People at the Core

Something weird happened during our Reiki sessions: our dogs got involved. Not “cute background nap” involved, but focused, locked-in, making-eye-contact, breaking-character involved and it made us ask better questions about what Reiki is and why it can feel so real even when you can’t “prove” it with your eyes. We’re joined by Lauren Schell, a respected New York City bartender who now practices R...

The night can bend a life. Tré Miller Rodriguez walks us through the moment everything changed—waking to find her husband gone—and the choice to pick up a pen before the pieces even settled. What starts as an obituary and a eulogy turns into a grief memoir that refuses to look away, from the strange etiquette of wedding rings after widowhood to the first shaky attempts at desire and dating. Along...

A wedding in Oaxaca. A chance meeting. A suitcase full of small-batch bottles that turned into an import company with a mission. We sit down with Julia Cuthbertson—founder of Las Chingonas Imports—to unpack how real mezcal is made, why labels can mislead, and what it takes to keep agave traditions alive without romanticizing them to extinction. Julia’s path winds from Connecticut and Spain to Broo...

Ever wondered how someone builds a life around what they love? Elyssa Maxx Goodman offers a masterclass in turning passion into purpose. Born to New York natives transplanted to Florida, Goodman always felt the magnetic pull of the city where "the weirdos" gathered. By sixteen, she was already saving for her inevitable migration. The path wasn't always smooth. After losing an office...

What happens when you finally stop letting fear dictate your choices? In this heartfelt conversation with actress, improv coach, and former rock star Melissa Parker Caron, we explore the transformative power of facing what scares us most. Melissa shares her winding path from Orlando's vibrant music scene to New York City, where she's raising a Brooklyn-savvy daughter while rekindling cre...

What does "home" mean when you've spent your childhood on the run? Tyler Weatherall, author of the memoir "No Way From Home," brings us into her fascinating journey from being the daughter of an international pot smuggler to becoming a respected journalist, author, and community builder in New York's literary scene. Tyler shares how growing up with a father evading th...

What drives someone to uproot their life and move across the country with no safety net? For Krystal Marie Orwig, it was a childhood dream that refused to die. "I was 12 years old when I said I was gonna live in New York," Krystal shares, reflecting on how she made that declaration long before understanding what it would mean. After moving from Southern California at 26, Krystal built a...

"I had a fucking panic attack because I was so excited," JD recalls of his first trip to a real skate shop as a child growing up in rural Pennsylvania. This moment marks the beginning of a lifelong love affair with skateboarding that would eventually bring him to Brooklyn, where he now tends bar at Greenpoint Palace. Far from the stereotype of skaters learning from communities in urban e...

Writer, comedian, and storyteller Carly Ann Philbin takes us on a journey through her creative process, revealing how she navigates the complex terrain between performance and writing. With refreshing candor, she shares her experiences self-publishing her memoir "Tears of a Blonde" after realizing traditional publishing timelines wouldn't align with her life circumstances. "I h...

What happens when a class clown with dyslexia finds his way into a TV production classroom? For filmmaker Chris Wells, it became the moment that changed everything. In this candid conversation from Greenpoint Palace Bar in Brooklyn, Chris reveals how being kicked out of Spanish class in 10th grade led to an unexpected invitation that would transform his life. "It was one of the first times I...

Ever wondered what restaurant staff are really thinking when you sit down at their table? Adam—a veteran server turned James Beard Award-winning food writer (he won after this episode was recorded!) —pulls back the curtain on the high-stakes world of New York hospitality in this revealing conversation. From fabricating his resume to land his first restaurant gig at a comedy-themed Times Square spo...

Returning from six months of global adventures, Marisa reunites with Rita at the Greenpoint Palace Bar to share stories from her travels across Europe and Asia that transformed her perspective on what truly matters in life. When Marisa and her husband sold their restaurant, they made a deliberate choice not to wait for some distant retirement to see the world. Instead, they seized the present mome...

