Chats from the Blog Cabin

In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa Vera welcomes back Deborah, a children's author, to discuss her new book, 'Daisy's Near Catastrophe,' and her previous work, 'Bethlehem Barn.' They explore Deborah's background in education, the importance of research in writing, and the themes of friendship and empowerment in her stories. Deborah shares her journey...

In this episode of 'Chats from the Blog Cabin', Melissa Vera engages in a heartfelt conversation with Dr. Carla Manley about the complexities of love, self-love, and the importance of understanding our relationships. They explore the themes of attachment theory, the impact of societal expectations on love, and the necessity of setting boundaries in relationships. Dr. Manley shares insights...

In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, host Melissa speaks with author Kim Pollock McGrath about her journey from being a first-grade teacher to becoming a children's book author. Kim shares her experiences with storytelling, the inspiration behind her book 'The Carefree Tumbleweed', and the importance of kindness and friendship in children's lives. They discuss the creative process of writ...

In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa Vera interviews Shannon Walker, the founder of Northwest Battle Buddies, an organization that provides service dogs to veterans with PTSD. Shannon shares her personal connection to the military and her passion for animals, which led her to start training service dogs. She explains how Northwest Battle Buddies came about and the rigorous trainin...

In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa Vera interviews author Gail Priest about her latest book, Soul Dancing. They discuss the inspiration behind the book, the process of writing it, and the themes of forgiveness and second chances. Gail shares how her own experiences and relationships influenced the characters and plot. The conversation also touches on the importance of supporting...

In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, host Melissa Vera interviews author Jane Cory about her writing journey, the inspiration behind her latest novel 'I Died on a Tuesday', and the themes of redemption and strong female characters in her work. Jane shares her experiences as a writer, the challenges she faced, and how her life experiences have shaped her storytelling. The conversation also...

Chatting about the start of a new series to honor women during Women's History Month

Ray, the author of Prom-Posal, shares his personal journey of moving to Las Vegas after witnessing the 9/11 attacks in New York. He also discusses his battle with multiple sclerosis and how it led him to retire early from Wall Street. Ray explains how he found solace in writing and how he discovered his voice as a young adult romance author. He emphasizes the importance of faith and the support of...

In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa Vera welcomes back Lynette, who discusses her new book, 'In Search of Teresa.' Lynette shares her personal journey, including her experiences with trauma, her work with children, and her insights into mental health, particularly Dissociative Identity Disorder. The conversation delves into the ethical dilemmas faced while writing the boo...

In this heartfelt episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa shares a deeply personal story about the loss of her childhood mentors, Miss Paula and Mr. Tony, who were tragically murdered. Through her reflections, she highlights the impact they had on her life, the importance of expressing gratitude to those who influence us, and the need for community support in times of grief. The episode serv...

In this heartfelt episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa Vera pays tribute to Bill, a significant figure in her life and her family's journey. She shares personal stories of how Bill impacted her life, from helping her and her husband meet to providing support during challenging times, including immigration struggles. The conversation reflects on the importance of community, resilience, and...

In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa Vera speaks with Laura, the author of 'The Toxic Mold Solution.' They discuss Laura's personal journey with mold exposure, the symptoms and health issues it caused, and the importance of awareness and testing for mold. Laura shares insights on functional medicine, mindfulness practices, and the process of mold remediation, emphasizi...

In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa Vera interviews Alexandra about her book, The Suicide Club, and the topic of suicide prevention. Alexandra shares her personal experience of losing her husband to suicide and the challenges of raising their son as a single parent. She discusses the importance of open conversations about suicide and mental health, the need for support and connec...

In this episode, Melissa interviews Emily Trampetti, a licensed esthetician, about skincare. They discuss topics such as virtual skin coaching, the importance of home care, the impact of different climates on the skin, Emily's journey to becoming an esthetician, the role of marketing in skin care, the concept of clean beauty, and the signs to look for in potential skin issues. Emily emphasizes...

In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa interviews Victoria, a spiritual therapist and author of the book Polly Parker Meets Her Shadow. They discuss the power of emotions and the importance of embracing them. They also talk about the concept of manifesting and how putting emotion behind our desires can help us attract what we want in life. Victoria reads a passage from her book and...

In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa Vera interviews Laura and Joy about safety tips for women, specifically focusing on spring break safety, hotel room safety, road trip safety, technology safety, and online dating safety. They discuss the importance of being prepared and aware while traveling, including checking the car, carrying defensive tools, and knowing how to change a tire...

Today we are talking about the big M word, menopause. And most importantly, weight loss plan for menopause.""The mood swings, the depression, the hot flashes, the crankiness, and overeating are common symptoms of menopause.""The green teas, just don't think of green tea as the plain old peppermints, be memorable.""Setting goals, how important that is to set goals....

In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa chats with Lisa, an expert on alienation, which is a form of child abuse. Lisa shares her personal experience of being alienated from her mother by her stepmother and the long journey it took for her to untangle the manipulation and realize the truth. She emphasizes the importance of parents prioritizing their children's well-being and main...

In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa interviews Dr. Alan Lindemann, an obstetrician with over 40 years of experience. They discuss maternal health and the importance of patient partnerships in achieving good outcomes. Dr. Alan emphasizes the need for doctors to listen to their patients and respect their choices. He shares his approach of pragmatism and flexibility in providing car...

Lane Igoudin discusses foster care adoption and adoption within the LGBTQ+ communities. Lane shares the story behind their book, 'A Family Maybe,' which details their experience adopting two children from the Los Angeles County foster care system. They explain their decision to choose foster care adoption and the different routes available to them. Lane also highlights the extensive certif...

In this episode of Chats in the Blog Cabin, Melissa Vera interviews Duygo Balin, a psychotherapist specializing in trauma and attachment. They discuss the importance of addressing trauma, the challenges of working with trauma, and strategies for self-care. They also explore the definition of trauma and the impact of unspoken trauma on relationships. Duygo shares insights from her book, 'Rewrit...

In this episode, Melissa interviews Ed Hajim, the author of 'The Island of the Four Ps,' a modern fable about preparing for the future. Ed shares his background and the decision to write the book, which was inspired by his fascination with fables and the desire to communicate a set of ideas. He discusses the importance of self-reflection and defining one's own life, drawing from his pe...

In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa Vera interviews Patricia, an adult romance author, about her book Sacrifices for Kingdoms. Patricia shares her background and passion for writing, as well as her inspiration from her travels and personal history. The book addresses social issues, particularly the need for gender equality in power. Patricia reads passages from the book and discu...

In this episode of Chats from the Blog Cabin, Melissa Vera interviews Ski Chilton, author of 'There's Another Way to Happiness.' Ski shares his journey from growing up in rural North Carolina to becoming a successful biochemist and professor. He discusses the importance of trust in the journey of life and the misconception of happiness. Ski emphasizes the power of mindfulness and self-...

Jennifer shares her journey into teaching, including her experience in Catholic and public schools. She discusses the challenges and rewards of teaching, the importance of observing different teaching strategies, and why she chose to teach French. Jennifer also addresses the teacher shortage and the reasons behind it. She emphasizes the reality of teaching and the need for work-life balance. Final...