New York Stories & More with Toni Sipka

As a young girl, Toni was diagnosed with Scoliosis. Thanks to her Aunt, she had surgery to correct her spine and spent a year in a body cast. During that time, Toni decided she wanted to become a model.  With scars down her back and legs it was not an ideal job. Toni’s drive, hard work and street smarts landed her a meeting with a Playboy photographer in Chicago. That turned into a contract as a P...

This is the story of Justin, the crystal meth addict. Toni met Justin through one of her clients which was a big bank. Justin was 20 something years old, Southern, funny, gay, smart, talented and unfortunately addicted to drugs.  He lost his job at the big bank and Toni took him in and offered him a place to sleep and a job. At the time, Toni did not know about the drug problem and thought he coul...

This story starts at the NYC dog park where Toni met a woman named Michelle and her two dogs, Moo and Boo. Michelle was a quirky woman who was perpetually broke and a college student who was always working on her thesis. She would take Toni’s mother Rosemary to doctors appointments, go for dog walks along the Westside Highway and come over for dinner. James Gandolfini lived in the same neighborhoo...

NYC is a dog friendly city. When Toni had her two Puli’s, Shannon and Tori, they would frequent the dog park in the west village. That’s where she met her friend Kathy and her dog Sweetheart. The woman wore white boots, diamonds and a British fox fur coat to the dog park. That’s when Toni learned about Kathy's obsession with feeding the neighborhood pigeons. Find out how Kathy ended up on prob...

The life of a dog in NYC is atypical. The dogs pee and play on cement, not grass. You’ll hear Toni’s experience of raising dogs in Manhattan, how she met her dog walker and the epic dog party in her 300 square foot apartment.  This leads Toni to share what happened to the building community after 9/11. It was a time when New Yorkers came together and supported each other.  And lastly, Toni shares...

Toni turns into a trip advisor this episode as she shares her favorite restaurants and bars to visit in the West Village.  Starting with the White Horse Tavern which is the second oldest bar in NYC which opened in1880. It’s home to famous people like Dylan Thomas, who’s said to haunt the place, Bob Dylan and Jim Morrison.  The Monster Bar, back in the day, you would have seen Andy Warhol, Ru Paul,...

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to have your neighbor die in their NYC apartment building where you also live, look no further than Law Order the TV show. Their depictions are pretty accurate, except these stories are about death from natural causes.  Toni shares the stories of her very different neighbors, Richard and Amy who died very differently.  Everyone in the building on Bethune Stre...

Welcome back to the podcast formerly known as “Take it From Toni.” The name never felt right to the host, Toni Sipka, and it’s now called “New York Stories & More.” Toni considers Manhattan home after living there for 30 years and even though she now lives in Maine. New York is the place Toni ate the best tasting $2.50 apple of her life. This episode, Toni talks about the community inside the...

April Crawford and I have been friends for close to 40 years. We met in the trade show world and became friends along the way. April worked for me as a model and spokeswoman when I had my talent agency and told me when my business partner was scamming me out of money. April is a full body open deep trance channel medium and a best selling author. Toni hosts April’s weekly radio show, “Inner Whispe...

Robert Patrick and I have been friends for 46 years. We met in Chicago in the 70s when we worked at a restaurant called Arnie’s. You’ll hear stories from our time together, life at the gay bars and what it felt like being a gay man during the sexual revolution. Have Questions for Toni? Want life advice? Email: Takeitfromtoni@gmail.com For more on her forthcoming book visit www. ToniSipka.com Follo...

You’ve heard a lot about my mother Rosemary over the course of this show and I have a few more stories to share. She married my father, George, 3 times and had one child, me. She never loved me and she never liked me, and I still took care of her. You’ll hear how she almost killed me as a child, how my dog Madison saved Rosemary from drowning and a few others. Have Questions for Toni? Want life ad...

You’ve heard a little bit about my father George and mother Rosemary in previous episodes. This one focuses on George’s life, his 9 wives, and the strong effect he had on those women throughout their lives. He married my mother Rosemary 3 times and was the only man she ever loved. I even took Rosemary to visit George and his then 8th wife Gladys all together! You cannot make this up. It all happen...

