Your Daily Chocolate

In this episode of Your Daily Chocolate, Patty talks with TEDx speaker and storyteller Brownell Landrum about the art and science of wishing and her book "Cosmic Wish." Landrum explains how making a wish can engage many sciences, including anthropology, sociology, psychology, neuroscience, and even quantum physics, and distinguishes goals (within your control), prayers (outside your cont...

On Your Daily Chocolate, Patty interviews Jeff Fehn, a former college basketball player and longtime corporate professional who later became a church planter and pastor and is now author of The Rock, Pop, and Country Gospel. Fehn explains how his retirement planning and a pivotal moment hearing Jennifer Nettles’ “Life Is Sweet” sparked his concept: pair non-religious rock, pop, and country songs w...

Today Patty welcomes Todd Foster, former Ritz-Carlton Chicago doorman and author of Everybody Had Baggage, who shares how three years observing guests—from celebrities to everyday people—shaped his work as a keynote speaker and executive coach. Todd explains how people reveal character by how they treat those they don’t need, why mindset drives behavior, and how leaders set the tone for everyone i...

Today Patty welcomes Amanda Alvarez, a Puerto Rico–raised neuroscientist, salsa dancer, and founder of LaBori Boxing, a Dallas-based nonprofit offering free boxing training for youth 18 and under plus STEM education and career exposure. Alvarez shares how she began boxing at 17, studied neuroscience at NYU, earned a PhD at UT Dallas, and built Laboré to remove economic and geographic barriers for...

Today on Your Daily Chocolate, Patty talks with Dan Roman, a retired police detective, father of five, and grandfather of eight, who completed a 5,000-mile solo bicycle ride across the U.S. to raise awareness for Parkinson’s disease in honor of his father, who died after a 40-year battle.  Dan explains why the timing mattered to him, including anniversaries connected to Route 66 and the TransAmeri...

Today on Your Daily Chocolate, Patty interviews Andrea Ratfield, a Delta pilot, single mom, and founder/executive director of Hope Filled Cafe, a biblically rooted nonprofit in Minneapolis creating meaningful, sensory-friendly employment for young adults with autism and cognitive disabilities. Andrea shares how her son’s diagnosis and a Delta airport tour program for families and adults with speci...

Today Patty interviews NASA astronaut and retired US Navy Captain Butch Wilmore about his book ‘Stuck in Space’ and the Boeing Starliner’s first crewed test flight that became a 10-month stay on the International Space Station instead of 9–10 days. Butch describes facing closed doors in football and naval aviation, relying on determination, prayer, and scripture, and how being assigned the A-7 Cor...

Today Patty welcomes Dr. Rob Yonover, a Hawaii-based PhD geochemist and volcanologist, big-wave surfer, and inventor of the See Rescue Streamer, a long, segmented orange visual marker designed to make people easier to spot during ocean and wilderness search and rescue. Rob explains the 1985 origin of the idea after a tense flight over open water, his biomimicry-inspired design, and why the streame...

Today on Your Daily Chocolate, Patty interviews Christian rapper and motivational speaker David Paul Brooks, whose single “Undefeated 3.0” hit #1 on the National Radio Hits AC40 chart. Brooks shares his mission to give youth positive, faith-based alternatives to negative music, shaped by raising two sons and by his mother’s church foundation.  He discusses his Grammy- and Dove-winning group DOC sp...

Today Patty welcomes Mark Steven Porro, a New Jersey native who spent 28 years in Hollywood, to discuss his bestselling, award-winning debut memoir, A Cup of Tea on the Commode, The book is about caring for his mother during the final three and a half years of her life after a near-death experience in 2011.  He explains the title’s origin from a daily bedside commode routine that included his moth...

Today Patty welcomes Nashville-based country singer, award-winning videographer, and video director Scott Scovill to talk about his new book, Tenacious, which features Scovill’s stories and insights from 17 notable collaborators including country artists, an astronaut, and an Olympian. Scott defines tenacity as the inner fortitude to keep going despite obstacles in front of and inside you, emphasi...

Today Patty interviews author and former sports broadcaster Peter Young about his memoir, Stop the Tall Man, Save the Tiger, detailing how he married into a small, hidden cult led by “Uncle Robert” (Robert Booty). Over two decades, Robert used secrecy, isolation, and spiritual manipulation—claiming to be a gatekeeper to salvation—to control Paige, her parents, and eventually Peter, fueling parenta...

