However, this came to haunt her in adulthood when her marriage nearly fell apart. She worked her way through it, though, in a way that many of us might find unconventional—by opening up her marriage. After doing so, she realized what she needed in life and found the strength and courage to admit it to her husband—and now their marriage has never been stronger. Listen in to hear her talk about that, and so much more!
MEET 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 encouragement to millions of couples every week through her lifestyle blog and coaching practice. She also co-hosts a podcast for content creators looking to grow their platform. Her memoir, Swing: A Memoir of Doing it all, has been called the sexiest, funniest, most deeply felt memoir you will read this year. I’ve read it and completely agree!
KEY TOPICS COVERED
- Ashleigh’s background as a figure skater and coach
- How putting her needs last impacted her relationship with her husband
- Her motivation for writing Swing and the risks she took opening up about her personal life throughout the book
- The importance of prioritizing ourselves, understanding and voicing our needs
- The secret to building a platform for content creators
- How her advice blog is impact relationships and marriages in a positive way
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Find your voice. While many of us have been rewarded for putting ourselves last, it is important to remember that we are human, we have needs, and we need to express them. No one will just know them without us speaking up.
- It's not too late. If your personal relationship is on the rocks, it’s never too late to turn things around. Communication is key!
- Monogamy isn’t for everyone. Sometimes opening up a marriage can lead to increased communication and stronger feelings of trust and love.
- Get Physical. Physical intimacy is a natural and healthy extension of a relationship. Our best sexual intentions are often put to rest, however, as we collapse into an exhausted heap at the end of the day. Instead, you and your partner need to consciously commit to turning up the heat.
- Be Vulnerable. Sometimes you must dig deep and become vulnerable. Couples may find it surprising, but if each one becomes curious about one's own blind spots, discovers them, and then is courageous enough to share that vulnerability, it can help create deeper intimacy.
MEMORABLE ADVICE
“Give yourself permission to do something physical, get in your body, do something that's that lights you up, whether that's painting, taking a ceramics class or taking the dog for a hike. Those are the things that I think are going to help you connect with your partner physically.”
WHERE TO BUY SWING
Amazon Bookshop.org
GET IN TOUCH
https://ashleighrenard.com/links
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Welcome to the first ever best of episode of Uncorking a Story.
Today, we revisit our first ever episode with Fr. Dave Dwyer, who talks about how he pivoted from working in comedy to becoming a Catholic priest after hearing a calling at a World Youth Day.
I hope you find this story as inspiring as I did.
Check out Fr. Dave on Instagram @fatherdavedwyer and at BustedHalo.com.
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 second—Tilting with Lips, a comedic mystery to setting four friends on an adventure to uncover who William Shakespeare really was.
How did he become a D1 basketball coach? What key lessons did he learn after penning his first novel that he applied to his second? Why is it so important to research your subjects and experience their environment firsthand? Listen in to learn the answers to these questions as well as Sully’s take on the greatest hockey movie of all time (hint, it’s not Youngblood).
MEET SULLY
William “Sully” Sullivan is a 1995 graduate of The University of Connecticut. He is a retired D1 college basketball coach living in Connecticut with his wife, Jennifer and their children Holden and Conor. As the world’s greatest collector of friends, he can also be found hoisting the occasional pint in the corner pub with his brothers. “Tilting With Lips” is his second novel.
KEY TOPICS:
- How and when he discovered his love of Shakespeare
- His motivation for writing
- What he’s learned about himself through the writing and publishing process
- How he got into coaching D1 College basketball
- The inspiration behind “Tilting With Lips”
- Advice he received from Wally Lamb, the Bestselling author of “She’s Come Undone”
- Life lessons from the 1980’s classic Mr. Mom
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM MY TALK WITH SULLY
- Show up to class. You can’t teach yourself Shakespeare.
- Do your Homework. In-depth research your subject brings authenticity to your writing
- Embrace the Pivot. He’s a former division one basketball coach who is transforming his love of writing into a new career.
- Inspire Others. As a D1 basketball coach, Sully had to inspire his team on the court. Listen in to hear his advice to aspiring authors.
MEMORABLE QUOTES FROM THE EPISODE
“If you're not ready to work to promote yourself and the book, get ready for your friends and family to be the only ones who read it. Because that's the hard part for me! I love coaching basketball and I love parenting my children, but I am not in love with the idea of throwing the books in the trunk of my car and going to the Lebanon Shakespeare Festival [but you must do it].”
“Finding a literary agent is the equivalent of finding a leprechaun riding a unicorn at a Red Sox victory parade in the 1960s. I got one response out of all the ones I sent out, and it's always been hard for me to figure why no one jumped on a book about Shakespeare written by a college basketball coach.”
Where to buy his book:
Amazon, Bookshop
How to get in touch with William
Twitter: @twotwenty221
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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 observing other dads, and from interviewing various generations of men. How did being raised by a single mother lead to his desire to write this book? What has he learned by interviewing various generations of men about their perspectives on fatherhood? What is the most important thing you can do as a father? Listen in to uncover the answers to these questions and be inspired by his story. Meet Kendall Smith
Kendall Smith is the author of Rookie Father: A Playbook for Men Experiencing Fatherhood for the First time. His work includes self-help, fiction, and satire, and he’s a dedicated father and husband living in New Jersey. His core focus is fatherhood and providing relevant, pragmatic advice to new dads.
Key Topics in this podcast:
- His motivation for writing non-fiction after establishing himself as an author of fiction.
- The importance encouragement plays for writers.
- How being raised by a single mother impacted his life and his desire to write this book.
- The differences between writing fiction and non-fiction.
- What he’s learned by interviewing various generations of men about their perspectives on fatherhood.
- How he feels fathers are portrayed in the media, and what we should do about it.
KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM MY TALK WITH KENDALL
- Be Present. Fatherhood is not easy but being there for your kids no matter what makes the struggle worth it.
- Be Patient. It's a parenting feat all parents should strive to achieve.
- It's all About Them. Never forget that your role as a father must be rooted in the lives of your children.
- Sharing is Caring. Kendall is a role model not just to his children but to other fathers and he generously shares his advice and observations in his book.
The Hot Seat Questions for Kendall:
- What was your favorite TV show when you were a kid?
- How do you feel when you are staring at a blank piece of paper or a blank computer screen?
- What lesson about writing or publishing did you learn the hard way?
- What’s the best piece of advice you would give to an aspiring author?
- What words of advice would you give your younger self?
Memorable Quotes/Advice From Kendall
“Bear in mind that whatever you endured in your childhood— watching your parents separate or divorce—a new child represents a clean slate. You can craft your path of fathering however you'd like. Be patient and know that your child it's a fresh start, and you can correct a lot of imbalances that you experienced when you become a dad yourself.”
Where to buy his book:
Amazon, Bookshop
How to get in touch with Kendall Smith
Website: https://therookiefather.com/
Instagram: @therookiefather
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorkendall
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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 valuable insights to make a story stronger and polished to perfection Claudia joins me today and we explore how she helps authors journey through the writing and publishing process with an eye towards making it more marketable. Her tips will be applicable for every writer who is in the process of writing a book.
What drew Claudia into this field? What are the qualities of an effective editor that every author should know? How can an author coach help make a writer’s work more marketable? Listen in to uncover the answers to these questions as well as her take on what aspiring authors need to know to be successful.
CLAUDIA VOLKMAN
Claudia has spent her entire career in the publishing industry, from her early days on the staff of a bi-monthly magazine and over eight years with a leading Christian publishing house working in special sales and product development. With forty years of experience in acquisitions, product development, editing, and typesetting, she now loves assisting all types of clients with their editorial and typesetting needs. A Chicago native, Claudia, and her husband now reside in Southwest Florida with their two charming Corgis.
CONNECT WITH CLAUDIA
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cvolkman/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cmvolkman
Personal Website: CreativeEditorialSolutions.com
Key Topics in this podcast:
- How did Claudia's editorial career begin within the publishing industry?
- What motivated her to become an editor?
- What is the role and importance of an editor in the publishing process?
- The best ways to find the right and qualified editor and publisher for your writing project.
- What is the role of an author coach and why is it important for authors?
The Hot Seat Questions for Claudia:
- How do you feel when you're about to open a fresh manuscript from a new client?
- What lesson about the publishing industry do you feel like you had to learn the hard way?
- What's the best piece of advice you could give to an aspiring author?
- What do you wish most authors knew or understood better about editors?
- What's your least favorite part of the editing process?
- What words of advice would you give your younger self?
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Editors are vital to the success of every book. Without editors, books wouldn't be as successful. They're one of the key players in making sure that a manuscript makes it from beginning to end without any errors or mistakes showing up along the way!
- Editing a book is not an easy task. The editor's role is to make the book more successful, compelling, and let the author's voice be heard.
- Look for the right editor. The cost of entry is a firm grasp on the rules of grammar and storytelling. That said, authors are encourage to find someone they can work well with and that may mean interviewing multiple editors before you find the right fit.
- Consider an author coach. When it comes to writing, some authors and especially new writers will benefit from the services of an author coach. Coaches can help shape creative ideas and educate prospective authors on the business side of publishing.
Memorable Quotes/Advice From Claudia
Keep that dream alive. Just do what you need to do to get your book written. Don't get intimidated by the blank page, don't get halfway into it and think, 'Oh, well, I'm just gonna set it aside.' If you have that dream, do it. Make it happen!
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 this episode, Jay Reid joins me to uncork an intense story about teenage suicides with a personal story about losing his son to suicide. What are the factors that are leading to teenage suicide? How to spot if your child is suffering from anxiety or depression? How can you as a parent try to resolve this issue? Listen in to uncover these answers—and maybe help to save a life.
JASON REID
Jason Reid is a partner at CEO International, where he coaches CEOs on how to be successful. He is a leader, entrepreneur, and family man. Following the suicide of his 14-year-old son, Jason started the foundation Chooselife.org. The organization’s goal is to end teen suicide by 2030. Jason is on a mission to educate families nationwide and help young people heal and speaks to audiences around the country about his own experience and how parents can converse with their children about mental health empower every parent in the US knows how to have a conversation with their kid about depression and suicide.
CONNECT WITH JAY
Linked IN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonrreid/
ChooseLife.org https://www.chooselife.org/
Tell My Story Film https://www.chooselife.org/film
Jay’s Talks https://www.chooselife.org/jays-talks
Key Topics in this podcast:
- Jay’s personal experiences with suicide.
- What he learned about the prevailing factors of teen suicide.
- The importance of taking ownership of your child’s mental health.
- How to create an open and proactive environment for your kids.
- How to resolve teenage suicides across the country by 2030.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Vulnerability isn’t weakness. Let your kids (and family) know that it’s okay to have good days and bad days. That way they won’t be left thinking that something is wrong with them if they are not as “perfect” as you appear to be.
- Parents have to own their childrens’ mental health. Just like we ask questions when our kids experience physical pain (where does it hurt? when did it start? etc.), we must respond to their emotional pain as well (how long have you felt this way? Do you always feel this way? What triggers these feelings? Do these feelings ever go away? etc.).
- Being proactive is important. We all must do a better job of proactively asking people to share how they feel when we observe that someone feels sad or anxious.
- The need to adapt. The culture our kids are growing up in is vastly different than the one we grew up in. We can’t expect the culture to revert to where it was, but we can control how we help our kids navigate the world they live in. Asking them questions, listening to their answers, and creating an environment where they feel comfortable coming to us are all important.
Memorable Quotes/Advice From Jay
“Kind of match vulnerability up with weakness, and I don't think the two are the same. Because I can tell you now that I am a lot more vulnerable, I'm definitely not weak. No one would ever assume that. Because if I were my son, that I am weak in any way. Because that's not how I show up every day. Right? I still show up as a really tough guy. But I am more vulnerable than I used to be. I think people respect that more, as opposed to the guy who always just actually, he's got his act together. And your family needs to see that. Your friends need to see that. Your spouse needs to see that. It's not, it's not a sign of weakness.”
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 a better version of herself.
Join me and Lori Jean as we uncork her story from being suicidal to becoming an educator, mentor, and certified relationship professional who coaches people through difficult times in their lives based on past attachment wounds from their past.
Listen in as Lori shares stories that help guide others towards healing while illuminating how we can take steps toward transforming our own lives and become healthy adults.
LORI JEAN GLASS
Lori Jean Glass is the author of Healthy Adult: PIVOT from Fantasy to Reality, Confusion to Clarity, Isolation to Connection she is also an educator, mentor, public speaker, certified relationship, professional, and bereavement coach. She is the CEO and founder of PIVOT, a relational alignment group comprised of trained coaches and therapists certified in The PIVOT Process. Lori Jean’s personal experiences brought her to her current work, which focuses on those who struggle in their adult relationships based on attachment wounds of the past. She is also the CEO and founder of The Glass House, a residential setting offering workshops for individuals, couples, and families to take a deep dive into the PIVOT Process to get high-impact solutions to achieve positive relational outcomes.
CONNECT WITH LORI
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lorijeanglass/?hl=en
Linked In: linkedin.com/in/lori-jean-glass
Website: lorijean.com
Company Website: lovetopivot.com/
Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/Lovetopivot
Where to purchase Healthy Adult: PIVOT from Fantasy to Reality, Confusion to Clarity, Isolation to Connection” book?
Bookshop.org Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Scribd, Book Depository
Key Topics in this podcast:
- Lori’s story and where it all started
- How she went from working in sales to becoming a coach
- Attachment wounds explained
- The difference between anxious, avoidant, ambivalent, and healthy attachment
- What is meant by our collective tolerance for unhealthy existence and how to resolve it the right way
- How to heal attachment wounds
- The Crazy Train explained
Hot Seat Questions for Lori:
- How do you feel when you stare at a blank piece of paper or a blank computer screen?
- What lesson of writing or publishing did you learn the hard way?
- What is the best piece of advice you could give to an aspiring author?
- How do you celebrate success?
- If you could write a letter to your younger self, what would you put in that letter?
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Suicide is never the answer. Lori Jean Glass almost took her life in a Chicago hotel room after chasing vodka with a handful of pills. Thankfully, she called the therapist who saved her from the brink and save her life.
- Be aware of your attachment wounds. Your attachment wounds are exposed in intimate relationships where vulnerability, trust, and safety are most vital. That's why someone you really care about can deeply trigger your wounds. Knowing what they are is the first step in being able to have healthy adult relationships.
- Resilience is the key. Her personal experiences with trauma brought her to her current work, which focuses on those who struggle in their adult relationships based on attachment wounds of the past.
- You can become a healthy adult. The PIVOT process will help you uncover the tools you need to form healthy relationships in all aspects of your live.
Memorable Quotes/Advice From Lori
“We tolerate relationships that aren’t good because we were drawn to what's familiar regardless of merit, and we want to have a corrective experience. I call it waiting for Christmas—we're going to stay in it until it changes, and it's not going to change until we have enough of motivation and a commitment to ourselves to lean into it to stay the distance until we can create change within the context of the relationship. But instead, people will just walk around the perimeter of their own equators in relationships and be afraid to jump in.”
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 former boxer who became an Author, and she joined me recently to share the story about how she became a successful author.
How did she go from flop to a multiple book deal with St. Martin Press? How did she pivot from writing nonfiction to being a bestselling fiction writer? Why was it not a good idea to get married at 22? Listen in to uncover the answers to these questions as well as her take on what aspiring authors need to know in order to be successful.
REA FREY
Rea Frey’s passion in life is telling stories, connecting with readers, and helping other aspiring authors tell their stories too. She’s the celebrated author of Not Her Daughter, Because You're Mine, and Until I Find You. She also is the founder and CEO of Writeway, which helps aspiring writers become published authors.
