Uncorked with Funny Wine Girl

This week I'm talking with my friend and podcast sponsor Emily Hickox of Budget Through Life. She always has good tips for us when it comes to budgeting. This week we talk about assessing any New Year's goals we've made in regards to finances and acknowledging successes rather than noting only what we view as failures. We also talk about medical costs, the expense of pets and importanc...

Welcome to the continuation of my conversation with my Pittsburgh pal Gab Bonesso. Last week we spoke about a variety of things from medical care to trauma to Gab's new coaching certification to how she takes her coffee. During this week's conclusion of our conversation, Gab shares her admiration for Paul Simon and I take a trip back to the 70s to revisit some pleasant (and some rather curious) me...

By now, this week's guest shouldn't need an introduction because she's been on the podcast so often, but for anyone who isn't familiar-- Gab Bonesso is my Pittsburgh-based pal who performs comedy, a children's program, speaks publicly to advocate for mental health, and is now a trauma-informed life coach. Every conversation with Gab is truly a wide-open chat that can cover just...

My guests so far in 2025 have really been bringing the positive wellness vibes and tips on how to properly care for ourselves. And we're going to keep rolling with this week's guest Thea Cochrane. As she beautifully puts it, after coming out of the dark forest of what were some really sad times for her, she's going back in to bring light to others in dark times. Through Thea's business Dare to Won...

"Hello social media user. I don't have the education or professional work experience in nutrition but I'm gonna tell you what to eat and what not to eat and you're gonna eat up every word and then lick the spoon-- because I have a million followers and I'm 'hot.' Umm...stop! Please stop! It's time to become more discriminating about the information you digest, because misinformation can be as harm...

Welcome to 2025! I am excited to bring you conversations with fabulous women each week to inspire, inform and entertain you. I'm kicking off the New Year with a woman who has learned to get the most from her life by doing the minimum. Okay that might sound different from what you're used to hearing and seeing on social media but my guest Elizabeth Keiper-Aguirre of LifePurposely will explain this...

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Belated Festivus! Happy Belated Winter Solstice! No matter what you celebrate--or don't, I hope that you will be shining a bit brighter in the days ahead as you toast to yourself and your abilities to create a life that shimmers. I hope that you enjoy my reading of the class poem 'Twas The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore. Thank you...

You've heard us chat before many times about a variety of topics and this is our second holiday conversation. This week my Pittsburgh Pal  @GabBonessoTeeVee  , who is an incredibly positive and charismatic character, joins me to chat a bit about what is making her holiday season bright, and to celebrate all of the highlights of her year that will shine even brighter in 2025--including her new cert...

I grew up in a household that was predominantly Irish with my Grandma Esther Dolan in the kitchen. As much as I loved this woman and as strong and wonderful a woman as she was, she was not known for any special family recipes or delicacies. And yet, we were still fed, nourished and managed to have a lovely holiday season. My mom, dad, gram, brother and I enjoyed many decorations, a beautiful tree,...

If you're a regular listener then you most likely know who Melisse Brunet is. I had wonderful conversations with her in my August 15 and October 24 episodes. If you are not familiar, I suggest listening to these episodes because she is fantastic--a Paris-born native of France who became a U.S. citizen last winter, Melisse conducts the Northeastern Philharmonic as well as the Lexington, KY Philharm...

Happy Holiday Season-- which is to say: happy busy season! We're all out there bustling around like busy bees but remember to take time for some Zzzs and self-care! In December I take a break from regular full episodes in which I uncork with new guests. This week I offer up a mini-sode musing about the importance of supporting the arts. I am shining the spotlight on music, in particular, the North...

My heart is full of gratitude for all of my listeners, my podcast sponsor and friend ⁠Budget Through Life⁠ with Emily Hickox who helps to make this weekly content possible, my parents Carol and Joe Luby who've helped to make everything possible, Moop for all that he does, my dear friends who listen to me and counsel me, the utter beauty of nature that heals my soul always and my ability to record...