*Warning* If you are a prude or a child, this episode is not for you. Ever wish you could be a voyeur and listen to total strangers talk about their deepest secrets? Enter the Strictly Anonymous Podcast hosted by a woman named Kathi. Kathi is on the show to talk about her podcast, her unprofessional advice and how the show is helping people. We met when I was a guest on Strictly Anonymous, which y...

In this episode I needed to vent. Ever felt that way? I vent about the stupid news headlines like why Whoopi Goldberg is unhappy with her salary, running a summer rental business, and the people I encounter at the dog park. Plus, I share the Shakespearian like story of my mother Rosemary’s death. And remember, don’t take life too seriously. Have Questions for Toni? Want life advice? Email: Takeitf...

Have you ever heard of a standardized medical patient? In layman's terms, it’s an actor portraying a medical patient with an illness to allow doctors to practice being a doctor. Officially it’s a program that hospitals and medical schools use to help teach and evaluate medical professionals on physical examinations, counseling, interviewing, history-taking, communication skills, and personal inter...

Do you look in the mirror and think why is my neck so droopy and my face full of lines? I thought about those things and I have done something about it with advanced non-invasive treatments. New technology offers more options to lift and tighten your skin without having to go under the knife. I have found the best licensed medical aesthetician around, Michelle Correia. She’s the owner of Purely Sk...

If you’ve been listening to the podcast, you may know a little about me, Toni Sipka. Though I felt I should tell you more about my life as an actress, model, and business owner. I was born in the summer of 1953 in the steel mill town of Gary, Indiana and at 10 years old I was diagnosed with scoliosis and lived in a body cast for two years after surgery. When I was told I'd never walk again that be...

Medium and spiritual minister Gloria Nye Warner joins the show again, this time to discuss marriage and relationships. Gloria is married to a man several years younger than her and shares what makes her relationship work. Plus she shares how to attract the right relationship for you and more. Have Questions for Toni? Want life advice? Email: Takeitfromtoni@gmail.com For more on her forthcoming boo...

How do you balance it all? It’s a question we’re all trying to answer between having a career, family and friends, it’s not easy. That all also comes with stress and anxiety. Though It is possible to be successful through the power of empathy and self-understanding according to Arthur P. Ciaramicoli, Ed. D., Ph. D. He is a licensed clinical psychologist who has been treating clients for more than...

Neil Goetz and I have known each other for close to 40 years. I refer to him as Baby Boy and am very proud of him. Neil being the son of a Rabbi, and me a gentile, the laughter never stops nor does the advice which includes not eating pork. He has worked for high end advertising agencies in Chicago and Los Angeles as well as Sony Pictures and Disney.  You’ll hear about us living in the same b...

Kids can be brutally honest. They don’t know much else, especially at the age of 8. This is why I wanted to interview my dear friend Annie’s daughter, Chloe. Chloe is a unique child who shares her opinions on school, summers in Maine, and advice to stop bullies. Have Questions for Toni? Want life advice? Email her at  Takeitfromtoni@gmail.com For more on her forthcoming book visit www. ToniSi...

Helena Queally was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at a young age and given a life expectancy of 20 years. Helena never liked being told what to do and so she lived to the age of 30. A double lung transplant extended her life which she lived her way and on her terms. I considered Helena my niece though we were not blood relatives and this is her story. Have Questions for Toni? Want life advice? Ema...

Stories of strong women is a theme on my podcast. The guest this week was one of them, author Anita Shreve. I spoke to her several years ago before her death. Anita was chiefly known for her novels with her 19th and final novel being, “The Stars Are Fire.” She not only writes about resilient women in her books but she also is one. Have Questions for Toni? Want life advice? Email her at Takeitfromt...

This week is the story of a woman named Emma Dowd. Emma was born a male named Jason and is now a transgender woman. She openly shares her experience, her choices, and reactions from her loved ones. Emma is now a podcaster, entrepreneur and model. She is a positive light in this world and I hope our conversation inspires strength in you to live your truest life. Have Questions for Toni? Want life a...

You may have heard of Feng Shui before, but do you know what it is? The philosophy of Feng Shui is a practice of arranging the pieces in living spaces in order to create balance with the natural world. The goal is to harness energy forces and establish harmony between an individual and their environment. My guest, Gloria Warner, explains how to apply it to your home or apartment. She is my friend...