CONNECT WITH REA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reafrey/
Website: https://www.reafrey.com/
Company Website: https://www.writewayco.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reafrey/
Link tree: https://linktr.ee/writewayco
Where to purchase “Secrets of Our House” book?
Bookshop.org, Amazon, Fantastic Friction, Barnes & Noble
Key Topics in this podcast:
- How does Rea Frey's writing career start?
- How did she go from first-time flop to a multiple book deal with St. Martin Press?
- What is her process of writing and wow can she craft a story quickly?
- Why is she driven to the domestic suspense genre?
- What would her career be if she weren't a writer?
- What is the concept of the book "Secrets of our house"?
- How does Rea help support other offers?
- What kind of chord did her podcast episode, “Dear, Publishing Industry, F*ck You!” strike with fellow authors?
The Hot Seat Questions for Rea:
- How do you feel when you are staring at a blank piece of paper or blank computer screen?
- What lesson about writing or publishing did you learn the hard way?
- What’s the best piece of advice you would give to an aspiring author?
- How do you celebrate your success?
- If somebody you loved was having a bad day, what book would you choose to cheer them up?
- What will you be most proud of in your final moments?
- What words of advice would you give your younger self?
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Success never comes overnight. Rhea Frey first book was not considered a success but she pivoted genres and began to approach publishing differently.
- The good side of failure. When the first book she published failed, it wasn't just a case of giving up for her. The failure gave way to an opportunity that would allow room for growth and success.
- Inspirational Journey. Writing is a journey. Rea’s story is an inspiration tale aspiring authors and is a blueprint for helping set themselves up for success.
- Powerful Voice. When she released a solo episode of her podcast called "Dear Publishing Industry, Fuck You!" it became an advocate for other writers who are experiencing difficulties in the publishing industry.
Memorable Quotes/Advice From Rea
“Understand the business that you're about to get into. I know a lot of people say write the best story you can, and that's great. That's the fun part. But all the stuff that comes after that are the pieces and parts that components that will separate you from just writing a good story to being a successful author.”
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 and able to love oneself. Join me and Lauren Dollie Duke as we uncork the story about how writing, therapy, and yoga helped her empowered her to heal the wounds of her past and find her voice. Listen as she tells the tale of how she shed the overwhelming weight of shame that she’d been carrying around since childhood and why it was so important for her to immortalize these experiences in her memoir, Sh!thouse. LAUREN DOLLIE DUKE
Lauren Dollie Duke is the author of “Sh!thouse” a memoir, and is also an educator, entrepreneur, and community activist. She’s taught thousands of yoga students over the last 15 years, led dozens of international retreats, and continues to push the edge between yoga, mental health, and trauma. She founded a one-of-a-kind community center and yoga studio in Encinitas, California. In a sea of corporate yoga, where most independent studios don't survive, she created a thriving community, teaching and hosting a variety of beloved yoga classes, educational seminars, and writing workshops. She devotes her time to help educate people on the anatomy of trauma and how those experiences are woven into the tapestry of our lives. She has studied with the world’s leading traumatologists: Bessel van der Kolk, Peter A. Levine, Gabor Mate, and Stephen Porges.
CONNECT WITH LAUREN
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dollieduke83/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lauren-Duke-104095274562505/
Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/LaurenDollieDuke
Where to purchase Sh!thouse?
Amazon, Bookshop.org, Goodreads, Elliot Bay Book Company, Target, Booktopia
Key Topics in this podcast:
- Lauren’s story and where it all started
- The story behind Lauren’s “Love Thyself” tattoo
- The traumatic childhood Lauren experienced
- How she copes with PTSD
- How writing has been a critical part of the healing process
- How the book has helped Lauren repair her relationship with her sister
Hot Seat Questions for Lauren:
- How do you feel when you stare at a blank piece of paper or computer screen?
- Do you feel pressure for book number two?
- What lesson of writing or publishing did you learn the hard way?
- What advice would you give to an aspiring author?
- How do you celebrate success?
- What are you capable of doing now that you couldn’t do before writing your book?
- What advice you would give your younger self?
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Healing is a process. Lauren's childhood was filled with trauma, which made it hard for her to heal and become the person she wanted to be.
- Movement helps. Lauren discovered that yoga allowed her to heal herself and brought a sense of normalcy. She found it as an outlet for calming herself down and feeling like she fit in with others.
- Writing as therapy. Lauren's journey to healing began with the written word. She would write whatever came into her head, no matter how painful it was, and this led to an incredible story of survival that will inspire you too!
- Workshops were important. When she started writing, there were no rules or processes to follow. To make things more streamlined for herself, Lauren attended several workshops on how best to approach the process from start to finish.
- An inspiring story. Lauren's story is a memoir of what she went through in her own life. This inspires and motivates all aspiring authors to let their stories be heard!
Memorable Quotes/Advice From Lauren
“There's no better time than now, just start writing. Many people will say, ‘I need to do this first, or I need to do this workshop first.’ There’s a bit of imposter syndrome because it's something new, you've never done it before. Just start now because, literally, the first draft, you're just telling yourself the story anyway. Right now is the time.”
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 big requirement for becoming an author! Kaira is a USA TODAY, Amazon charts, and international bestselling, multiple award-winning author of contemporary fiction that explores what goes on beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives. Her domestic suspense novels include Best Day Ever, The Favorite Daughter, All the Difference, and The Next Wife. How did she go from working two jobs to becoming a bestselling author? How did her third grade teacher impact her career choice? Is Dallas one of the best TV shows ever? Listen in to hear Kaira’s answers to these questions as well as discuss her new novel, Somebody’s Home, which will be released on Tuesday, January 18th.
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 bestselling romance novelist.
What proof do I have (and man, I wish proofs were used in Chemistry and not just geometry so I could keep this comparison going)? Well, Jill is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who has written more than fifty acclaimed, award-winning romance novels. She is a three-time winner of the National Reader's Choice Award and has been nominated for the RITA Award and for Romantic Times' Career Achievement Award. Her latest novel, The Family You Make was released on Tuesday, January 11th.
How did she pivot from keeping track of debits and credits to being a bestselling novelist? What’s so inspiring about living in a small town? What happened when her dog had a celebrity death match with a porcupine? What famous rock musician drops in from time to time to play at a bar in her small town in the Sierra Nevadas? Listen in to uncover the answers to all of these questions as well as learn which accomplishment Jill is most proud of (here’s a hint, it has nothing to do with writing).
Happy Listening!
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 mysteries.
If you love a good mystery but aren’t familiar with her work, allow me to introduce you to Elizabeth George. She’s The New York Times and internationally best selling author of twenty British crime novels featuring Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his unconventional partner Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers. Her crime novels have been translated into 30 languages and featured on television by the BBC. Her latest novel, Something to Hide, was released on January 11th
How did she transform herself from a HS English Teacher to a bestselling author? How does writing and creativity help her in managing depression? What important lessons did she learn from early failures? Listen in as we cover all of this as well as a spine tingling story about the Universe bringing Elizabeth together with someone who needed her in her life.
Happy listening!
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 the pandemic teach her ? Why does she believe that vulnerability is her superpower? What words of advice would she give her younger self? Listen in as Aliana answers all of these questions and more in today’s insightful episode of Uncorking a Story.
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 featuring Kathy Kay, the host of Strictly Anonymous.
I came upon her show by accident. Over the past few years I’ve been on a self-improvement kick, part of which involves listening to podcasts by the likes of Lewis Howes, Brene Brown, and Brooke Castillo. While looking for something new to arouse my ears on long runs, I came across Kathy’s show.
I wasn’t prepared for what I was about to hear in episode 411, and it’s true what they say—you never forget your first time. The episode’s headline was, “Peter Tried Swinging After His Divorce, and he’s Been Swinging Ever Since.” Now I knew something about “the lifestyle,” as swinging was a key plot point in my novel All the F*ucks I Cannot Give and I had to do some research while writing that story. While the content of the episode was certainly provocative, the way Kathy guided the conversation and made “Peter” feel comfortable sharing his story left me wanting more after my listening refractory period was over.
I wanted to chat with Kathy to uncover how she came up with the idea for the show, take a deep dive into what she’s learned about people by hosting an advice show focused on sex, and talk about her autobiographical book, The Cartoon Misadventures of a Total Trainwreck. This is a fun conversation that you aren’t going to want to miss!
Be sure to check out Strictly Anonymous at http://strictlyanonymouspodcast.com/ or listen wherever you get your podcasts. For bonus content, including sexy (and anonymous) pictures of some of her guests, check out Kathy’s Patreon.
Happy listening!
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 with a record contract until a kidney stone sidelined his musical ambitions and put him on the path to a career in film and television. There’s no way he could have predicted that another medical issue three decades later would put him on the path to publishing a passion project—a book on the birth of Jesus.
Inspired by the big budget biblical films of his childhood, Michael started the project over thirty years ago and originally envisioned it as a screenplay. After being sidelined with Covid-19, he found himself with ample free time and dusted off the yellowed pages now close to three decades old and reimagined his story as a novel. The result is a work of fiction entitled The Star of Bethlehem: The Epic Story of the Birth of Christ, recently published by Trilogy Christian Publishing.
Listen in as Michael bridges the gap between the rock and roll lifestyle of his youth and his faith filled work of fiction. We also discuss how he weaved Old and New Testament biblical stories with historical fact in this faithful retelling of the Christmas story. This book couldn’t have come at a better time—with only a handful of shopping days left until Christmas, I’d be remiss if I didn’t remind you that books make great gifts.
Happy Listening!
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. Also, really pretty and talented people aren’t supposed to have those kinds of feelings, are they? Well, they do and Nadine wasn’t immune to the feelings that run through her family. She wrote, directed, produced, and starred in Continue as a gift to the world to help us all have better conversations about mental health.
Most working actors will tell you that overnight success is a myth. Sure, there are exceptions to the rule, but there’s a lot of rejection that comes when seeking an on-screen career. Authors tell me the same thing—many of us can line our walls with rejection letters from agents we’ve queried over the years. Just like there are few overnight successes, depression and anxiety are slow burns that, for some, eventually may lead to suicidal ideation, attempts, and, for too many, death. Those of us who have experienced these emotions, or who have loved ones who live with them, know that we all need to do a better job at recognizing mental health issues, addressing them, and loving those who experience them.
If you look closely at the cover art for the film, you will notice that the title is spelled Cont;nue, with a semicolon replacing the letter i. A friend of mine had to educate me on the significance behind this. She pointed me to a website for Project Semicolon whose late founder, Amy Bleuel, explained, “A semicolon is used when an author could’ve chosen to end their sentence, but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life.” There is a tragic beauty to that sentiment; tragic that it had to be written at all but beautiful because the second chance/hope it implies.
I know that you will enjoy my interview with Nadine, which is certainly much more upbeat than the subject matter we discussed. She’s an amazing person with a light that comes through in her voice. My only regret is not asking her if she was familiar with the 1986 mini series Fresno which took place in her hometown! Think Dallas but about raisins instead of oil.
Please visit https://www.continuethefilm.com/ for more information about Nadine and the film. Follow Nadine on social @nadinecrocker.
If you, or anyone you know is in distress please know that help is available through Lifeline, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. Visit https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ for more information.
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 traumatic life events, Cindy writes and works from lived experiences. She's helped thousands of people through their suffering, encouraging them to move forward and keep enduring to come out invincible.
Her latest book, When Grief is Good, was released this past September and, at some point during this interview, we actually talked about it. Before that, though, she turns the tables a few times and puts me in the hot seat. This is definitely one you have to buckle up for and stay to the end because if you do I’ve got two words for you—hot monogamy!
You can learn more about Cindy at her website, cindyfinch.com. Additionally, Cindy would love it if you learned more about Love to Pivot, an organization that helps individuals, couples, families, and groups pivot from unhealthy relationships into healthy relationships.
C. Frederic John enjoys a global reputation as a strategic researcher with a career spanning over 40 years. He specializes in melding profound insights into concrete recommendations for clients, and in crafting compelling research deliverables using story-telling techniques.
Fred and I have a few things in common; we both worked in the market research industry, we both worked for MasterCard, and we both value the power of storytelling when it comes to presenting findings to clients. In fact, Fred is so passionate about storytelling in market research that he literally wrote a book called Storytelling and Market Research: A Practical User Guide.
While the market research industry has gotten better about storytelling with regards to presenting research findings, the need for Fred’s book is undeniable. In it, he discusses the importance of story to keep a reader’s attention and gives practical and tangible advice for transforming mundane reports into page turners.
I caught up with my former colleague just a few days before the book launched to discuss his career as a researcher, what compelled him to write this book, and how he went about finding a publisher and turning his idea into reality.
Storytelling and Market Research: A Practical User Guide will be available for sale on Thursday, November 11, 2021.
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 to Be helps parents develop a vision for the families they want to create. And I Thought We’d Never Speak Again: The Road from Estrangement to Reconciliation teaches the skills of reconciliation and peace building to the world, one relationship at a time.
Laura’s ground-breaking books have been translated into 11 languages and sold more than two million copies.
Her new memoir, The Burning Light of Two Stars, tells the story of Laura’s dramatic and tumultuous relationship with her mother, Temme, from the time of Laura’s birth until her mother’s death. This story about “two souls who just wouldn’t quit each other” provides a no-holds-barred peek at the real Laura--the woman behind the teacher, the facilitator, and author.
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 Entertainment Weekly, among others. Set in middle America, her novels are laced with love, heartbreak, and just enough snark to rock the boat for the relatable characters as they confront transformative challenges.
I had a great conversation with Kris about her writing including why she sets her stories in what most would consider “fly over” states, what she loves most about writing, and our mutual appreciation for the movie Hope Floats. We also get into a great conversation about the publishing industry today, how to write characters we hate, and why Hallmark will never adapt any of our stories (their loss).
You can learn more about Kris at https://krisclink.com/ and be sure to check out her podcast Kris Clink’s Writing Table on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. It’s a great listen for writers and book lovers alike. Her forthcoming release, Sissie Klein is Completely Normal, will be available for sale wherever books are sold on Tuesday, November 11.
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 damn funny. Maybe it’s because so many authors I’ve interviewed recently have fled the legal profession to follow writing as a career.
If you think about it, Lawyers, especially trial attorneys, have all the makings of good writers—good listening and analytical skills are the cost of entry, they have to be creative with how they present cases (hopefully not too creative) and they have to be passionate about their work. Reyna Marder Gentin is no exception.
In 2014, after practicing law for over two decades, Reyna decided it was time for something new. She followed a friend to a class on memoir writing at Sarah Lawrence College and got bit by the writing bug. Ever since, writing has become her passion.
Her third novel, Both are True, has her returning to women’s fiction, her legal roots, and a setting she knows all too well—New York City.
To learn more about Reyna, please visit her website at https://reynamardergentin.com/. Her three novels can be purchased wherever books are sold, including bookshop.org where a portion of the proceeds goes to help support local independent bookstores. Happy listening!
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 health issues, specifically men’s mental health issues.
A few years ago, my twin brother was suffering from anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. I’m not telling tales out of school here, he chronicled all of that in his own memoir. One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my life was check him into the psychiatric hospital where he spent a long week of in-patient treatment followed by multiple weeks of outpatient treatment. It pained me to see this strong man, who I shared so many life experiences with, come to the brink of falling apart.
Even in this day and age, men’s mental health is still very much a taboo subject given our sex’s aversion to vulnerability. I hoped that by interviewing J.M. about his book, I wouldn’t just leave with another powerful story but that I’d also help the cause to raise awareness of men’s mental health issues in general.
But enough about me.
You might be asking yourself who J.M. Thompson is. Well, I have answers. He was born in England and holds a BA in English literature from Oxford University and a doctorate in clinical psychology.
He completed his psychology training at the University of California, San Francisco, where he conducted research on the brain mechanisms of meditation and the physiology of trauma. He is also an ordained Zen practitioner and certified yoga teacher.