Join us for a delightful conversation at Greenpoint Palace Bar where Rita and Marisa chat with the incredibly talented Nicole Treska about the politics of Airbnb and high NYC rents as we fantasize about creating a Golden Girls type of compound or escaping to Italy. Nicole's tales of life in Harlem and her evolution to published author inspire us all, as we navigate the highs and lows of New Y...

Ever wondered what it’s like to navigate a bustling fair while indulging in deep-fried ranch dressing? Join us as Rita recounts her whimsical adventure at the Minnesota State Fair, featuring humorous tales of quirky Midwestern traditions and fond family moments. We then welcome our guest, Janelle Greco, whose talent in storytelling brings to light her impactful work with formerly incarcerated indi...

What if our flawed social systems pushed people to commit crimes just to survive? In this compelling episode of "People at the Core," we start with a light-hearted chat about a quirky "What Would Justin Timberlake Do?" shirt and reflect on the pop star’s evolving charm, before segueing into a heartfelt discussion about Britney Spears' current struggles and the genuine supp...

What happens when you mix the worlds of pizza and astrology, with a discussion of puppies and pigeons? Join us on this episode of People at the Core as Rita and Marisa kick things off with their latest adventures in town. We’re joined by the incredible Jenny Olbrich, who shares her fascinating journey from her Philly roots to nomadic pizza-making adventures in Rhode Island, the nuances of affluent...

Ever wondered how an Emmy-winning editor got his start? Join us for an engaging chat with David Herr, the man behind some of your favorite TV moments. David's charming Midwestern demeanor and knack for corny jokes will have you laughing as he shares anecdotes about his surname which means 'Mister' in German, inspiring Rita and Marisa to bust out in singing "To Be With You"...

Ever wondered what it’s like to navigate the highs and lows of the hospitality industry while finding your true passion? Our special guest, Ken, a neighbor and friend who’s seen it all from acting to bartending, joins us for an episode packed with personal stories and industry insights. We kick things off with some fun banter about the relentless summer heat and the complexities of today's po...

This episode kicks off with Rita and Marisa sharing their insights on routines, early bedtimes, and the unspoken rules of not texting outside certain hours. We laugh along with their poker anecdotes and the texting habits inspired by Larry David's "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Amidst the summer heat, we find solace in the cool ambiance of Greenpoint Palace Bar, where even the mascot Zelda...

What happens when the worlds of poetry, mental health, and Muppets collide? Join us in this engaging episode of "People at the Core" as Rita, Marisa, and our special guest, acclaimed author and poet S. Galvin, navigate the intricate dance between writing and performing. Marisa opens up about her emotional struggles with her pet Zelda's recent seizure, while Rita's love for murd...

Have you ever wondered what life would be like as a therapist with an enticing voice or imagined the hilarious possibilities of stripper names based on your first pet and street name? Rita and Marisa kick off this lively conversation at Greenpoint Palace Bar in Brooklyn, sharing uproarious stories about phone sex operations and navigating the dark web. Joined by our special guest, Rich Piepho, we...

Books by Dolan Morgan That's When the Knives Come Down  Follow us on Instagram! People at the Core Podcast   Email us! peopleatthecorepodcast@gmail.com 

Ever wondered how childhood dreams and unexpected career paths intersect? Join us as we sit down with Dolan Morgan, a gifted writer and illustrator from Greenpoint, Brooklyn, who takes us on a nostalgic journey from dictating stories to his grandmother, to immersing himself in the vibrant life of New York City. Dolan opens up about their move from Connecticut to NYC for college and his studies at...

Ever wondered how you can balance the worlds of painting, film, and performance art while living in the heart of New York City? Leigha Mason, a multi-talented artist, takes us through her incredible journey from Phoenix to San Francisco and finally to the bustling streets of NYC. From working to save for her big moves to navigating the challenges of various neighborhoods, Leigha’s story is one of...

Can the vibrancy of Brooklyn, the warmth of family ties, and the dynamism of the advertising world all come together in one fascinating conversation? * Absolutely, and Lourdes, a senior integrated producer in advertising, is here to share her incredible journey. From her roots in the Bronx to her cherished life in Brooklyn, Lourdes recounts the importance of family, friendship, and community, divi...