Uncorking a Story

Each book has its own trajectory and process… The things that are meant for you come to you.” – Kristen Arnett Bestselling author Kristen Arnett joins Uncorking a Story to talk about her latest novel, Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One, a book about a queer birthday clown navigating art, grief, and life in Central Florida. We dive into her writing journey, the importance of place in storytelling, an...

“The number one thing a leader can do is have a vision for their team's careers—yet only 12% of employees say their boss ever talks to them about it.” — Kevin McGarry, Ph. D. In this episode of Uncorking a Story, we sit down with Dr. Kevin McGarry—leadership expert, CEO of Leading 360, and author of Lead with Purpose. Kevin shares his journey from corporate leadership to academia and back, reveali...

"Believe in that inner voice. Trust it, no matter what anyone else says. Just keep pursuing what’s important to you." – Robert Steven Goldstein Robert Steven Goldstein spent decades in the corporate world before making good on a lifelong dream—becoming a novelist. After retiring at 56, he dedicated himself to writing full-time, crafting compelling and unconventional stories. In this episode, Rober...

"Only you can tell your story, and only you can tell it in the way you tell it. And that's critical." – Barbara Boyle For years, Barbara Boyle crafted stories for some of the biggest brands in advertising. But after decades in the corporate world, she found herself on an unexpected journey—one that led her to a 300-year-old farmhouse in Italy, a memoir, and a new way of seeing the world. In this e...

“I realized that storytelling was something I had to do—not just something I wanted to do.” – Jenn Bouchard Award-winning author Jenn Bouchard joins the show to talk about her journey from being a dedicated high school teacher to a published, award winning novelist. She shares insights into the challenges of transitioning careers, the perseverance required in publishing, and the joy of crafting co...

"Don't be afraid to fail and just do what you want to do. The fear of failure holds so many people back." – Jonathan Small Award-winning author, journalist, and podcast host Jonathan Small joins the show to share his fascinating journey through the ever-evolving world of writing. From a serendipitous first interview with George Carlin to navigating the golden era of magazines, Jonathan has seen it...

"When we seek to benefit others, we’re at our best and happiest."— Janet Ettele Meet Janet Ettele, author of How Joyous Effort Works. In this episode, Janet shares how her deep appreciation for music evolved into a passion for Buddhist philosophy, leading her to create a series of books that blend timeless teachings with modern practicality. With a focus on compassion, mindfulness, and balance, Ja...

Life gives us a lot of lessons that we don’t know how we’re going to use, and then all of a sudden, we’re called to the challenge and we pick it up. – Julie McGue​ In this heartfelt episode, author Julie McGue returns to discuss her latest memoir, Twice the Family, a prequel to her award-winning Twice a Daughter. Julie reflects on the complexities of growing up as an identical twin, a domestic ado...

"Good fiction exposes us to people we don’t understand—and makes us care about them.” — Mary Camarillo In this episode of Uncorking a Story, we delve into the writing journey of award-winning author Mary Camarillo. From her early days as a voracious reader and rebellious high school journalist to an unexpected career at the U.S. Postal Service, Mary shares how her life experiences shaped her uniqu...

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, host Mike Carlon sits down with Patti Clark, award-winning author of This Way Up and Recovery Road Trip. Patti shares her journey from addiction and recovery to embracing creativity and connection as vital tools for healing. Together, they explore how tapping into our creative selves and inner child can lead us to a life filled with joy, authenticity, and p...

“She was the light in our chaotic home, the anchor in our storms. And yet, Lee’s story was a mystery even to her.” — Sandra Schnackenberg In this episode of Uncorking a Story, host Mike Carlon welcomes Sandra Schnackenberg, author of the compelling memoir The Housekeeper’s Secret. Sandra takes listeners on a journey from her tumultuous childhood to the uncovering of her housekeeper Lee’s astonishi...

“Life is stranger than fiction. I use the things I’ve experienced—the pain, the joy, and even the ghosts—in my writing.” — Kevin Moore In this episode of Uncorking a Story, Mike Carlon sits down with Kevin Moore, the author behind the captivating Jack Kelly series, including The Book of Souls and The Book of Demons. Kevin shares his journey from a chaotic childhood in New York to becoming a storyt...

"The same things about me that made others uncomfortable are what I’ve come to love most about myself." – Jenna Tico In this deeply honest episode, we dive into the world of writer, performer, and community builder Jenna Tico as she discusses her poignant memoir, Cancer Moon: How I Survived the Best Years of My Life. Jenna reflects on the turbulent decade of her 20s, exploring messy relationships,...