Critical to this story is the fact that he has finished over 40 ultramarathons, and multiple solo adventure runs in the Sierra Nevada, the Grand Canyon, and Death Valley. Thompson currently serves as a staff psychologist at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. His aforementioned memoir, Running is a Kind of Dreaming, became available for sale as of October 5th.
Listen in as we uncover the emotionally charged story that is the genesis behind the book as well as how running helped J.M. turn his life around. This is a powerful story and one that I was honored to uncork. Please share it with anyone who you think could benefit from it. Happy listening!
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 share news that will rock your world.
John Vandemoer doesn’t have to imagine that; in fact, I bet he wants to forget it. John is the former Stanford University sailing coach and the first person sentenced in the Varsity Blues college admissions scandal. He’s now speaking out about what happened. This comes on the heels of the release of his new book: RIGGED JUSTICE. How the College Admissions Scandal Ruined an Innocent Man's Life.
Listen in as we discuss not just the day that changed his life forever, but what his life was like in the aftermath. John courageously talks about opening himself up to vulnerability so that he could share his side of the story. We also discuss the importance of community and having a support system to lean on in times of need.
Enjoy the show.
Jay Jay French is an American guitarist, manager, record producer and founding member of the heavy metal band Twisted Sister. He is a columnist, author and motivational speaker who oversees licensing and intellectual property rights for the Twisted Sister brand.
His new book, Twisted Business, is part memoir and part business book follows French’s adventure-filled life, from growing up in New York City in the sixties, to working as a drug dealer and struggling as an addict before quitting cold-turkey, and finally, to creating and cultivating Twisted Sister and turning it into one of the most successful brands in the world.
Twisted Business: Lessons from My Life in Rock ‘N’ Roll can be purchased wherever books are sold. Enjoy the show.
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 Tuesday, September 21st.
As a young woman, Heather was a bookworm who used to write short stories for her own entertainment. However, she did not write her first novel until after realizing that there was a void in her life that wasn’t being fulfilled in her career as a radiologist. After taking a class on creative writing and hearing some strong words of encouragement from her teacher at the Westport Writer’s Studio, Heather penned her first novel, Bedside Manners, which went on to receive numerous awards as well as high praise from breast cancer survivors.
We discussed how being an avid reader is an important ingredient to being a successful author as well as the role curiosity plays in the creative process. We end with some words of advice that Heather offers her younger self around being careful not to suffer from imposter syndrome, and to learn more about that, you’ll have to tune in!
Dani Klein Modisett is a comedian, actor, and author of the book “Take My Spouse, Please,” about how to create shared laughter to keep your marriage happy and healthy. That book was preceded by 2009’s “Afterbirth...stories you won’t read in Parents magazine.” Additionally, her writing has appeared in AARP, NY Times, LA Times, Parents Magazine and on many websites.
In addition to publishing two books, Dani taught Stand-Up at UCLA for 10 years. She has also coached keynote speakers, business leaders, and Congressional candidates to use more humor in their communication. You may have seen her on the show GHOST for Starz where she has a currently recurring role. Dani is a graduate of Dartmouth College.
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 bestselling debut, THE LOST NIGHT (Crown, 2019), was optioned for TV development by Mila Kunis. It was named a best book of the year by Real Simple, Glamour, Marie Claire, Library Journal, Crime Reads, Popsugar, She Reads, and other publications.
Andi’s work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Women's Health, Martha Stewart Living, Elle, and many other outlets, and she's held editorial positions at Glamour, Psychology Today, and Self, among other titles. Listen in as we dig into her path to becoming a writer, her pivot from magazine journalism to becoming a novelist, and her passion for challenging cultural conventions through her work.
We Were Never Here will be available wherever books are sold on August 3rd.
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 English literature. She lives in Brooklyn and Saugerties, New York, with her husband; their daughter, Eleanor; and their dog, Farley.
Listen in as we discuss how Lea's navigated the transition from writing YA novels to thrillers and why it's so important for her to work from an outline, and the inspiring advice she'd give her younger self.
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) bestsellers. Her books have been sold in thirty-seven territories around the world. She lives in Toronto and Not a Happy Family is her sixth thriller.
Listen in as we talk about her writing process, why so many lawyers want to become writers, and the secrets to becoming a bestselling mystery author.
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 when she was seven years old so, when she told me that she had a degree in Political Science, I had to ask about that. It turns out, she didn't think she could make a living as an author. Clearly, she was wrong.
Listen in as we discuss the differences between writing a mystery and writing speculative fiction, what Jessica go out of her two Masters programs, the powerful advice she would give that seven year old girl with aspirations of becoming an author.
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 Award, and a Barnes & Noble Discover Award, among other prizes, and have been chosen by hundreds of communities, universities and schools as "One Book, One Read" selections.
Her essays, articles, and reviews have appeared in publications such as the New York Times and the NYT Book Review, the Boston Globe, the San Francisco Chronicle, LitHub, Psychology Today, Poets & Writers, and Salon. Born in England and raised in the American South and Maine, Kline is a graduate of Yale (B.A.), Cambridge (M.A.) and the University of Virginia (M.F.A.), where she was a Hoyns Fellow in Fiction Writing.
Listen in as we talk about the pioneering spirit embodied in her family of origin, her experiences teaching in a supermax women’s prison, and the inspiration behind her latest book, The Exiles, which should be at the top of your Summer reading list.
This episode of Uncorking a Story is sponsored by Mike Carlon’s latest novel, The Ruin of Souls. If you like books about gladiators, then this isn’t the book for you. But, if you can appreciate a good mystery, jaw dropping plot twists, and a generous pour of espionage, then The Ruin of Souls should be on your summer reading list. You can buy The Ruin of Souls in e-book or paperback format wherever books are sold online. Enjoy the show.
Happy listening.
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, Noel, a black man in very white Texas, was pulled over many times for minor infractions and believes it was his accent that kept him safe from police brutality.
His debut crime novel, A Past that Breathes, takes place in Los Angeles in the early nineties when he practiced law in the City of Angels during racial turmoil bookended by the Rodney King and O.J. Simpson trials and years before the Black Lives Matter movement gave people a forum in which they could express their grief and anger.
Listen in as we discuss his childhood in Nigeria to his University education in the United States and how he found working as a practicing attorney in Los Angeles a far cry from the expectations set by the hit TV drama L.A. Law. We also discuss how he found the confidence to write again after facing rejection, why it's important to get out of your own way in the publishing process, and his favorite Seinfeld episode.
This episode of Uncorking a Story is brought to you by Michael Carlon’s latest novel, The Ruin of Souls. You can purchase The Ruin of Souls in e-Book or paperback format or wherever books are sold. Enjoy the show.
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 Observer for five years as the publishing director, and has worked as a professional actor. Mary Dixie has an honors degree in English Literature from Harvard College and holds an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two young children.
Her first novel, The Photographer, has been called "an explosive debut” (Library Journal) and “a breathless psychological thriller about epic mind games” (from People Magazine's 20 Best Books to Read This Summer). It is destined to be the book everyone will be reading this summer.
This page-turner about a family photographer, desperate to belong, who lives off of images rather than experiences will stay in readers minds for a long time. Brilliantly observed, suspenseful, a story of envy and obsession, mesmerizing, this is a unique novel and will make us doubt that seeing is ever believing.
Listen in as we dig into the real-life event that inspired the story, why it’s so important to write every day, and what it’s like driving an RV from coast-to-coast.
The Photographer is available wherever books are sold.
This episode of Uncorking a Story is brought to you by Michael Carlon’s latest novel, The Ruin of Souls. You can purchase The Ruin of Souls in e-Book or paperback format or wherever books are sold. Enjoy the show.
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 President of the award-winning non-profit TimeSlips.
Basting's innovative work as both a community-engaged artist and a scholar has been recognized by a MacArthur Fellowship, an Ashoka Fellowship, a Rockefeller Fellowship, and multiple major grants. She is author/editor of multiple books, including her latest, Creative Care (HarperOne); as well as The Penelope Project (U of Iowa), and Forget Memory (Johns Hopkins). TimeSlips fosters an alliance of artists and caregivers bringing meaning and joy to late life through creativity, and has over 900 certified facilitators in 48 states and 20 countries.
Her latest book, The Creative Care Imagination Kit, is available for sale beginning June 8th and is a perfect resource for friends, family, and caregivers to make connections with and spark conversation and engagement among anyone living with physical, cognitive, or emotional challenges, including memory loss.
Learn more at https://www.anne-basting.com/
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 together in this extraordinary memoir.
While we touched upon all of that in our interview, what struck me hardest was the struggle she faced with her twin brother. This hit home for me as, like Marilyn, I have a twin brother and our relationship was also strained by favoritism and mental illness, though to a much lesser extent.
While her memoir has elements of tragedy, at the end of the day it is a story about a woman who found the courage and strength to break free and live life on her own terms. Half of a Whole, My Fight for a Separate Life is inspiring, uplifting, and available for sale wherever books are sold on June 8th.
Thanks for listening.
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 the New York Times bestseller Frankly In Love, which was a William C. Morris Award finalist and an Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature Honor book, the YA novel Super Fake Love Song, and the adult thriller Version Zero.
Before he made his living as a writer, David spent more than a dozen years working in the tech industry as an interface designer and user experience expert, a role that immersed him in all the cultural and technical workings of core online industries like advertising technology, social media, cybersecurity, and content strategy. It was during this time that he observed a paradox: while these companies believed its work was making the world a better place, the staff behind these platforms had a serious mistrust and disdain for the very things they were creating.
Yoon mines this experience in VERSION ZERO, his first novel for adults, which tackles everything from social media and personal privacy to data mining, surveillance capitalism, and the responsibilities of individuals in a globalized society. Part satire, part tech thriller, this propulsive tale centers on Max, a blackballed data whiz who assembles a team of disillusioned tech workers to create chaos in the world of social media—with disastrous consequences. Yoon uses his dazzling abilities to bring this contradictory and often insidious world to life with startling prescience and ease, establishing himself as one of the most exciting and dynamic voices writing today in the tradition of Blake Crouch, Ernest Cline, and Max Barry.
Version Zero is out everywhere books are sold on Tuesday, May 25th. Please consider picking it up at your local bookshop or at bookshop.org.
Follow me at all socials @uncorkingastory and be sure to rate and subscribe to Uncorking a Story wherever you get your podcasts.
This is the one where I talk to author, musician, and comic Aug Stone about his newly released memoir, Nick Cave’s Bar.
Don’’t feel bad if you don’t know who Nick Cave is because I wasn’t cool enough to know of him either. The important thing here is that Aug and his friend Andy know who he is and, more importantly, believed he owned a bar in Berlin, based on a rumor overheard in Spain (are you with me so far?).
Twenty years ago they had what can best be described as a misadventure in Europe complete with bad decisions, near misses at true love, and drinking. Lot’s of drinking. Check out Nick Cave’s Bar here or at the following retail locations:
City Books (Hove, England)
Happy Valley (Melbourne, Australia)
Grimey’s (Nashville, TN)
Atomic Books (Baltimore, MD)
Buch Bund (Berlin, Germany)
Brookline Booksmith (Brookline, MA)
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 literature, and several years in academia, she now works as a full-time writer, book reviewer, and translator (from French, Italian, and Romanian). She is the author of two books of short stories―Elegy for a Fabulous World (2010 finalist for the Northern California Book Award in Fiction) and Death-in-a-Box (2011 Subito Press Fiction Prize)―and two collections of prose poems―Voix de Glace/Voice of Ice (bilingual, French-English, winner of the French prize Louis Guillaume) and The Snail’s Song
Listen in as we discuss why she had to leave Romania, what it was like moving to the united states to seek asylum, and the journey she took to make a career in writing and publishing. Along the way, we of course had to talk about Romania’s either most infamous or heroic figure depending on your point of view, count Dracula himself.
Her novel, The Wife who Wasn’t, is available for sale as of Tuesday, May 18th and can be purchased wherever books are sold.
Thanks for listening.
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 Washington, D.C., where she once fell off a treadmill twice in one day.
Listen in as we talk about her path to success as a performer, why her days working as a children’s musician were instrumental in her getting a two book deal, and the spark that ignited the idea for her forthcoming book A Special Place for Women, which will be released on Tuesday, May 11th.
As a kid, Laura was drawn to funny and spunky characters and those two adjectives can also be used to describe her personality. You can buy her novels wherever books are sold, but please consider supporting your local independently owned bookstore. If you must buy online, consider purchasing at Bookshop.org.
Follow Laura on Instagram and Twitter @LauraHankin and feel free to follow me @uncorkingastory.
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 journey from litigator to author, what inspired her to come up with the idea for The End of Men, and why, at its core, this is a book about hope (and not a fantasy).
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 Yale University Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies and has served as director of strategic planning for the United Nations Summit of Religious and Spiritual leaders.
This all begs the question, why is such a decorated individual talking to me?
Well, I interviewed him about his new book entitled Unstoppable. It’s the story of Siggi Wilzig and his astonishing journey from Auschwitz survivor and penniless immigrant to Wall Street legend.
Before we get to the book, though, I had to uncork Joshua’s story a bit and learn how he went from being a hippie who got to jam with George Harrison to becoming a Holocaust scholar. Along the way I learned that he and the subject of his latest book share a few things in common, but you will have to listen in to find out what they are
I found it fascinating that after being approached to write this book by one of Siggi’s sons, Joshua’s first instinct was to turn him down saying he’s written too much about darkness and it was time to focus on something that brought more light. That was, of course, before he knew Siggi’s story which is at its core a celebration of human ingenuity, a testament to the power of faith, and a tale of triumph in the face of adversity.
I know you will enjoy this interview and urge you to pick up Unstoppable, which can be purchased wherever books are sold, though Joshua would urge you to consider buying it at your local bookstore. If you must buy it online, please consider buying it here, at Bookshop.org where a portion of every sale goes to support local bookstores.
You can learn more about Unstoppable at https://unstoppablesiggi.com/
An interview I did this week got me to thinking about how little things can make a big difference.
This one Uncorks a story about U2 and a Bodega owner I met this week whose business is being threatened by the pandemic. Listen in to see the connection between them. Trust me, it will be one to grow on.
While interviewing author Christina Sweeney-Baird about her debut novel The End of Men, I started thinking about how most authors, and other creators in the arts including comics and actors, have to work additional jobs long before they can earn a living off of their art. Christina herself is a lawyer (but I don't think she'll have to practice law for long as she's quite a gifted writer).
Her full story will be shared in April closer in to her book's publication date. For now, though, her story got me thinking about the importance of living a dual life when you are just starting to explore your passion in the arts. It also reminded me of a character I created—Kelly Carson—who was leading a secret life but just didn't know it. You see, he had a secret identity hiding just beneath the surface and it took a fiery red headed actress on the run to bring it out his inner Superman. His name is Kelly Carson and he’s the protagonist in All the F*ucks I Cannot Give.
The audio book recently came out and I wanted to share the first few chapters with you here. If you like what you hear, please consider buying it on either Amazon or Audible. Mike Dawson did a great job with the narration and really brought the story to life.
Happy Listening
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.
Listen in as we discuss what prompted her to find her birth parents, the emotions she experienced along the way, and what this experience has taught her about herself. This conversation also prompted me to share the adoption story within my own family of origin. It’s a very powerful conversation and when I know you will enjoy.
In her other writing, Julie focuses on about finding out who you are, where you belong, and making sense of it. Her weekly blogs focus on identity, family, and life's quirky moments. If she's not at her computer writing, she's out exploring with her camera, or on the tennis court. She is the mother of four adult children and splits her time between NW Indiana and Sarasota. You can follow her at https://www.juliemcgueauthor.com.
