Stranger Connections

Learn about the health scare that led this multi-talented lady to the spotlight of comedy clubs. Patty Vaccarella does it all - from wife to minister - to comic to make-up with a mission. Eavesdrop on our chat to learn about: - Leopard prints and feral cats - How eyelashes support a cause - Hecklers and stripper costumes - Catvando TNR You can reach Patty at Leopard Lady Comedy on Instagram and Ti...

Finding alternative ideas for teens to work through mental health issues is a passion for 13-year-old Taanvi Arekapudi. Her best-selling book is Uplift Teens Today; coping strategies for mental health This is the first "teen to teen"mental health book, and the author offers coping strategies and encouragement for peers to reach out to a trusted adult, friend or sibling when thoughts go dark. Throu...

"Repetition in action, assuming positive intent and embracing the brave things." This is how Trista and Megan collaboratively shared some tips on how to make friends as adults. This episode is packed with Minnesota Nice and great humor. The friend duo set of Megan and Trista are launching their own new podcast January of 2023, and it's sure to be superb! It's called The People Collectors. Please j...

"Having the freedom to fail is a precious gift." Kevin "Cass" Cassidy, stunt man, author and owner of Ninja Nation Kevin "Cass" Cassidy has definitely been in your living room . . . he's a Hollywood stuntman that you've seen either in movies or even on video games! As a child, Cassidy was bullied due to a birth defect that could not be hidden. There came a day when he realized something monumental...

"It wasn't the secrets. It was the fear of holding them." ~ Marci Warhaft Author Marci Warhaft has an incredible tale to tell. One that made sense during the time she was living it. How does a wife and mom decide it's cool to head out and strip at clubs at night? How did she manage on little to no sleep? Did her kids figure it out? Did her husband care? Find out in this week's episode of Stranger...

"Your messy life-moments haven't been for nothing." Ally Berthiaume Ally Berthiaume is a lifelong dreamer and professional writer - she even ghostwrites for others! Her book is "Dear Universe, I Get It Now: Letters on the art and Journey of Being Brave and Being Me". Find out about her missing mole, her first boyfriend, if she will still match her bra and underpants after this recording, and what...

Lisa David Olson, host and creator of Stranger Connections podcast, featured her own husband this week to share their very weird ideas to make the Thanksgiving dinner extravaganza extra fun. Try out some of these wacky tips, and make sure to report back! Even the prank story shared in this episode is one that you may want to try out to scar your own offspring. Happy Thanksgiving - stay weird, dear...

Meet Kay Ross, an Australian who lives in Hong Kong! She's a copywriter, editor and marketer as well as a TEDx speaker and master improvisor. "What would be possible for you if you let go of your old, limiting thoughts, beliefs and stories about yourself? And what if you chose more useful ones?" Kay will share her invention called Playground of Possibilities, and we will get to experience a few pi...

"I believe when we finally stop looking outside of ourselves for fulfillment, we find it within." Shari Alyse has been dubbed "America's Joy Magnet"! She loves finding ways to use her own voice and also to assist others who need a boost in being heard. Shari has been on stages all around the globe, taken to the TEDx Stage and recently started doing stand-up comedy in LA ! As a media consultant, sh...

Author Tracy McCubbin asks; "What emotions stand in your way? What are your clutter blocks? What magnets are distracting you?" In McCubbin's second book: Make Space for Happiness, she outlines how to stop attracting clutter and start magnetizing the life you want. Her first book is: Making Space, Clutter Free and many say the two books together create a home you love. No more excuses, let's clear...

"Sometimes the best way into something is backward, and accidentally." ~ Bernard Balizet Balizet says he's been living a bit backward most of his life, but says he doesn't recommend that style for everyone. For example, the first time he made the Dean's List, he dropped out of college to try his hand at salmon fishing in Alaska. He ditched a lucrative-ish career to try one that was freelance and t...

Roger Williams jokingly says he is the Crosser Offer, referring to creating a bucket list and then DOING things instead of dreaming or hoping it will happen. "It's important to understand the benefits of a 'dare myself' mindset. There is so much joy in being vulnerable." ~ Roger Williams, the Crosser Offer When you have a heart attack during a pandemic, you see things slightly differently. You buy...