On today's show, Patty welcomes Jill Chalsty and talks about how being bullied in middle school led her to help create Overcoming Obstacles, a free K–12 life skills curriculum now used in nearly 200 countries and reaching about 180 million children. Jill explains the program’s focus on skills like asking for help, communication, conflict resolution, goal setting, problem solving, and especiall...

Every once in a while, you see something on TV that just makes you smile — and this was one of those moments. After spotting a heart-melting segment (yes, the one with the dogs riding a bus with assigned seats!) on Good Morning America, I knew I had to meet the woman behind it. In this joyful and inspiring episode, I sit down with Morgan Thompson, founder of Mo Mountain Mutts in Skagway, to hear h...

Looking for a little lavish getaway? Today Patty interviews Brent and Daniela Phillips about Milk and Honey Ranch, a luxury farm resort between Houston and Austin near Brenham, Round Top, and Blue Bell Ice Cream. Brent left a tech career after COVID, selling his company, and a Texas freeze exposed how unprepared he felt without power. He bought the land unexpectedly, first for family life and lear...

In this episode of Your Daily Chocolate, Patty welcomes Les Suhayda, author of '12 Bells to Freedom.' He recounts his childhood memories of escaping communist Hungary during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Les explains how his family navigated through forests and evaded Russian troops to reach Austria. He discusses the historical context of post-World War II Hungary, his family's experi...

In this episode of 'Your Daily Chocolate,' John David Graham discusses his extraordinary life. After founding Good Samaritan Home, a program for helping former inmates reintegrate into society, John reflects on his diverse career history and life challenges. He shares how his upbringing in the 50s and 60s and various job experiences, from truck driver to firefighter, shaped him. At 53, he...

In this uplifting episode of 'Your Daily Chocolate, Patty talks to Jeramy Gordon, author of 'The Power of 10.' Gordon shares his insights on how dedicating just 10 minutes a day can lead to significant transformations in faith, family, finances, and fitness. He discusses his method's practicality and its balance between setting achievable goals and maintaining consistency. The conv...

In this episode, the host engages with Toni Will, the groundbreaking General Manager and first female governor in ECHL history, overseeing the Kalamazoo Wings. Toni shares her unique path from banking to sports management, emphasizing her commitment to leadership, innovation, and personal reinvention. With a TEDx talk, a podcast, and an upcoming book, Toni discusses her six leadership pillars: con...

In this episode of Your Daily Chocolate, we chat with David Beker, founder and president of A Better Design Company. As the Christmas season approaches, David shares insights from being a social worker to a successful toy inventor. Known for creating products like the Cornhole Shootout, a finalist for Toy of the Year in 2025, David discusses how his company focuses on reimagining and enhancing tra...

In this episode of 'Your Daily Chocolate,' Patty welcomes neighbor and guest Bjarne Borresen. Bjarne is not only an accomplished nurse anesthetist but also a prolific children's book author, having published six books with three more in the works. He shares how his family vacations inspired his 'Hansen Clan' series and delves into the creative process behind his children's...

In this episode of 'Your Daily Chocolate,' Patty welcomes Terry Healey, a cancer survivor, author, keynote speaker, and business strategist. Terry shares his compelling story of overcoming life-threatening cancer at a young age, which left him with a permanent facial difference. Despite the challenges, he turned his experiences into gifts, developing his Rebar Resilience Framework to help...

In this episode, Patty welcomes Anna Laura Edwards, the first executive director of Hope Scarves, to highlight the meaningful work they do in supporting people facing all types of cancer. Hope Scarves, an international nonprofit based in Louisville, Kentucky, aims to provide hope and connection through the donation of scarves and sharing personal stories. The conversation covers the organization&#...

In this episode of Your Daily Chocolate, Patty welcomes Mike Sealy, an experienced leader turned author and coach who specializes in helping others overcome imposter syndrome. Mike explains that  imposter syndrome stems from an overprotective unconscious mind. The discussion covers its prevalence in both personal and professional settings, its heightened impact during COVID-19, and differences bet...

In this episode of 'Your Daily Chocolate,' Patty welcomes Brian and Sally Krichbaum, owners of Gilbert Chocolates, a 125-year-old chocolate manufacturing and retailing establishment in Michigan. Brian, an engineer with a background in the automotive industry, and Sally, a published writer with a love for chocolate, share their journey of taking over Gilbert Chocolates and tripling its size...