Her book will be released on May 11th and is available for pre-order now. While you can pre-order it wherever books are sold online, we’d like you to consider supporting your local independent bookstore and preordering through Bookshop.org where every purchase helps support local, independently owned bookstores.
This past weekend, my sister gave me one of the most thoughtful gifts I have ever received—a stack of letters I had written to my grandparents back in the 1980s. This inspired me to record and share this episode with you.
Reaching out and touching someone used to mean picking up the phone and calling them. Today, it means Facetiming them or maybe just sending them a text. How about this, instead of doing that, why not write an old-fashioned letter? Fold it in an envelope, slap a stamp on it, and send it by mail. Sure it will take a lot longer to get to the recipient than an email or text, but some things are worth waiting for.
This week I sat in on the first of hopefully many episodes of Comedy Roads, an online show featuring interviews with established stand up comedians reflecting on their path to success. It's hosted by the one and only Bob DiBuono.
A-Lister Eddie Brill told a story about performing in front of 12 people that I'll never forget and it inspired me to reflect on the importance of always giving 100% whenever you make a commitment to something.
Find more about Comedy Roads by clicking here.
Today we are going to switch gears a bit as I'd like to share with you the first chapter of my latest book The Ruin of Souls.
Now look, I'm not a professional voiceover artist nor am I an audio engineer, so keep both in mind as you listen in.
If you like what you hear and want to listen to more, let me know by emailing michael.carlon@uncorkingastory.com. if there's enough interest, I'll release the second and third chapters.
As always, thanks for listening.
This is the second part of my interview with my twin brother, Jim Carlon. In it, we discuss his decision to join the Jag Corps at almost 40 years of age and why that marked such a turning point in his life. Buckle in and grab the Kleenex.
I have easily interviewed a few thousand people in my career as a moderator and interviewer. I can honestly say that Interviewing my twin brother about his book, Conversation with a Desperate Man, was one of the toughest interviews I’ve ever had to conduct. It isn’t easy hearing someone you love describe the pain they’ve faced in their lives and the darkness that enveloped them. But his story isn’t a tragedy; far from it. It’s actually a love story and you will hear how Jim was able to overcome the challenges he faced.
I had to cut it into two parts because, frankly, it’s a lot to take in at once. Also, Jimmy can be a bit long winded, but I didn’t want to cut anything. Look for the second part to be released this Friday.
If you know someone who would appreciate listening to this interview, please share it with them. Jim’s book is available for sale now in paperback or ebook formats wherever books are sold online. Why not show a little love to your local independent bookshop and ask if they can order it for you?
As always, thanks for listening.
All the news about the surge in GameStop’s share price got me to thinking just how much money is made when institutional investors bet on companies to lose. To me there’s an amorality there and I just don’t like it. I’d rather bet on someone to win. And that got me to thinking about the importance of betting on yourself.
Over the years, I’ve interviewed many people who bet on themselves and won big. Two who come to mind are Andy Greenfield and Dave Mezzepelle and I’ve got snippets from those interviews on today’s episode of Uncorking a Story.
A few key takeaways you’ll have after listening include:
- If you have a dream or desire to create something or do something different, bet on you. You have to be the first investor. Your confidence in placing that bet will gain the confidence of others.
- Remember that ideas are cheap but action takes talent. It’s okay to dream, but the rubber has to hit the road at some point, so eventually you are going to have to stop planning and start doing.
- Know that your eventual success will not come from where you expect it to. It will be up to you to go out and earn it; it won’t be given to you.
- People will challenge your ideas, assumptions and abilities. That’s actually a good thing. But you need to mute those who provide resistance without an offer of support as well as those who offer nothing but praise. Neither of those types of people will help you. Instead, to make your dream a reality, surround yourself with people who will push you while they look for ways to support you in the pursuit of your dream.
As always, thanks for listening to uncorking a story. If you liked what you see or heard here, please subscribe to us on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. Also, be sure to tell a friend about Uncorking a Story as we always will welcome new listeners. Have something to say about the show? Please leave a review. Be sure to check out our previous sixty episodes and be on the lookout for another episode early next week.
I had a conversation with an old friend and prospective client last week about a challenge her business is facing—attracting men to use their service. They have a new spokesperson they’ve tapped to help with that effort, but they have no idea what he should be saying to raise interest from guys.
So, in the spirit of partnership and wanting to land some new business, I held some Curiosity Conversations with men who wanted to lose weight about their approach to doing so. I call them Curiosity Conversations because I didn’t approach these interviews with a formal discussion guide. Rather, I just followed my nose—my curiosity—to learn all I could from guys who wanted to lose weight. What I found were a number of contradictions:
- In general, men will first approach weight loss through exercise. They don’t want to talk about diet even though they know it’s a primary component of weight loss. In short, men want to lose weight on their own terms, even if their own terms don’t work effectively.
- Guys don’t fully understand the emotional components of behavior and how dealing with them is the first step in a long-term lifestyle change. Dealing with emotions is not one of our strong points because doing so requires vulnerability, and if there’s one thing we’ve been taught since we were young is that men shouldn’t be vulnerable.
- Men want to go it alone and feel as if we should have the strength and discipline to not ask for help in this arena. So we eventually get frustrated when we fail, beat ourselves up, and dip back into our bank of bad habits.
The reality is this goes beyond weight loss. The three points above could summarize our approach to everything from career management to personal relationships. We approach them on our own terms, we don’t recognize how our emotions impact our behavior, and we don’t want to ask for help (and in my case directions!).
Listen in to hear it first hand from some of the guys I met while doing this work. As an added bonus, you’ll hear my own personal struggles with weight and why I could relate to every word these guys spoke to me last week.
Interestingly, all of the guys I spoke with said they had a newfound energy and confidence just talking with me about the topic. This alone led me to believe that my prospective client has a huge opportunity with this market because their service model is all about accountability and building connections. I believe they already have all the tools at their disposal to set up men for success with lifestyle changes, but like the guys I interviewed, they just need some help in how to use those tools effectively. The good news is that I’m confident that my business can help them succeed with men.
Olga Grushin was born in Moscow and moved to the United States at eighteen. She is the author of three previous novels, Forty Rooms, The Line and The Dream Life of Sukhanov. Her debut, The Dream Life of Sukhanov, won the New York Public Library Young Lions Fiction Award, earned her a place on Granta's once-a-decade Best Young American Novelists list, and was one of The New York Times' Notable Books of the Year. Both it and The Line were among The Washington Post's Ten Best Books of the Year, and Forty Rooms was named a Kirkus Reviews Best Fiction of the Year. Grushin writes in English, and her work has been translated into sixteen languages. She lives outside Washington, DC, with her two children.
Listen in as we talk about her upbringing in Moscow and Prague and how she knew she wanted to be a writer at the tender age of four. To that end, every year on her mother’s birthday she’d present her with a typed, illustrated, and bound original book—hearing this made me feel bad about always giving my mother an ashtray for her birthday (to be fair, though, she was a smoker).
We also talk about her journey to the United States at eighteen to study at Emory as well as her path to publishing. Of course, we discuss her new book The Charmed Wife, which has been characterized by CNN as “A modern take on the story of Cinderella, marriage, divorce and love that’s surprising, darkly comedic and enchanting.”
This was a great conversation and I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed hosting it. Follow Olga on twitter @olgagrushin and purchase The Charmed Wife wherever books are sold.
When I was a kid, we used to take these road trips from Connecticut to Florida to visit my grandparents. I know that may sound like a huge waste of time when you can just fly there in a little over two hours, but the fact is we remember more about the adventures we had on those car trips than we do about the actual vacations themselves. We truly enjoyed the journey.
At some point in time, and I can’t pinpoint when exactly, I started to disregard the journey. My life became a game of what’s next, instead of focusing on what is. When I look back on my kids, I realize that I just couldn’t wait for them to get to the next stage of development from crawling, to walking, to talking, and the next thing I knew I blinked and was dropping them off at college. At some point, I stopped enjoying the journey.
I found myself getting distracted by work. I was buried answering emails on my phone when I should have been enjoying whatever movie was on. In short, I didn’t live in the moment. Here’s the thing, as efficient as I was living my life, I was blind to what I was missing out on.
This all reminded me of a conversation I had with Shihan Manny Esmeraldo, the senior instructor at the Karate studio my kids and I used to train at. Listen in as I recap what he has to say about the importance of enjoying the journey. At the end, I share four tips for how we can do a better job at living in the moment including:
- Awareness. Be aware of what your actions are suggesting to others. It isn’t just you who you are shortchanging by not enjoying the journey, it’s other people in your life. When you are with others and are not embracing the moment because you are distracted by your phone, your thoughts on work, etc. know that your behavior might suggest to them that you do not value the time they are spending with you. If you are aware of your own behavior and what it suggests to others, you will be more likely to keep it in check.
- Remind. Remember that the journey is part of the fun. Think about it as you would reading a good book. When you are so engrossed in a story, you don’t want it to end. You don’t just rush to the last page to see the conclusion. You want to stay on the journey! Conversely, how many times have you been let down by a story that ends abruptly? So, enjoy the story you are writing with your life. Don’t rush to the end.
- Enjoy. Find a way to simply enjoy being where you are. On those long car trips, my brother and I would record silly fake radio programs on a boom box. We’d make up stories about people we saw driving. Find the joy of any situation and you will be more likely to stay present in it.
- Avoid Temptation. If you are so distracted by things like your phone, and I know just how easy it is to be distracted by what I call my “work thingy,” maybe lock it up when you don’t need it. Kind of like how you can’t eat that bag of chips if it never makes its way into your shopping cart. So if the phone is your Achilles heel, leave it in another room when it's time to watch tv. Or if you go to a party or sporting event, leave it in the car. Someone else will take pictures.
Thanks for listening to another episode of uncorking a story. If you like what you hear please subscribe on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. Also, we appreciate you telling a friend about the podcast as that helps us spread the uncorking a story message to more people.
We will be back with another episode on Monday. And next Thursday, wow do I have a treat for you. But I’ll tell you more about that on Monday.
Thanks for listening!
I heard Johnny Cash’s cover of Nine Inch Nails’ Hurt yesterday and it got me thinking about how important it is to reinvent oneself periodically.
We live on a planet that does not stay still. It spins on its axis causing day and night. It circles around a star, moving through time and space, and as it does, seasons change. And that’s not all; fashions change, art changes, culture changes, all because we change.
Whether in business, or in personal relationships, at some point we will find that we have to reinvent ourselves in order to stay relevant with the changing times. All of these thoughts came to me on my morning run and I felt compelled to share them in this episode on reinvention. If you don’t have the time to listen, here are some Cliff’s notes:
- Reinvention is in our nature. Our world is built around it and reinvention is necessary to stay relevant in our careers and strong in our relationships.
- You can’t reinvent yourself if you adopt a victim’s mentality. It is a self-limiting belief that will sabotage anything you try to do to move forward. If you find yourself with a victim’s mentality, spend some time reflecting on how your actions got you into a certain situation, take responsibility for them, and do what you need to do to turn the ship around.
- It’s never too late to reinvent oneself. Johnny Cash was able to do it, I was able to do it, and you are able to do it.
Listen in to find out more!
I was introduced to the work of Viktor Frankl as an undergraduate student studying psychology. His book, Man’s Search for Meaning, is divided into two parts; the first is a memoir of his experiences living in a concentration camp during World War II and the second details his theory of Logotherapy, which involves identifying a purpose in life to feel positive about and then immersively imagining that outcome.
He’s also adamant that, in order to lead a fulfilling life, we must find meaning in three areas: work, love, and in finding courage in the face of danger.
In this episode, I uncork stories from three people who have done just that.
- Fr. Dave Dwyer left a promising career in the entertainment industry behind to become a priest.
- Author, psychologist, and speaker Gay Hendricks reflects on how he met the love of his life.
- Emmy award winning filmmaker Jess Stainbrook recounts the time when he exhibited courage in the face of danger after being detained by the KGB.
Throughout the episode, I recount my own struggles in these areas and challenge you to reflect on how you might be able to find meaning in work, love, and courage.
Links:
Busted Halo https://bustedhalo.com/
Gay Hendricks https://hendricks.com/
The Invisible Disabilities Association https://invisibledisabilities.org/
Thanks for listening.
While running this morning, I heard the actor Mandy Patinkin being interviewed by Marc Maron on his WTF Podcast. In the conversation, he divulges that one of the ways he prays is by saying, “Help me help you in any way I can, in any way imaginable.”
This reminded me of a conversation I had with author Kevin Knight almost two years ago who talked about how running is a spiritual form of exercise for him and how running barefoot makes him feel more connected to the world as well as other people.
Oftentimes, when he runs, Kevin is stopped by neighbors and people passing by because, let’s face it, it’s pretty unique to see someone running on the road barefoot. While this would annoy me to no end, he looks at it as an opportunity to change a moment for that other person in a positive way and I think that is a great sentiment to start the first episode of 2021 on.
Let’s all look for ways to positively impact other people this year. An investment in kindness costs nothing and it will pay dividends almost immediately.
Thanks for listening and Happy New Year!
I can’t think of a year wrought with more challenges than 2020. I certainly wouldn’t blame anyone for being resentful over the missed milestones including graduations, proms, or for having to delay major life events including weddings or even big trips that were planned. Here’s the thing, though, resentment is poisonous.
Listen in as I reflect on my own struggles with resentment and how I’ve addressed them. If you also struggle with that emotion, here are four tips for overcoming it:
- Challenge yourself to focus on the positive things in your life and not the negatives. Don’t go around looking for things to be upset by. Playing the victim is tiring not only for you but for others around you as well. Try to see the world for its beauty, not its scars.
- Focus on your own self-esteem. I believe there is an inverse relationship between resentment and self-esteem. When my own self-esteem was low, my resentment towards others was high. Some ways to address your own self esteem include finding things you are good at and doing them often, exercising regularly, and spending time with people who make you happy.
- If you have had some experiences that you can point to that negatively impacted your life, particularly those in childhood, I urge you to seek a professional who can help you work through them. At the very least, open up to a trusted friend about them. There’s no shame in vulnerability and you will feel better after talking to someone about it.
- If you have an issue with resentment towards a person, try to see them through a different lens. If they are a family member, try to see them as a fellow human being. By doing so, you might be able to be a bit more understanding towards them and your relationship may improve.
As always, thank you for listening to Uncorking a Story. Happy new year and see you in 2020.
Last night I got a text from my cousin Danny who told me that he was watching It’s a Wonderful Life and that sparked a memory of a piece that I had published in my local paper, The Stamford Advocate, eight years ago which was entitled The Gift of Encouragement.
Listen in as I reflect on how important encouragement is and how we all can do a better job encouraging others. If you do listen in, you will take away the following three points:
- Look around and see who’s in your corner. If you surround yourself with people who encourage you, you will find the motivation to pursue your interests and, who knows, maybe do great things. Conversely, if you have people in your life who make everything about them, it’s time to make some decisions about the role they will continue to play in your life.
- Providing encouragement is a gift that keeps on giving. It doesn’t cost you anything and it can make a tremendous impact on someone's life. I am sure that if you look around, there are people in your life who could use the gift of encouragement so please consider giving it!
- Actions speak louder than words. Remember, encouragement can come in the form of verbal support but it’s most meaningful when there is action behind it. Don’t just tell someone that you encourage them to do X/Y/Z but find a way to show your support. If a friend is a musician, go to their shows (ditto with comedians). If they want to be a writer, show your support by asking to read their work. The possibilities to show your support are endless.
As always, thanks for taking the time to listen to another episode of Uncorking a Story. I mentioned in the recording that I have a friend who could use a little encouragement—Chris Hart is one of my oldest friends and is on the transplant list for a new liver. My brother and I have started a Go Fund Me campaign for him as he and his fiancee Erin have exhausted all of their savings to cover the cost of his treatments. If you have any extra funds and looking to help keep a good person alive, I ask that you consider donating.