"We lose our wallet, can't find our keys; our subconscious is like a hard drive but we can rewire this." ~ Steve Noack Noack's two near-fatal accidents eventually opened him up to having the gift of opening pathways to healing. His story is pretty wild, in that as an adult he can now look back at his first major accident at four years old and interpret what he saw, heard and felt. Later as an adul...

"One of the greatest gifts man has, is the ability to feel for others." ~ The Amazing Kreskin :: I am truly honored to have chatted with The Amazing Kreskin. I recall nights by the television as a kid, Johnny Carson's show was on, Ed McMahon to his right. The Amazing Kreskin made 88 appearances on that show over the decades. Never would I have thought then, that one day I'd have a personal convers...

"I don't mind people looking at me and laughing . . . I'm funny!" ~ Amber LeMay Let's go behind the curtain of the AmberLeMay. TV comedy talk show, and hear about characters at the Hot Damn Trailer Park in Beaver Pond Vermont. This show was a brilliant and creative way to get through covid, says LeMay, who said it was a way to "broaden this broad". Amber Live! is the internet's favorite drag queen...

"We continually change and evolve. We have to create openings to have intimate conversations with our partners." ~ Shauna Harris, Certified Clinical Sexologist Let's explore how to communicate and explore intimacy with a pro in the field of relationships. Shauna Harris has a best selling book that is a MUST read. 'Speaking of Sex; reignite the spark in your relationship, spice up your sex life and...

Listen in to learn three questions that truly will have you pull the car over and think hard about your day, maybe even your whole life. William Branum is a former Navy Seal who served for 26 years. "You are going to suffer. That's a good thing." William Branum In this episode of Stranger Connections, we go over: - Naked Warrior Recovery - Why Branum says he wants to be "hard to kill" - Navy Seal...

"If I hadn't had this experience, I wouldn't know the peace I have today." Stephanie Romeo This burn survivor shares the details of her accident that was an absolutely normal day out to lunch with a friend. And then - she is surrounded by strangers who are trying to pull her clothing off to stop the burns. Stephanie suffered years of healing and recovery, and came out the other side of the acciden...

Got an idea? An invention? A solution to a pet peeve? Comic Brian Reitz and podcast partner Nick Holder provide a platform in which listeners can share the idea they have, and the co-hosts discuss the good, the possible and maybe the reason why it's a klunker. You just call and leave a short voicemail at 848-863-9917 I even made one of their episodes, where they called it a "Win-Win Heckling". The...

Duane Scott Cerny is a Chicago based author, story teller, recording artist, and comic who performed with Second City! And now . . . he sells dead people's things. Our chat includes many MANY topics, including but in no way limited to: - Accessories for one's donkey - Sexy antiques - "Oh Henry" stories - Hoarding versus being a Pack Rat versus being a Collector - A prank story he has never shared...

Ace Wild is a hip hop artist in the midwest. In this episode he gives me my rapper name! He says music is what he is meant for, and spends all spare moments creating in his home studio. We can all learn about dedication and chasing passions from Ace. He's a positive artist who says "It's cliche, but it's all practice, practice, practice. This is what I'm meant for." I created a rap for Ace, and he...

120 days in jail, recovering from opioid addiction and trying to heal while making amends. "People who are not meant for you will eventually fall off." ~ Tiffany Jenkins Part 2 of the compelling, funny and deep conversation includes Tiffany's memoir - how it went from self-published to swooped up by a major publisher, making amends, and not being a censored version of yourself. Painful truths, bur...

Tiffany Jenkins is a best-selling author, speaker, comic and viral online superstar. In this episode, we delve into her childhood and how she went from captain of the cheer squad in high school, to dropping out and partying so hard she became a felon. "We didn't talk about anxiety and depression back in high school." ~ Tiffany Jenkins Why do her kids all wear matching socks What is a Dirty Doctor...

Michael Pisciuneri is a podcaster who loves to talk about movies. The great ones, the ones you want to walk out of but don't want to waste money . . . and what the best snacks are to smuggle in to the theater. Mostly, he is a superbly funny human from Australia who talks funny (or is it me that talks funny?). Find out more when you hear us trade accents. We discuss Beavis and Butthead, Jurassic Pa...

"Are you paying a personal price to obtain a version of success?" ~ Terry B. McDougall Born to a 16 year old mom and 21 year old dad, Terry McDougall moved every single year during her school career. Can you imagine how that would affect relationships? This guest learned from that stop-and-start childhood and created a coaching program based on early learnings. This best selling author has two pod...