Have you ever wanted to head North across the border and take up residence in Canada? Enjoy lots of maple syrup while wearing a warm knit toque to cover your noggin? This encore presentation is for you then. Learn about the process an American undergoes to become a resident of Canada and what life is like there. My guest this week is Melissa Sanko Hayhoe who met her Canadian farmer husband at a we...

Whenever I want to feel energized and engaged, I reach out to my friend and serial podcast guest ‪ Gab Bonesso . The Pittsburgh-based comedian, children's performer, public speaker and mental health advocate is always ready to have an open, honest and upbeat conversation. In this week's episode, we have some light banter and we chat about Gab's mental health and tips that are keeping her on track....

Each month there are a variety of observances with the goal of holding our attention in this busy and noisy world. November may not seem like a warm month, but I feel that it’s a month of warmth. We typically gather for Thanksgiving with family and friends and express our gratitude for one another and all that we have in our lives while enjoying fellowship and a good meal. On Veterans' Day we hono...

Tarot cards were initially used for playing games in Italy in the 1430s. The first tarot decks were created by adding a fifth suit of 21 cards called trionfi ("triumphs") and an extra card called il matto ("the fool") to the existing four-suited playing card deck. Wealthy families commissioned customized card decks from artists as a status symbol. Tarot cards were not used for "divination" -- the...

Paris native and American citizen Melisse Brunet is conducting herself and orchestras in the only way she knows how--by being her true self and not conforming to others' ideas of what a woman conductor should look like or do. She spoke with me on this podcast a few months ago about her joy of becoming a U.S. citizen and her profession, and we briefly spoke about her being featured in the documenta...

With less than three weeks to go before Election Day, I wanted to talk with a woman who understands not only the importance of everyone rocking the vote, but also what is at stake for women in this election. My guest this week is Democrat Rep of the 114th District Bridget Malloy Kosierowski. She explains what she does in her role and why people should understand it so she can help. And she talks a...

Art is one of those things that is not clearly defined. Sure some people might think it is because they might view it narrowly as only something that hangs in a gallery by a painter who has studied for years. But that is not what art is. And murals are helping to prove that as artists take their art to the street. We are fortunate here in NEPA to have many colorful murals in Scranton and the surro...

Mother. Wife. Friend. Personal finance expert. Podcast sponsor. She has many titles and she is my podcast guest this week (and sponsor). She is Emily Hickox of Budget Through Life . Emily has years of experience in the financial industry that she uses, along with her common sense/relatable approach infused with humor to help people understand credit, debt and how to budget through life. And this w...

I've listened to podcasts on sleep and its various phases and cycles, and it sounds a bit complex but also fascinating. So it's not too hard to believe that my guest this week came up with the idea for an amazing product that's sold over 700,000 pieces worldwide, in a dream. Shirah Benarde was only 16 years old when she had a dream that led her to invent a product called NightCap the d...

I can't imagine riding the rails with hundreds of fourth graders. That's just not my vibe. But my guest this week, Julie Esty, lived it this past summer. Dressed in period costume, she and some friends hopped aboard a locomotive that departed from Steamtown National Historic Site to educate school kids and adults about the history of northeast PA. Once she hung up the dress of a coal miner...

Unfortunately, children of today have much more to be anxious about than pop quizzes and whether or not tater tots will be served in the cafeteria. Mental health is a great concern for students and teachers alike. And mental health issues have been on the rise in general since the pandemic. According to my guest this week, it's fair to say there is a crisis when it comes to the shortage of men...

A few weeks ago I spoke with the delightful ⁠Melisse Brunet⁠ who conducts the NEPA Philharmonic and Lexington Philharmonic and was featured in the documentary "Maestra" that follows a handful of women who were among the final 14 participants in the international La Maestra competition in Paris for female conductors. This week I have the pleasure of chatting with ⁠Maggie Contreras ⁠ who d...

Hey there folks! This Virgo LOVES to celebrate birthdays. I celebrate mine all month long! In honor of my birthday, I am doing a contest to give away some fun prizes and also to collaborate with some amazing women I know. I will continue to seek fellow fabulous femmes to partner with on fun collaborations so listen for deets or message me any time at Jeannine. Luby@gmail.com or find me at Funny Wi...