If you liked what you heard, please subscribe on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. Also, consider sharing Uncorking a Story with a friend. Lastly, I’ll remind you as I always do, that books make great gifts.
Last week I spoke with a Bostonian named Mary who took a trip to Jamaica during Covid where she was dubbed The White Oprah. Mary lives with Multiple Sclerosis and my conversation with her reminded me about a few things.
- Life is about weighing risk and reward. Mary has MS and is considered a higher risk for Covid, but she also decided that the benefits of taking this trip outweighed the risks in her mind. While I wouldn’t necessarily make that decision, it is important to live life on your own terms (and not judge others for doing so).
- It’s okay to rely on others for help. Due to issues with mobility, and the fact that she was traveling alone, Mary had to have assistance while making her way through the airport as well as navigating the resort at her destination. There’s no shame in being reliant on others.
- Find your cheerleaders. Whether a limitation is thrust up on you or created in your own mind, it is important to have cheerleaders who can help you overcome it.
This last lesson about limitations reminded me that there was a time when I felt I wasn’t good at networking because I would often leave conferences without landing a new client. While remembering this, I was reminded of a conversation I had with networking expert Diane Darling who taught me that networking is about starting relationships and not signing contracts. I’ve got some great sound clips from that conversation in this episode and I know you are going to love them.
As always, thanks for taking the time to listen to uncorking a story. Please subscribe on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts so you can stay up to date with the latest episodes. As always, since the holidays are upon us, I have to remind you that books make great gifts!
Recently, I caught up with my former boss and mentor Shelley Zalis who is probably the most positive person I’ve ever met in my life. In our conversation, she reminded me how important it is to go after what you want, to always get the deal (however the getting the deal is defined), and why complacency is kryptonite for success.
My conversation with her reminded me of some self-limiting beliefs I once held and that inspired me to revisit an interview I did with Dr. Colleen Georges, a positive psychology coach and author. Her book, RESCRIPT the Story You're Telling Yourself: The Eight Practices to Quiet Your Inner Antagonist, Amplify Your Inner Advocate, & Author a Limitless Life, was written to help people fight the most dangerous foe they will ever face in their lives—the organ between their ears.
You will come away from this episode with the following three takeaways:
- Even in the age of COVID-19 the deals and yeses are out there, though we may have to define what they are a little differently and work a lot harder to get them.
- If your business is off this year, don't let that be the headline swimming around in your head. As Dr. Colleen would say, you have to rescript the story you are telling yourself.
- Take some time to thank the people who helped make you who you are and, while that includes bosses and mentors, don’t forget to thank your parents and teachers too. There’s no better time than right now to pick up the phone and thank someone for all they did for you.
Thank you for listening to another episode of Uncorking a Story and remember, books make great gifts!
This week, while doing some interviews for a travel client, I met a young man named Matthew reminded me that there is joy in service.
My conversation with him got me to thinking about how my mother, the church lady of Stamford, CT, would “volunteer” me and my brother Jimmy for various things and how rumors of our “willingness” reached the ears of a certain French teacher at Stamford/Trinity Catholic High School who capitalized on it for what can best be described as indentured servitude. Looking back, though, I realize that there’s great joy in service and that insight inspired today’s episode.
Happy listening and remember, books make great gifts!
Last week I reconnected with an old college friend, Kevin Savage, who recently wrote a post on his blog that got me to thinking about the things that are really important in life. It also reminded me of some conversations I had with three strangers who reminded me how important it is to see the silver linings in any challenging situation. Hitting curveballs was something I wasn’t very good at and the conversation I had with these guys was a reminder that life won’t always throw you perfect pitches, but with the right attitude you can swing away and hit the ball.
I appreciate your listening to another episode in the new format and challenge you to do the following three things this week:
- Reach out to an old friend and reconnect. It’s actually something I’ve been trying to do regularly since the pandemic began and it’s been great catching up with people. Don’t just rely on social media to keep your relationships alive—I know it’s tempting and it’s a great place to start a conversation, but nothing beats a live chat. Try and do this at least once per week.
- Ask for help. Kevin and I reconnected because he came to me for advice and help. I recognize how hard it is for me to ask anyone for help and it’s something I’ve been working on. I used to feel as if I had to have the answer for everything and take responsibility for every little thing that was asked of me. This led to me eventually feeling overwhelmed and burnt out. It takes some humility to ask others for help but, if you are like me, and feel as if you have to be superman, take off the cape and ask others for help when you need it.
- Make the right choice. Remember that every day we have a choice to make to decide what kind of day it is going to be. We can choose to focus on the challenges/negatives of a situation, or we can choose to focus on the opportunities/positives it presents. Focus on the silver linings and you will definitely have a better day (and so will the people around you).
Happy listening, and remember, books make great gifts!
When I was a kid, sometimes TV shows would have the very special episode, which would deal with a difficult or controversial subject. Do you remember these? Topics dealt with things such as AIDS, teen pregnancy, or drug use. Memorable ones include The Bicycle Man on Different Strokes (The Maytag man was a naughty boy) and A, My Name is Alex, on Family Ties when Alex has to confront his emotions after the death of a friend.
Well, today we have a very special episode of Uncorking a Story. Normally on this show I interview authors about their lives and give them an opportunity to discuss their latest book with you, but I'm changing course with this one. Last week, for my day job, I interviewed a woman whose story stayed with me as I found it both heartbreaking and inspiring.
I walked away from that conversation with a reminder that life can be what we make it. Even when the cards are seemingly stacked against us, we can choose how to frame our situations and what to focus on. Sometimes, it just takes a leap of faith.
I'd really appreciate letting me know what you think of this episode. If you like it, I will share more stories like this in the future. Please email me at michael.carlon@uncorkingastory.com to let me know what you think.
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 Campfire, he helped to develop immersive, narrative experiences for TV shows like Outcast, Sense8, Watchmen, The Man in the High Castle, Westworld, and The Purge. His new book, Off the Back of a Truck: Unofficial contraband for the Soprano’s Fan, is available for sale now wherever books are sold.
In this interview Nick talks about his background and some important people who have had key influences on his career including a third-grade teacher, an ex-uncle, and a professor at the college of the Holy Cross where he earned his undergraduate degree. We also discuss how important real support, encouragement, and acknowledgement are for writers. Additionally, Nick has an interesting take on how the interaction between putting in the work, being in the right place at the right time, and sheer luck plays in any successful creative endeavor.
Braccia is a member of the Producers Guild of America and lives in Manhattan with his partner, Amanda, and daughter, Evie Blue.
This episode of Uncorking a Story is brought to you by Mike Carlon's novel Uncorking a Murder. You can purchase Uncorking a Murder in paperback or e-book format wherever books are sold online. Enjoy the show.
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 books as an imprint at Grove/Atlantic, and both original works and classic crime fiction through MysteriousPress.com (www.mysteriouspress.com), in partnership with Open Road Integrated Media.
Penzler is a prolific editor, and has won two Edgar Awards, for Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection in 1977 and The Lineup in 2010. The Mystery Writers of America awarded him the prestigious Ellery Queen Award in 1994 and the Raven--the group's highest non-writing award--in 2003.
Listen in as Mike and Otto chat about his life and career including his experiences as a young boy emigrating to the US from Germany during the middle of World War II, how he traded in his desire to become a physicist for either the dreams of being a great American novelist or the center fielder for the New York Yankees, and how some harsh criticism towards his first novel pushed his aspirations in another direction.
Along the way we speak of forbidden love, the importance of betting on oneself, and how a two-thousand-dollar investment in a midtown Manhattan building paid off. His latest anthology, The Big Book of Espionage is available now wherever books are sold and is the perfect holiday gift of anyone in your life who’s into dead drops, double agents, and duplicitous deeds.
This episode of Uncorking a Story is brought to you by Mike Carlon’s novel Uncorking a Murder. You can purchase Uncorking a Murder wherever books are sold. Enjoy the show.
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 a recipe for overwhelming stress. With us today to discuss invisible disabilities – and a way to help you and yours deal with stress – is the Executive Director of the Invisible Disabilities® Association, 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 Awards and 29 nominations and his clients include MTV, ESPN, PBS, Discovery Channel, A&E and others. He has produced and directed major sports programming at events such as the Olympics, World Cup Skiing, Formula 1 Grand Prix, NASCAR, and the NFL Super Bowl. In late 2019, Jess launched IDA’s new Video Podcast, The Invisible No More® Show.
Listen in as we discuss how his curiosity as a child led him to a career as an Emmy Award winning filmmaker and how being questioned by the KGB led to a significant spiritual conversion. We also talk about the Love Ideas Summit: Exploring the Heart of Relationships which is produced by the Invisible Disabilities® Association and runs from November 16th-20th. The event is aims to provide resources to help all relationships including couples, families, friends, co-workers, caregivers and business partners. Online, on-demand content will be added daily. Watch at your leisure and pace, anytime over the summit week. Tickets are complimentary and you can register here.
Today’s interview with Jess Stainbrook is brought to you by Mike Carlon’s novel Winning Streak. Winning Streak is the story of how three lives intersect and the journey each takes to learn critical lessons in order to heal from the pain of loss in their lives. Readers will be taken on an emotional journey full of laughter and tears while enjoying this novel which is reminiscent of Nicholas Sparks and Mitch Albom. You can purchase Winning Streak in ebook or paperback format at Amazon or wherever books are sold online.
Enjoy the show.
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 trainer at a big cat reservation in Ohio and dreamt of becoming the next Jungle Jack Hannah. Fun fact, one of the animals he cared for wound up at Carole Baskin’s big cat sanctuary down in Florida (I hope she didn’t feed her late husband to it).
Just as Abe Froman was the sausage king of Chicago, it’s quite possible that Dustin may have become the Tiger King of Ohio if his pastor hadn’t encouraged him to find his calling outside the world of lions and tigers. Thankfully, he did and after college Dustin spent a year traveling the world as the personal assistant to an author. During his travels, the writing process was demystified, and Dustin found his true calling as a writer. Though I’m getting ahead of myself; an important part of this author’s story is his time in the military or, more accurately, the time he spent trying to get into the military. As a cancer survivor, the military rejected him 13 times over the span of five years before giving him the green light to serve. I joked with him that this experience with rejection was a great warm-up to becoming an author, as rejection definitely comes with the territory.
I’m glad he persevered as a writer because his latest book, The Firing of Dr. Democracy, could be just what our country needs right now. The book introduces us to the fictional character Dr. Democracy, who was created by our founding fathers. Fired by a democracy he helped keep alive for more than two centuries, now unemployed and homeless, Doctor Democracy takes a group of cynical teenagers in town on their senior trip on a midnight tour of Washington D.C. to try and convince them to rise to political power and rehire him so he can help keep democracy from dying of its addiction to partisanship and propaganda.
My conversation with Dustin not only covers his path to becoming the author of nine books, but what he shares in common with the late Sam Kinison, how a crisis of faith led to a major career change, and how he came to meet the late Senator John McCain. We also discuss enlightenment principles, how the rise of cable news, extreme partisanship, and social media threaten those principles, and what the vaccine to these threats might be.
Happy listening!
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 has been translated in over 25 languages. His latest novel, The Midnight Library, will be released in the United States on September 29, 2020.
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Matt not only about this forthcoming release but also about his path to becoming a published author. Most authors will tell you that getting published isn’t an easy thing to do and Matt would certainly concur. However, he also was able to accomplish something extraordinary— publish work across multiple genres including non-fiction, adult fiction, and children’s fiction. If nothing else, the publishing industry loves to put authors into nice and neat boxes, but Matt Haig cannot be placed in a box—and readers should celebrate that.
Our conversation takes some interesting twists and turns as we discuss mental health and how fiction writing is cathartic, especially to writers who have experienced anxiety and depression. We also dig into how overcoming obstacles can bring about the confidence to do things one never thought possible. I love the words of advice Matt ends on in our conversation which center around the importance of acceptance and appreciating oneself and to not pretend to be anyone else while writing.
Happy listening!
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 analyzing the power of emotions to shape outcomes and personalities. Dan pioneered the use of facial coding in business and has done research for over 50% of the world’s top 100 B2C companies. Media highlights include appearances on ABC’s Good Morning, America and NBC’s The Today Show, plus front-page coverage in The New York Times.
Listen in as I speak with Dan about how he went from being a guy with a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing and Ph.D. in English to being recognized as a pioneer of facial coding in the market research industry.
Dan’s blog Faces of the Week can be found at https://emotionswizard.com.
Pat Oates is a comedian, author, podcaster and comedy advice writer. He has been performing stand-up comedy for over 12 years and has appeared on TLC's Extreme Cheapskates, E's Talk Soup, and The Anthony Cumia Show with Dave Landau.
In this interview, Pat discusses how he got into comedy, why he turned an advice column into a book for other comics to learn from, and his other passion—professional wrestling. One of the standout quotes from this conversation is as follows, “I don’t know everything and I don’t know most things. I have to be open to everything and not afraid to ask questions. Always question yourself and don’t be afraid to fail.”
It’s a humbling message that I’ve heard from successful people in other fields—this idea of being open to learning new things and being open to failure. It’s often what separates people who are okay at what they do and people who are truly great at it, and Pat is a GREAT comic.
Pat eats, sleeps and breathes comedy and that passion comes through in his act, his podcasts and his writing. Get a copy of his book from Amazon.com. Any comics who are looking for feedback on their sets or highlight reel can reach out to Pat by email at patoatescomedy@gmail.com.
Happy listening!
All I had to do was love them.
That observation pretty much 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 about how walking into the main office as a parent, wearing nothing but a bathing suit and cover up (and apparently some pearls), led to Diane landing her dream job as the school’s main office secretary. You will learn that she’s got some serious pull when it comes to finding parking during a key UCONN basketball game and why Thanksgiving is the first of many “happiest days of the year” for her.
Lastly, you will hear some words of reassurance directed towards the class of 2020 from the heart and soul of Catholic High.
This episode of Uncorking a Story is brought to you by Mike Carlon’s novel Motel California, which can be purchased at Amazon.com or wherever books are sold online. Enjoy the show.
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 communities and that brings me to this current episode featuring Dawn Carpenter of The We Project, a non-profit organization that helps feed, clothe, and mentor needy people in Northern New Jersey.
This past summer, I interviewed Dawn’s husband Derrick for my “day job” as a focus group moderator/user experience researcher. While asking him some warm-up questions to build rapport, I learned that Derrick and his wife run a food rescue organization in Northern New Jersey and he briefly shared with me that the organization was inspired from a tragedy. I wanted to dig into this a little more, but I wasn’t being paid by my client to uncover a human interest story and had to begin asking a series of questions on his use of voice activated mobile assistants.
After our session ended, though, I asked Derrick if I could recontact him to learn more about The We Project and he put me in touch with his wife Dawn, who recently shared her story with me. It is a powerful one that underscores three lessons I’ve learned while doing this podcast.
- Something beautiful can arise from something tragic. You will understand what this means when you hear the story of Dawn’s brother, one of the driving forces behind The We Project.
- The importance of asking for help. Dawn states very clearly that if you don’t let people know what your needs are, they will never be met. This one really hit home for me, as you will learn in my introduction to this episode.
- The importance of putting thoughts into action. A lot of people can dream up ideas, but the ability to put them into action is what separates doers from dreamers. Dawn and her husband Derrick are definitely doers, and I hope you are as inspired by their story as I am.
To learn more about The We Project, visit https://www.facebook.com/wearetheweproject/. Feel free to email Dawn at wearetheweproject@gmail.com or give her a call on (201) 456-8908.