"We are the walking embodiments of nature—what we feed our body feeds our soul." – Lainie Sevante Wulkan In this inspiring episode, we explore the transformative world of high vibrational wellness with multi-modality healer and author Lainie Sevante Wulkan. Known as the “Food Oracle,” Lainie shares her insights on how intuitive eating, mindfulness, and spiritual connection can nourish the body, mi...

Writing my story helped me process resentment, discover hidden truths, and find peace—it’s cathartic in ways I never expected." – Francine Falk Allen In this episode of Uncorking a Story, we sit down with Francine Falk Allen, author of A Wolff in the Family, to explore her incredible journey from navigating life with polio to uncovering jaw-dropping family secrets that inspired her novel. Francine...

"Fear was a huge thing for me, but I reached a point where I thought, if I don’t do this now, I’m never going to do it." – Ellen Birkett Morris In this episode, we sit down with award-winning author Ellen Birkett Morris to discuss her fascinating journey into the world of writing and her latest novel, Beware the Tall Grass. Ellen shares insights into overcoming fear, mastering the art of storytell...

"I don’t know if I’m too stubborn or too stupid to give up—but either way, I couldn’t stop until the story was exactly what it deserved to be." — Tim Facciola Tim Facciola, an award-winning fantasy author and former pop-punk band lyricist, joins us to share his 10-year journey of creating A Vengeful Realm, an epic fantasy trilogy inspired by gladiators, mythology, and the chaos of Manhattan’s grin...

“We all deserve to meet the most real, confident version of ourselves—and the world deserves it too." – Pat Broe On this episode of Uncorking a Story, Mike Carlon uncorks the powerful journey of Pat Broe, author of The Real Confident You: Advice from a 20-Something Suicide Survivor. Pat shares his personal struggles with anxiety, depression, and a suicide attempt, which ultimately propelled him to...

"I think one of the reasons that I wrote the book was I wanted her to be proud of me." — Helen Charov In this compelling episode of Uncorking a Story, we sit down with Helen Charov, author of Tatiana's War: Escape and Survival on the Eastern Front in World War II. Helen takes us on a deeply personal journey through her mother’s wartime memoirs, revealing the harrowing experiences of life in Stalin...

“Life’s tragedies can light the way to our greatest stories.” — Barbara Nickless On this episode of Uncorking a Story, Mike Carlon welcomes Barbara Nickless, a #1 Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author whose journey into writing was shaped by a lifetime of adventure and an unshakable resilience. From cave rescues to falconry, Barbara’s path to success is as captivating as her nov...

"Choosing my own freedom felt like a radical act—like breaking every rule I’d ever known." – Ashleigh Renard In this episode of Uncorking a Story, host Mike Carlon reconnects with Ashleigh Renard, bestselling author and social media sensation, for an inspiring and raw conversation about her latest memoir, Split: A Memoir in Pieces. Known for her humor and unfiltered advice on life, relationships,...

"The crime wasn’t the abortion—it was the sex outside of marriage. Let that sit with you for a while." – Pat Suprenant On this episode of Uncorking a Story, host Mike Carlon welcomes Pat Suprenant, author of Behind the Scarlet Letter. Pat’s debut novel blends meticulous historical research with compelling storytelling to uncover the long-buried story that inspired Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet...

"I realized that science alone couldn't answer my deepest questions—there had to be something more." – Ganesh Venkataramanan In this episode of Uncorking a Story, host Mike Carlon uncorks the extraordinary journey of Ganesh Venkataramanan (AKA Geeves), a scientist and Amazon bestselling author of Let Me Into Heaven: Three Computer Scientists Find Their Way to Life. Ganesh shares his transformative...

“I think that being a writer, in a certain sense, made me a better doctor, because being a writer, you have to constantly be thinking about characters and characterizations, et cetera. So I became even more kind of interested in my patients.” — Dr. Robin Cook In this episode of Uncorking a Story, host Mike Carlon uncorks the extraordinary journey of Dr. Robin Cook, the bestselling author who defin...

"The darker it gets, the more I enjoy it." – K.K. Weakley K.K. Weakley returns to Uncorking a Story to discuss her latest novel, Whispers from the Grave, the fourth book in the Sekhet Saga. Born in Wexford, Ireland, K.K. shares her fascination with castles, demons, witches, and the paranormal, weaving vivid tales that keep readers on the edge of their seats. From her early days as a budding writer...