Look up the definition of Renaissance man in the dictionary and I’m pretty sure you will find a picture of Aug Stone. He’s a singer/songwriter, author, and comic whose alter ego Young Southpaw has been described as a character who traffics in short, memorized bursts of pun-filled, pop-cultural streams of consciousness.
I recently sat down with Aug to discuss his careers as a musician, author, and comic. Along the way we touch upon Van Halen, overcoming introversion to become a world-class performer, Chinese astrology, and, of course, the birth of Young Southpaw. I also learned that, at a young age, he wanted to be a wizard when he grew up but had to “settle” for being a professional musician. While all of that made for a very entertaining interview, I think what I loved most about our chat was realizing that Aug embodies a certain characteristic that I’ve uncovered in many of the most successful entrepreneurs I’ve interviewed on Uncorking a Story—the ability to put thought into action.
You can pick up his novel, Off License to Kill, here, or wherever you prefer to buy books online. For more on Aug, visit www.AugStone.com and www.YoungSouthpaw.com (to have your mind blown).
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, and an angry Russian woman who apparently doesn’t like horse racing in the Poconos. That’s because it features an in-depth conversation with comedian Frank Murgalo.
Before being a comic, Frank was a Marine, a copier salesman, owned a staffing agency, and was a financial advisor—and those are only the jobs we know about. I asked Frank how he got into stand-up comedy and I think he only answers it after speaking with me for an hour, because his life before stand-up was so very interesting.
Listen in as we discuss how Frank lost 12lbs in one day during basic training, how he became a master of making bigger rocks into smaller rocks, and how Mad Men wasn’t very far off when it came to certain elements of client service, but these are all his stories to tell so listen in and hear them all.
For all you comedians out there, Frank books a paid bringer show at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT on Thursday nights and as of now he’s still looking for some comics for September 12th. The show is hosted by the one and only Pat Oats who is a tremendous comic and very generous with his time and advice so get some stage time, a few bucks in your pocket, and some mentorship. To check availability, email frank by clicking here. Enjoy the show.
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 circuit and perhaps one of the most insightful people I’ve ever met.
Listen up as we talk about what drives him comedically and join us on a wild ride beginning in Westchester County, NY and then off to the bay area of California. From there it’s off to rural Illinois before finally stopping in Milford, CT. Along the way we take a deep dive into the range of life experiences he’s had, all of which influence what propels him forward and why he bears his soul on stage in a quest to connect with the audience and, of course, make them laugh.
Follow Nick Breen on Instagram @nick_am_
David Bell is the USA Today-bestselling author of eight novels from Berkley/Penguin, including Layover, which will be released on July 2nd 2019. His work has been translated into numerous foreign languages, and in 2013, he won the prestigious Prix Polar International de Cognac for best crime novel by an international author.
Listen in as we discuss how David went from working gigs in restaurants as well as in telemarketing to becoming a published author. Along the way we talk about our shared experiences being raised Catholic, why it’s so important to keep at it when dealing with rejection, and how it’s absolutely possible for zombie stories to have social commentary.
In addition to being a successful author of thrillers, David is an associate professor of English at Western Kentucky University where he directs the MFA program in creative writing.
You can learn more about David at www.davidbellnovels.com.
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 issues.
Currently, she helps her clients achieve greater happiness in their personal and professional lives. She also runs optimism wellness groups, and facilitates personal, career, and staff development workshops.
In her new book RESCRIPT the Story You’re Telling Yourself: The Eight Practices to Quiet Your Inner Antagonist, Amplify Your Inner Advocate, & Author a Limitless Life, Dr. Colleen guides you on a self-authorship journey using the eight practices of her RESCRIPT framework. You’ll discover how to:
- Identify limiting stories you’re telling yourself that are keeping you stuck
- Quiet your Inner Antagonist quickly so it doesn’t hinder you
- Amplify your Inner Advocate to cultivate positive thoughts and actions
- Stop criticizing yourself, dwelling on the past, and fearing the future
- Recognize your self-worth so you can set and achieve your goals
If that doesn’t sound impressive enough, listen in as we discuss why Jon Bon Jovi is a national treasure, why 80’s metal is still relevant 30 years later, and why Don Draper’s words of wisdom remain true long after Mad Men has ended, “If you don’t like what is being said, change the conversation.”
You can learn more about Dr. Colleen Georges by clicking here.
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 undiagnosed illness—she didn't know what to call it, and neither did a team of five doctors. This forced Karen to reimagine what success means, and at that time success meant getting healthy. When things were asked of her, Karen would pause and ask herself, will this help me achieve my goal? She realized that she could no longer say yes to everything and this her filter changed her life.
Eventually Karen was properly diagnosed, and while her health returned she didn’t abandon her newfound philosophy—instead, she continued to be more selective about the projects she took on and learned how to work through others and lead others more effectively to get work done. Her story was so powerful that she was encouraged to speak about it publicly and that led to someone encouraging her to capturing it in book form.
In Success with Less Karen provides the guidance that we all need to get through the crossroads we all face. For our career, our relationships, our health and our life: what we really need is less than what we imagine. And we won't find what's missing by striving, racing, acquiring and struggling. That's because what we need is inside of us, right now, and this book shows us how to find it.
Learn more at http://successwithless.net/
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 Your Free Time," has been viewed more than 5 million times. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Fortune, and other publications.
Her latest book, which will be available for sale on March 12th, is entitled Juliet’s School of Possibilities and is a must read for anyone who struggles with remaining present in the moment, even in the face of outside pressure. It is considered the first parable written for women, by a woman, but that doesn’t mean men won’t get something out of it as well. Pre-order Laura’s book by clicking on any of the bookstores on this page.
Enjoy the show!
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 runner and said goodbye to his running shoes as a way to reduce pain in his hip and back. Not only did the pain go away, but he gained wonderful insights while he ran.
In Connections in the Raw: Musings of a Barefoot Runner, Kevin chronicles stories and insights from years of barefoot running. He shares his perspective that deep connections exist in our lives between us and the Creator, other people, and with nature, and that we all have access to wisdom that is rewarded to all who will listen.
When he’s not out for a run or working with a client, Kevin spends his time trying to make the world a better place. He is passionate about education reform, specifically in underserved communities. He has sat on the boards of various schools and spends most Friday mornings reading to third- and fourth-graders at a school near his home in Norwalk, Connecticut because he believes nothing keeps one grounded like visiting schools and interacting with young people. He has been a vegetarian for over three decades and loves reading, martial arts, sports, and the theater. He is active in his church where he facilitates a Bible study group and teaches Sunday school.
Kevin is married to his wonderful, giving wife who is a marriage and family therapist, and they have three adult children, who occasionally go for a run with him—wearing shoes.
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 by a bad recording contract, is now an independent recording artist and performer.
As a lover of cozy mysteries, Zaida decided to take her musical experiences and put them on paper. The result is The Last Note: A Miami Music Mystery. In this first novel she combines her background as a musician, her love of her hometown of Miami, and her Cuban culture to spin a tale of music and murder.
In this interview we discuss her early influences as a singer and songwriter, the importance of having faith and support during the writing process, and how perseverance led to her earning a publishing contract with Cozy Cat Press. For more information on Zaida, including where to buy her music and novel, please visit https://www.zaidamusic.com/.
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 Connecticut. Together, they collaborated on a book telling the stories of Vietnam Veterans who were from the town of Stamford, Connecticut.
After thousands of hours of research and hundreds of hours of in-depth-interviews with Veterans or, in some cases, relatives and friends of those who died in the war, Tony and Matt conclude that these veterans have often been portrayed in an unfair way through both pop culture and the media. This is not a book of war stories, but one that shows a generation that is much more accomplished than what most give them credit for.
Listen in as we discuss Tony’s personal memories of that period of time including what life was like as a teenager during such a time of cultural change. Matt does a great job explaining how they went about conducting the research for the book as well as the challenges they both faced when cold-calling Veterans and convincing them to share their experiences for the book. What was most fascinating to me about this conversation was hearing how their perceptions of this war and the veterans who served in it were changed as a result of writing this book.
Tony and Matt’s book can be purchased by clicking here, and while it focuses on the lives of Veterans from one small but diverse part of Connecticut, the stories you will read about can be applicable to Vietnam veterans from Anytown USA. Happy listening.
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 true, she still took an hour out of her day to speak with me!
Her latest book, The Sunshine Sisters, was released this past May and is, as People Magazine says, “A warm, satisfying tale about the love that binds even the most dysfunctional of families.”
In our discussion, Jane talks about how she originally wanted to be a visual artist and how her love of reading led her to painting with words—and what an artist she is! Just as I can hear a guitar solo and identify the player, I can read Jane’s words and identify the author. As writers, we all work with the same raw materials (i.e. vocabulary), but Jane can put words together in such a way that the reader not only sees the story but also feels the emotions of her carefully crafted characters. Her books are, truly, works of art.
Our discussion ends with Jane's advice to both aspiring and established authors as she underscores the importance of being well read and why all writers need PHD; persistence, humility, and discipline. Happy Listening!
Bill McGarvey is the author of The Freshman Survival Guide, a resource for incoming college freshmen to help them navigate their first year away from home. He also has a regular column in America Magazine.
Bill is also an accomplished musician, having written his first song when just eight years old. He’s currently releasing short films to accompany the tracks on his album Beautiful Mess. The film for “Broken Lullaby” can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRcf2v7ig5Y
Additionally, his duo TwoHorseman, takes heavy metal classics and transforms them with an Americana vibe. Check out their version of Judas Priest’s “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vF99PtCZBXg
You can pick up a copy of The Freshman Survival Guide wherever books are sold.
George is a career naval aviator whose thirty years of active duty service included four command tours and five years as a carrier strike group chief of staff. He began his writing career in 1978 with an article in the U.S. Navy’s professional magazine, U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings.
In addition to his Rick Holden thrillers published by Braveship Books, he has written thirteen other books distributed by mainstream publishers, including several bestselling novels in the rebooted Tom Clancy’s Op-Center series, including Out of the Ashes, Into the Fire, Scorched Earth, and Dark Zone. With his longtime collaborator, Dick Couch, he coauthored the New York Times best seller, Tom Clancy Presents: Act of Valor the novelization of the Bandito Brothers/Relativity Media film. He is also the author of The Kissing Sailor, which proved the identity of the two principals in Alfred Eisenstaedt’s famous photograph; as well as over three-hundred articles in professional journals and other media.
George has received a number of national and international writing awards, including: the Navy League of the United States Alfred Thayer Mahan Award for Literary Achievement, the Surface Navy Association Literary Award, the Navy League of Australia’s Annual Essay Competition, the Naval Helicopter Historical Association Mark Starr Pioneer Literary Award, and the Military Writers Society of America Silver Medal Award, among others. George speaks frequently at writing classes and seminars including: San Diego State University Writers Conference, La Jolla Writers Conference, San Diego Writer’s Ink, Southern California Writers Association, Coronado Writer’s Workshop, and other venues.
George is the Director of Strategic Assessments and Technical Futures at the Navy’s Command and Control Center of Excellence in San Diego, California. He and his wife Becky live in Coronado, California. Other than writing thrillers, he likes nothing more than connecting with readers. You can follow him on Facebook and Twitter, and learn more about his books, blogs and other writing on his website: http://www.georgegaldorisi.com/ – especially his “Writing Tips,” – which offer useful advice for all writers from established authors to future best-selling writers.
Andrew Peterson was born and raised in San Diego, California and graduated with a degree in architecture from the University of Oklahoma. After mentioning to his wife that he was disappointed in much of what he was reading, Andrew accepted her challenge to write something better and started down the roller coaster ride of becoming a published author.
Andrew followed First to Kill, his debut thriller featuring Nathan McBride, with six additional McBride novels, the most recent having been released on July 3rd of this year. Listen in as we discuss Andrew’s perspectives on the industry, his writing process, and the similarities he sees between professional golfers and published authors. He freely shares some great advice for budding authors in this interview so stick with it until the end when he divulges what helped him most in his career, and what he wish he did much, much earlier when he started to write.
You can learn more about Andrew Peterson and his books at https://www.andrewpeterson.com/
Patricia Fuqua is the founder of Dating Diamonds, a service that empowers women to meet the right man the second time around and is the creator of the 1st Date to Soulmate Program. Since 2008, she’s helped over 500 women meet the right man by designing a personalized plan that she helps them implement. She’s polished the art of relationship in her 40-year marriage to her soulmate husband.
Her clients can be found in major cities including Sydney, Washington D. C., Sacramento, and San Francisco. She mentors women to use the story of their lives to create the relationship they choose the second time around. She holds coaching credentials from the Academy of Excellence as well as the Wanless Institute and is a certified Matchmaker with the Matchmakers Institute.
Earlier this year her book Second Time Around: How to Date Your Right Man (2018) was published. Her first book, Manifesting Your Soulmate, was published in 2008. Both can be found on Amazon.com. You can reach out to Patricia by visiting her LinkedIn profile.
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 as Linwood and I talk about his early influences as a writer, how living in a trailer park and the loss of his father at sixteen has impacted his writing, and why detectives should always keep empty bottles in their cars while on stakeouts.
Our interview concludes with some advice to budding authors including why, even in this age of independent publishing, agents are still critical to the business. He also imparts some wisdom on what to put in front of them to get their attention.
Christopher Ryan has always been a storyteller. Whether "ranking" on friends as a teen, covering street crime and dirty politics in The Bronx as an award-winning reporter, or teaching High School English, he serves the story above all else.
I recently chatted with Chris about his time as a journalist during New York City’s violent crack epidemic, his desire to become a police officer, and the decision that led him into the classroom and ultimately to his first published novel, City of Woe. Along the way we talk about his gumption as a high school student to call Marvel Comics and interview Stan Lee and how all of his experiences on the streets of New York City influence his writing.
If there’s one thing I learned during this interview it’s that Christopher Ryan seeks to combine all of his loves to tell tales that question justice, faith, and the nature of good and evil.
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 people and experiences them for himself.
Hunter’s novels can even be found on display at the International Cryptozoology Museum. His video podcast, Monster Men, is one of the most watched horror podcasts in the world. He’s a bestselling author of over 13 (lucky number!) books, all of them written with the express desire to quicken heartbeats and make spines tingle. Living with his wonderful family and two cats, he’s happy to be close enough to New York City to gobble down Gray’s Papaya hotdogs when the craving hits.
I recently spoke with Hunter about his path to writing, his affection for all things gore, and the importance of getting people to care about characters. As he puts it, “If you don’t have characters people care about, who cares if the monster eats them all?”
Stick with the conversation to hear a real-life ghost story and Hunter’s perspectives on Werewolf porn. To learn more about Hunter Shea and to buy his books, visit https://huntershea.com.
Enjoy the show.
“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 culture during the time of Tess’ high school days, it’s one that has a silver lining considering she eventually went on to become an internationally acclaimed bestselling author.
Tess’ path to writing, though, was not what you would call linear. Inspired by her appreciation of Nancy Drew novels, Tess had a dream of becoming a journalist at a young age, but her father, a Chinese immigrant, eschewed journalism as a career path and Tess eventually studied medicine, receiving her medical degree in 1979.
While on maternity leave, Tess wrote a short story that won first prize in a fiction contest and this success planted the seed that she might be able to have a career as a writer. When she and her husband, also a doctor, found it challenging to both work full time as doctors and raise a young family, Tess volunteered to stay home with the kids as well as focus on her writing. This move paid off as Tess is now a multi award winning bestselling author who has sold more than 30 million books around the world.
I recently had a chance to speak with Tess about her career as both a physician and author. We discussed how she made the leap to writing full-time and what it takes to write successfully in multiple genres. Listen in as we chat about why the best stories written are those whose subject matter elicits strong personal reactions in the writer, why it’s critically important to feed your curiosity as an author, and how she and her husband could have been considered persons of interest in the Golden State Killer case.
Be on the lookout for Island Zero, a Tess Gerritsen penned movie, available in video-on-demand starting May 15th. Directed by her son Josh, this old-school suspense thriller is available for pre-order now exclusively from iTunes.
Brian is a founding Partner of Anderson Porter Design and has developed a proven process of project delivery in the Cannabis Industry. To date, he has designed facilities for cultivation totaling over 150,000sf as well as 14 retail dispensaries.
His path to this space, though, wasn’t what you might call linear. He grew up on a Christmas Tree farm in rural Connecticut, so I guess you could say that horticulture is in his blood (though he’s not a grower). After attending the Rhode Island School of Design for his undergraduate work and Harvard for graduate school, he went off to work in Europe where, in addition to making his bones in the architecture world, he did some stage acting.
Upon his return back to the States, Brian challenged himself to work on a variety of projects before joining up with his brother and business partner to establish Anderson Porter Design. It was their experience working on a project for the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston that gave Anderson Porter the credentials in designing high security buildings that led to their entrance in the legal cannabis space – ironic given the federal government’s stance on cannabis.
From site planning to ribbon cutting, Brian and his team at Anderson Porter Design work with entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry to design, engineer and construct facilities that transform ideas into successful, profitable businesses.
Psychologist Gay Hendricks is counselor, writer, and teacher in the field of personal growth, relationships, and body intelligence. He’s best known for his work in relationship enhancement and is the founder of The Hendricks Institute, where he and his wife Katie conduct workshops focusing on what they call conscious loving. Together, they have written close to 40 books, trained thousands of coaches, appeared on Oprah, and have hosted seminars around the globe.
I recently had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Hendricks about his career not only as a writer but also as an academic, counselor, and corporate trainer. Listen in as he speaks about the power of completion and why it’s so important to be honest and take responsibility for your actions both in the boardroom as well as in personal relationships. You’ll hear about his ah-ha moment when it became clear what he wanted to do with his life and how that led to his losing over one hundred pounds. Also, you’ll hear about how some of his fiction has been picked up for screen adaptation.
You can learn more about Dr. Hendricks at www.Hendricks.com.
Dr. Warren Farrell is the author of the just-publishedThe 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 been chosen by the Financial Times as one of the world’s top 100 thought leaders. His books are published in over 50 countries, and in 19 languages. They include two award-winning international best-sellers, Why Men Are the Way They Are plus The Myth of Male Power.
Listen in as we discuss the biggest challenges facing boys today, why the role of an active father is critical in a boy’s life, and what can be done to address and reverse the trends we are seeing.
He has two daughters, and lives with his wife in Mill Valley, California, and virtually at www.warrenfarrell.com.
Erin Boardman Wathen is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and a Food Addiction Counselor (INFACT). She’s a Certified Spinning® Instructor (STAR 3), Vinyasa Yoga instructor (200 Hour) and Classical Pilates instructor. She’s also the author of Why Can’t I Stick to my Diet, a book that uses an addiction based model to help readers understand why diets are so hard to stick to and how to live the rest of their lives while not being on a diet (while still maintaining weight loss). Readers will uncover how to ditch the diet mentality for good by keeping to her specialized food plan and if that sounds overwhelming, have no fear - Erin provides the tools for combating any food obstacle.
I caught up with Erin recently and we discussed what drove her to write this book and how she developed a unique approach to thinking about sugar as an addiction; albeit one that is more powerful than any other chemical addiction. You’ll hear her talk about the time she started her first diet in her early teens as well as the struggles she had with sugar well into adulthood. You’ll also hear some very personal and motivational stories about how cutting sugar has changed her life for the better.
You can learn more about Erin by visiting her website at https://www.ewwellnesssolutions.com I highly recommend that you follow her video blog which can be seen on her website as her videos are not only informative, but also creative and highly entertaining.
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 leadership courses for corporations and individuals throughout the world.
For over a decade, she’s hosted the weekly radio show Sex and Happiness where she discusses all topics about, you guessed it, sex. Laurie has also produced and starred in two independent films: “Beyond Dinner” and “Tantric Tourists.” Her current focus is on Sexual Ecstasy at Any Age and is currently writing a book called The Magic and Mastery of Sex and Happiness After Sixty.
As an aside, I interview people for a living and I really love interviewing people who are experts in fields where I have next to no experience. Oftentimes when I lose a project, a client will tell me it’s because I didn’t have enough experience in their category or that someone on the team wanted to go with someone who they’ve used in the past, and that’s all very rational, but the truth is they are doing themselves a disservice.
When I go into a situation where I know next to nothing, my curiosity takes over and I probe into areas that other people might not dared to tread. Additionally, my interviewee will sense my naiveté and then put on the hat of teacher, thereby giving more detailed explanations of whatever subject matter they are expert in. In short, it leads to really fluid and insightful interviews and I think you will discover that to be the case in my conversation with Laurie.
Now you may be wondering, hey Mike, won’t you be embarrassed if your eighty plus year old parents heard you carrying on about this? Well, consider this - after Laurie’s mother passed away, her father became her student. Let that sink in for a second, she taught her father everything she knew about sex and intimacy! Aside from that, my parents know that I've had sex as I've given them grandchildren.
One thing I learned in my talk with Laurie is that Tantra is much more than just sex. In this conversation you’ll hear why Laurie believes we all have to change and adapt throughout life, why it’s important to come to peace with our own emotional and physical needs before we can fully do so with another, and why it’s so damn hard for many men and women to have an honest conversation about what they want in the bedroom.
You’ll hear the advice she’d give young couples on how to have a fulfilling sex life well into their golden years as well as how to talk to one’s children about sex in a way that’s open, honest, and will set them up for fulfilling emotional and physical relationships in the future.
I hope you listen to this entire interview with Laurie because it comes to a nice climax towards the end. This Spring, she'll be doing a multi-city tour running some seminars called What to do About #MeToo. You can learn about those events and more about Laurie by visiting http://www.butterflyworkshops.com/
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 degree in English, Lou planned on becoming a teacher, though a bad economy and a flood of talent competing for teaching jobs that simply weren’t there pushed him into the only other career well suited for an English major—publishing.
After rising through the ranks in the publishing world, a window was opened when Lou's company was purchased by News Corp and the powers that be decided his services were no longer needed at the helm of Avon Books. Armed with some free time (and a golden parachute), Lou wrote what became his first novel, USA Today Best Seller The Forever Year. In addition to successful followup works of fiction, Lou has also penned non-fiction as well as helped develop other authors through his company The Fiction Studio.
In this interview you’ll hear how Lou got his start, the importance of being honest as a writer - especially when writing fiction - and his perspectives on how the publishing business has changed with the advent of The Kindle and the rise of independent authors. You will also hear a recurring theme in Lou’s life, how events don’t always unfold the way he wants them to, but do so in a way that moves his life forward for the better. To bring it back to where our conversation began, Lou discusses his return to music and the singles he is releasing every week through his blog, which can be found at louaronica.com/blog.
Follow Lou Aronica on Social Media:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheStoryPlant
Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lou-aronica-536b60/?trk=hp-identity-name
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louaronicaauthor/
Today is a big day for Uncorking a story because I get to share with you my conversation with Bruce Miller, the creator of Smart Alex - a new, better for you, snack food. I love talking to entrepreneurs because I’m always left feeling inspired by their stories; the drive and ability to put thought into action is a skill that few people have and I think it’s worth uncorking the stories of those who do so successfully. Bruce Miller, though, didn’t set out to be a snack food disruptor (whatever that is). At an early age, he demonstrated a talent in art and his parents encouraged that by enrolling 11-year-old Bruce in a painting class. From there it was off to art school in New Haven for college and then onto jobs at smaller ad agencies in Connecticut and New York before landing at Jordan McGrath, Case, and Taylor where he worked under James Jordan as a copywriter. My mother always said that behind every great man is an even better woman and interwoven in this interview is a love story. After moving to California to service his biggest client, Bruce kept up a long-distance relationship with a woman named Maria Guella. They soon became engaged and she, as well as the professional transition Bruce made at that time, would play an important role in the Smart Alex story. This podcast is being brought to you by my new book Motel California, the third in my Farrah Graham series. If you like an intriguing story with colorful and comical characters, Motel California is what you need to be reading right now. You can buy it online wherever books are sold (or give the image to the right a little clickity click, click, click). You can learn more about Smart Alex at: www.smartalexfoods.com Download Here
Karen Rands is the founder and CEO of Kugarand Capital Holdings. She’s also the author of Inside Secrets to Angel Investing.
Having my career in the mid 1990s during the dot com tech boom, I heard the term Angel Investing daily at least four times before lunch. Karen’s new book is geared towards teaching potential angel investors the ins and outs of growing their wealth through what she calls Compassionate Capitalism.
Compassion isn’t something you ever hear alongside capitalism. If capitalism is all about survival of the fittest, there’s no room for what we might think as compassion when going head to head with competition. Karen bridges the divide between the terms by redefining compassion, which she believes is formed from the idea that entrepreneurs have passions for their ideas and build companies around them. Compassion, to her, is the creating of a company that is passionate about the potential to change the world.
In Compassionate Capitalism, we have an environment where money makers enable others to bring innovation to the market and, by doing so, create jobs and wealth for all involved. When investors use their money and talents as compassionate capitalists, it’s Karen’s belief that they will feel an emotional abundance existing alongside the wealth they’ve created.
Karen Rands is giving away an estimated $10,000 worth of her book Inside Secrets to Angel Investing this labor day weekend. Click here to download your free copy between September 1st and 2nd.
Imagine going through basic training for the US Army as you approach the age of 40. It's a pretty hard thing to do at 18, but at 40 - come on it takes a special kind of person to raise his or her hand and say, "Bring it on," but that is just what Captain James P. Carlon of the US Army Reserve did just a few years ago.
If that last name sounds familiar, it should - because it's my last name as well. Jim is my twin brother. You might be wondering, why interview your twin? Don’t you know everything about him? Well, I’ll tell you why I wanted to talk to Jim and why you should listen – he’s got a great story.
Ever since he was in law school, Jim wanted to join the Jag Corps and become a lawyer for the Army but because he was born with asthma, he could never pass the medical exam. But did he give up on his dream? No, he kept at it and finally got in right before the cutoff age of 40.
There’s another reason I wanted to talk to Jim, though. We were pretty inseparable growing up. I mean, we are twins – kind of built in best friends. In fact, I crafted a character in the Farrah graham book series after Jim (for those of you who have read either Uncorking a Murder or The Last Homily – Jimmy Doubts is my brother Jim Carlon).
Over the past decade or so we haven’t seen much of each other and I thought it would be a good idea to connect on a Wednesday afternoon on my back porch, roll tape, and see where the conversation takes us. So here it is, my talk with Captain James P. Carlon of the US Army Reserve.
This interview is brought to you by my new novel The Last Homily. A Catholic priest is murdered on the altar at a church in Chatham, MA and it is up to Farrah Graham, the host of the uncorking a murder podcast, to find out who did it and why, before the killer strikes again. You can find it at Amazon.com or wherever books are sold online.
John Seigel Boettner is a social studies teacher at Santa Barbara Middle School, but he’s not like one I ever had. It’s a special kind of person who can take middle school kids on a cross country bicycle trip across the United States and an even more special person who can do that through the Republic of Rwanda in central eastern Africa (Yes, that Rwanda). You see, John uses cycling and life experiences to teach his students lessons that they will never forget. In short, John is the kind of teacher you remember; the kind of teacher whose memory will hit you first as you think about the person you’ve become and consider how you got to that place. We don’t get many teachers like that in life but when we do, we should celebrate them.
I met john at an industry conference this past January. Now, you may be saying to yourself, Mike, you are not a teacher, what kind of conference could you possibly have met john at? Well, our paths do cross, but it’s not where you might think.
At Santa Barbara Middle School, John helped form an organization called Teen Press. You see, in addition to being an avid cyclist, John is also a film buff and he often uses film as a teaching aid. Years ago, when the Santa Barbara International Film Festival was coming to town, John wanted to give his students a chance to talk to some influential filmmakers. He had his students apply for press credentials and taught them some interviewing skills; but one important lesson he impressed upon his fledgling journalists was to go beyond the questions that Hollywood types get asked all the time; Who are you wearing? What’s your relationship status? What’s it like working with so and so? Instead, he wanted his kids to uncover what these people are like as human beings. And that's why, at one red carpet event, they handed Amy Adams a burrito!
This is where our paths cross. I interview people for a living for both this podcast and for clients who hire me to run marketing studies. The kids of Teen Press interview filmmakers, celebrities, politicians, and business leaders. Al Gore, Will Smith, burrito loving Amy Adams, and Clint Eastwood are just some of the names that the Teen Press of SBMS have interviewed. Someone in an industry association I am part of heard about Teen Press and invited John and some of his former students to teach a bunch of professional moderators (many of whom have spent more time interviewing people than these kids have been alive) – how to uncover humanness in an interview. It left a mark on me, so much so that I think I just created a new word, and I am pleased to share John’s personal story, in more detail, with you.
This interview is brought to you by my book Uncorking a Murder. A retired detective short on time works with podcaster Farrah Graham to right a wrong in this “Serial meets Gone Girl” thriller. Pick up Uncorking a Murder at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, or wherever books are sold online. Available in paperback and eBook editions.
I’ll admit it, I love a good story where the good guys win and Steve August is a good guy. I know this interview may be a bit “Inside Research” for you, but if you are looking to be inspired by the story of a guy who identified a need, built a technology to meet that need, and then sold his company to someone who saw the value in it then listen up!
Steve is the founder of Revelation, a research technology company he sold to FocusVision – but he wasn’t always in the research business. In fact, before founding Revelation, he was never in the research business at all. He was a singer/songwriter making a living in clay animation, video documentaries, and even web mastering in the early days of the Internet as a commercial medium. Hell, before Revelation, Steve was in museum exhibit development and if that sounds interesting to you, wait to you hear it in Steve’s words!
This episode of Uncorking a Story is brought to you by my book Uncorking a Murder. A detective short on time seeks to right a wrong in this "Serial meets Gone Girl" thriller. Buy it at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, or wherever you buy books online. Available in both print and e-reader editions.
Enjoy the interview.
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 places.
Listen in to hear Wayne discuss how reading books such as Death of a Salesman encouraged him to reflect on the kind of impact he wanted his own life to have in the world. Hear how his calling to the ministry at an early age led to his ordination as a Methodist minister in 1984 and eventually to his first trip to Mozambique, where he experienced extreme poverty first hand. Wayne recalls how seeing this with his own eyes “captured his heart” and encouraged him to rally the support of those back home to help the most vulnerable among us.
After Mozambique, F4O established a presence in Iraq, where war has left countless thousands of children orphaned. Wayne discusses how he never felt safer than when amongst the Kurdish people who welcomed him – and other Americans – with open arms (and hearts). Next, F4O has its sights on breaking ground in the Democratic Republic of Congo where a new orphanage is “shovel ready.”
At the end of this interview you will hear how passionate Wayne is in his belief that caring for orphans is the highest form of charity on the earth and how it is a means to create a more peaceful world.
To support the Foundation for Orphans, visit www.F4O.org or call Wayne directly at 203-417-7362. His email address is wayne@F4O.org.
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 would help her blend in with her peers; scarves called too much attention to her and hats didn’t do the trick. Enter the hoodie. Meredith found that wearing hoodies helped her feel more like a regular kid and they quickly became her favorite thing to wear.
Inspired by what Toms Shoes was doing with footwear, Allison decided to create a “One for One” movement with hoodies. Today, for everyone who purchases a hoodie through BraveHoods, the company will donate one to a child going through cancer treatments or to the family members of that child because, as Allison points out, cancer is a family affair.
In this interview, you will hear much more than how Allison started BraveHoods; you will hear about the kindness given by strangers during moments of intense anxiety and fear and how these moments inspired Allison to reach out and remind other mothers, and fathers, to breathe. You will hear stereotypes about New Yorkers dispelled and, importantly, learn how you can help support BraveHoods and bring delight to some brave kids going through cancer treatments as well as to their families.
Learn more at www.bravehoods.org
This episode is brought to you by the new novel Winning Streak – a story about a young man struggling to come to get his life back on track after the sudden death of his father.
Pick up winning streak at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, or wherever you buy books online. Available in e-book or paperback, if you still buy those things.
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 seven years ago, I found myself in Arizona interviewing professional athletes including Brian Roberts who played for the Baltimore Orioles and Dhani Jones who was a linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals. In addition to professional athletes, I was also interviewing high school athletes; who would have thought that my conversation with a high school athlete’s mother would be the one I remembered most from that project almost a decade ago?
I was hired to interview a student named Zack when I engaged his mother, Jeryl, in some small talk. She told me she was from upstate NY and had recently moved to Phoenix but still owned some property in NY State. I told her that my aunt and uncle owned a farm in Little Falls, NY and she told me that her property was in Bethel. My ears perked up; she appeared to be the age of someone who may have attended Woodstock in 1969 (due to issues obtaining permits, festival organizers wound up holding the festival billed as “3 Days of Peace and Music” at a farm in Bethel, NY approximately 60 miles away from the town of Woodstock). After a moment of silence, and a sly smile, she blew my mind by admitting, “My husband and I own Max Yasgur’s homestead.”
If you don't know who Max Yasgur is, Google his name. Now.
Fast forward seven years and I find myself back in Phoenix; this time interviewing people about banking. On a whim, I search for Jeryl on Facebook and send her an invite which, to my surprise, is accepted. I asked if she could spend thirty minutes or so speaking to me and she welcomed the opportunity.
We discussed what it was like to be a teenager in the later part of the 1960s and how she would travel from her home in Brooklyn to nearby Manhattan in order to see a “who’s who” of bands at the Fillmore East. Jeryl also talks about how she and her mother, who were vacationing in upstate NY in the summer of 1969, brought food and water to people stranded on the thruway during the Woodstock festival as well as how she, and her late husband Roy, came to own the Yasgur Homestead.
However, the story doesn’t end in the 60’s. Jeryl shares the struggles she and Roy faced with the town of Bethel as the two, in true hippie spirit, tried to “welcome hippies home” every summer to commemorate those three days in 1969. Rolling Stone named Woodstock as “One of the 50 moments that changed the history of Rock and Roll” so it is only natural that people would want to make a pilgrimage to such a site; however, the town put up nothing but roadblocks to anniversaries and reunions. After 17 years of battling the town, the required permit allowing gatherings was issued but it was a bittersweet victory for Jeryl; her beloved husband Roy died weeks earlier.
This conversation is filled with great stories of the sixties as well as the drama of a legal battle that stretched from the 90s and into the 2000s. You will also hear Jeryl’s take on the music industry today and why she feels so strongly that artist’s should retain the rights to their music. Above all, though, you will hear a story from someone who experienced a period of time in American culture that transcends generations; a time that may have divided old and young but also united people of different ethnicities, backgrounds, and persuasions. I hope you enjoy Jeryl’s story as much as I enjoyed uncorking it! Feel free to send any feedback you have to mike@uncorkingastory.com and happy listening.
This episode is sponsored by the novel Return to Casa Grande. Visit www.returntocasagrande.com to learn more.
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 sharing our life’s adventures. That belief, along with a push from his Alma Mater Fairfield University, fueled Dave’s desire to write and publish a bestselling book series that contains real stories from real people around the globe demonstrating that every cloud has a silver lining. Today, the Contagious Optimism movement has grown beyond books to include TED talks and a series of Contagious Optimism LIVE events featuring powerful talks from real people around the globe accompanied by music and entertainment.
I met him at the Contagious Optimism offices in Jupiter Florida and I must admit that finding the office was a bit of a challenge as his road has multiple names. Giving up on my GPS, I called Dave to see if he could guide me in and when he asked me for a landmark I looked around and saw a sign for Carlin Park – I took it as a sign that I was on the right track! The interview began a bit shakily at first given I was “greeted” by one of his dogs who used my Achilles tendon as a chew toy; fortunately for me I’m not that tasty and the dog turned his attention to something else.
As you listen to this interview you will agree that Dave is a fascinating guy and will quickly come to understand how someone like him could establish a movement called Contagious Optimism; he’s one of the most optimistic guys I have ever met. He as the ability to put thought into action and we discuss this quality at length in the interview. I am coming to see how important that characteristic is in predicting one’s likelihood of success in any of life’s endeavors and the role optimism plays (why else would someone pursue an idea unless they believed they could work?).
Listen up as we talk about his early entrepreneurial initiatives and how he made lemonade out of lemons after his plan to work for IBM after spending three of his college years there as an intern took an unexpected turn. Additionally, you will hear his take on the power of self discovery and why it is critical to always remind yourself of what your goals are. Don’t miss the last five minutes of this interview when Dave gives his younger self three pieces of critical advice that he has learned in his journey of keeping his glass “completely full.”
Since we want to help make optimism contagious, the first 10 people to share this interview on Twitter will receive a free Contagious Optimism tee-shirt! Just go to our feed @uncorkingastory and use the #contagiousoptimism when you retweet!
As always, your feedback is welcome. Feel free to let us know what you think by emailing your comments to mike@uncorkingastory.com. Happy listening!
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 was already a successful entrepreneur although he would never use that term to describe himself back then. In his words, he was simply a guy who had the ability to put his thoughts into action.
In this interview Andy discusses the impact his upbringing had on his successes later in life and the role that curiosity played in it. He discusses how this curiosity was nourished by his parents, who would serve as role models for how to treat other people with equality.
Andy’s path to running and selling two of the world’s most successful research firms, Greenfield Consulting and Greenfield Online, was not what you might call linear (or traditional). He dropped out of college, started a tennis court lighting business, moved to Colorado to build houses, and then had a conversation that would literally change his life. He went back to school, finished his undergraduate degree, completed graduate studies in philosophy and then…went into advertising.
But Andy didn’t stop there. You will have to listen to the interview to hear about his run in with the Mafia while running a limousine business, how the adage timing is everything was certainly true in his career, and why one should always trust their grandfather.
Andy has some advice for anyone looking to succeed in life:
- Trust your instincts, they are there for a reason
- Listen twice as much as you speak
- Don’t look back
Listen to the interview to learn more!
Should qualitative researchers be thinking about adding mobile to their qualitative toolbox? Richard Owen, founder and CEO of Crowdlab says, without hesitation, yes!
Who is Richard Owen? Well, Richard has been in the market research business for over twenty years and has worked at prestigious firms such as Millward Brown, Copernicus, and Hall & Partners. Frustrated by the pace of change (or lack thereof) in the market research industry, Richard founded Crowdlab as a company designed to field high quality research empowered by bleeding edge technology to amplify the wonders of traditional research thinking and doing. If you want to know exactly what that means then you will have to listen to this podcast!
Now I know what you may be thinking – how can this help me as a qualitative research consultant or a buyer of qualitative research? Here are a few thought starters; what if instead of walking behind a shopper on a shop-a-long you empower participants to keep a shopping diary using their mobile phone to answer questions, take pictures, or record video while on a real shopping trip and use that footage as stimuli for a one on one or group interview? What if you could get people who are in the shopping process for a new car to use their mobile phone to answer questions and capture video before, during, and after going to a car dealer? Mobile technology can help you do that and you can learn more about these and other practical qualitative applications by listening into our conversation with Crowdlab’s Richard Owen.
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 including both asynchronous and real-time interviewing solutions.
In this interview, Jim talks about the irony of hating his research classes while in college while seconds later discussing how he helped to develop a very successful research business. We discuss the bet he took on online qualitative research early on, his time as a state senator in TN, and his motivations for starting a school in Haiti.
We end our conversation with a discussion on where the business is going and what qualitative research consultants must keep in mind to be successful in the future. Listen up as there is more to Jim Bryson than meets the eye, or in this case, the ear.
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 becoming an adult and starting a family, my appreciation for the sacrifices they made for me has only grown. One such sacrifice was giving me a Catholic education; while I did not appreciate it at the time, I have come to understand that the foundation such an education provides has made me every bit of who I am today.
I was fortunate to have been taught by many wonderful teachers during my lifetime but there is one high school teacher of mine who stands out for many reasons and his name is Ernie Bourcier; otherwise known as Mr. B. At 70 years young, Mr. B. remains a full time teacher at Trinity Catholic High School where he has taught for the past 46 years. This amazes me to no end because I have been unable to sit still in a job for more than 5 years at a clip and he has been in the same place for over four and a half decades.
I wanted to interview Ernie to understand what it is about Catholic High that encourages teachers to stay so long as he is not the only one with decades of experience at the school. In short, he views teaching as a true vocation; he really wants to see students become the best they can be and the community around the school has become his family. "You are married to this school, Ernie," a former librarian would remind him.
To really understand Ernie, you have to understand his upbringing in New Bedford, MA. His family was a religious one and religion had a very profound impact on his life. Listen to this interview and you will hear about how boxing gloves were used in place of detentions, the profound impact that Ernie's sister had on his own life, and Ernie's own experiences with religious life. Former students will recognize the story about the chickens! Listen more and you will come to understand what it was like being a rookie teacher in 1968 and why, 46 years later, Mr. B. remains faithfully devoted to his bride; Trinity Catholic High School.
I encourage you to listen to this interview up until the very end to learn more about the local hero we have in Ernie Bourcier.
Like Columbo, there's just one more thing. I ask that you take the time in the near future to think about a teacher who has had an impact on your life. Find some way to share your appreciation with them. We all know that our teachers are not compensated based on what they are truly worth so take a minute to let them know how much they are valued. In the case of Catholic High, you can always send a donation to:
Trinity Catholic High School
C/O Advancement
926 Newfield Avenue
Stamford, CT 06905
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 job kind of sucked. I was estimating call volume for a large telecommunications client who was using long format commercials to advertise their One Rate calling plan. My primary task was to calculate the estimated number of calls the client's telemarketing center could expect to receive after one of these commercials aired. We had to know the gross rating points of each program that the commercial was aired during and then provide estimates back to our client so they could staff up their telemarking center with the optimal number of representatives. I was commuting into NY and still living at home with my parents and barely making enough money to get to and from Manhattan.
Then one day in late 1996, a memo came across my desk announcing that True North "did a deal" with a digital agency in Westport, CT called Modem Media. I went to their website and knew that I needed to work there. In early 1997 my wish became a reality and I was hired into Modem's Research Department.
The years I spent at Modem were the best of my career. I worked hard, I played harder, and I was fortunate enough to meet some really great people. Recently, there was a party held in Westport to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Modem Media. A great time was had by all! At that party I caught up with one of Modem's co-founders, GM O'Connell, and asked if he would be a guest on this podcast. He said yes and we met the following week at his home in Connecticut.
We chatted about what led up to the start of Modem Media and what the early days were like. We discuss growing pains, lessons learned, and life post Modem. I enjoyed our chat and hope you do as well.
One apology to make up front, we did the interview outside as it was too nice a day to stay inside. As such, from time to time, the wind makes an appearance on this recording (I have since purchased a wind guard for my recording unit). We had this conversation over a bottle of Silver Oak Cabernet and I suggest you uncork a bottle of the same as you listen to this; it will take your mind off the wind!
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 post-op transexual named Cynthia. Let me explain.
There are people in our lives who have a profound impact on us. Sr. Dorothy was one of those people for me. My family moved to Connecticut when I was 9 years old which meant my twin brother Jimmy and I would be starting the 1983-1984 school year in a new school. I was entering 4th grade and I was nervous. My nervousness turned to fear when I found out a nun would be my teacher because my prior experiences with nuns was not so good. My first grade teacher, Sr. Peter Marie, made Joe Pesci's Tommy Devito character from Goodfellas seem like a nice guy. Luckily for me, Sr Dorothy was nothing like I expected; she had a big smile and an even bigger heart (and she never asked if she was there to amuse me).
We re-connected recently at a reunion and I asked to interview her for my podcast. She accepted on the condition that I help her serve guests at the Soup Kitchen where she works a few days a week. Our interview picks up right after we served hot meals to approximately 1,200 homeless people in New York. Listen to this interview and your assumptions of just what a nun is may be challenged. Listen to the end and you will hear me drop the tagline, "looks like a pump but feels like a sneaker."
I feel strongly that we should say thank you to the people in our lives who have had an impact on us. However, reflecting on this makes me realize that as people have an impact on me, I also have an impact on others. This is something we should all remember whenever we are in the presence of someone whose life we may be touching.
As always, I hope you enjoy this podcast and feel free to join the conversation at www.uncorkingastory.com
As always, I hope you enjoy this podcast and feel free to join the conversation at www.uncorkingastory.com
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; then again, most women aren’t Shelley Zalis.
I was excited to catch up with Shelley in the private lounge of the Ritz Carlton hotel overlooking Central Park. Today she is the CEO of Ipsos Open Thinking Exchange; a product of Ipsos' 2010 acquisition of her former company OTX Research (listen to the podcast to learn how this came full circle for Shelley).
If I could use only one word to summarize Shelley, it would have to be passionate. When Shelley has an idea stuck in her head, she pursues it until it becomes a reality. If someone tells her it can’t be done, that only motivates her more to make it happen. Listen up as Shelley discusses her career path and the lessons she has learned along the way (like how to speak EBITDA).
I will forewarn you that there is a lot of industry talk in this podcast (and a few F-Bombs). If you stick with it though you will get a glimpse at the softer side of Shelley Zalis.
Given that it is Spring, this episode pairs well with a nice New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc; might I recommend Kim Crawford?
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 my cousin who also happens to have the same name as me; although he goes by Mick and I go by whatever name anyone in my family is willing to call me at any given time (unfortunately, my mother typically calls me Jimmy but that is another story).
Mick Carlon has written two novels based on the lives of famous Jazz musicians; Riding on Duke's Train involves a fictionalized slice of Duke Ellington's life and was published in 2010. Mick's followup, Travels with Louis, was published in 2012 and involves a story around, you guessed it, Louis Armstrong.
Musicians who played with both Ellington and Armstrong have reached out to Mick to let him know how closely he channeled the essence of each musician.
Listen up as we discuss where Mick's love of Jazz came from, how he was able to capture and portray with empathy the racism that these musicians faced, and why he does not want to jump on the Zombie bandwagon.
I believe that this episode pairs well with nice single malt scotch because, lets face it, Jazz and whiskey go together like the Pope and his ruby red shoes!
If you have any feedback on this episode please send along to mcarlon@vertigopartners.com. If you know someone who would appreciate it, please pass it along.
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 sessions. Listen up as Bryan discusses his transformation from rational, Ivy League scholar to one of the world's leaders in creativity processes.
In his new book Idea Stormers Bryan explains the how, what, and why of successful innovation and ideation. He presents a diverse selection of easy-to-learn idea-generating techniques such as “brainwalking,” turning your worst ideas into surprising solutions, wishing your way to real results, and many more. He also provides a framework for how anyone tasked with getting creative results from a group—what he calls a “facilitating leader”—can put these techniques to work.
Stick with the interview and you will hear Bryan's take on the role marketing research should play in the fuzzy front end of innovation. Also, be sure to listen up for a Red Dawn reference! Hey, its the first podcast of the fall so this episode pairs well with a nice, robust red. Might I suggest Cannonball Cabranet Sauvignon?
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 before you eat your vegetables. Also, enjoy a little hair metal trivia!
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!