Uncorked with Funny Wine Girl

Do you ever feel stuck? Most of us experience that feeling at times. But, do we consider that it could be blocked energy that needs to be moved. This week my guest Jennifer Aleke will talk with me about the relevance of energy in our bodies and how she works with it through her practices as both a Reiki Practitioner and Intuitive Energy Healer. We touch upon many issues in our conversation, includ...

Who would you like to have a drink with in the After Life (assuming that it exists)? My guest this week would like to raise a glass with Jim Morrison...and me. I would love to share a Pontarlier glass of absinthe with Vincent van Gogh with stars in my eyes shining as brightly as those in his most famous painting. This week I'm chatting with my friend and fellow Standardized Patient Julie Esty,...

Do you remember where you were on March 13, 2020? That seemed to be the eve of the pandemic lockdown. Our lives were just about to change in a big way as the world shut down and we spent our time binge-watching Netflix, drinking wine and doing 25,000-piece puzzles with family members. This week in part 2 of my conversation with fellow Standardized Patient Katie Culligan, the conversation picks up...

What are the symptoms? A little burning during urination and the haunting memories of lost love. To quote the patient, "I burned for her, much like the burning during urination that I would experience soon afterwards." Any diehard Seinfeld fan will tell you that line above was delivered by Kramer in the 16th episode of the ninth and final season. The episode was aptly titled, "The B...

Do you see your life clearly? Do you let others see you, really see YOU? Do you see that others care and will help you? Unfortunately, the stigma that surrounds mental illness makes it difficult for many people to feel comfortable opening up about how they feel, what their struggles are and how tough their day might be going. We must break that stigma so that EVERYONE with a mental illness feels c...

It's that time of year. The nights and mornings get cooler and many folks start clamoring for pumpkin spice everything. And...it's time to head back to school for many. For young women headed off to college, this is a time not to be paranoid, but it is a time to be prepared to ensure your personal safety. The time frame from August through about Thanksgiving is known as "the red zone,...

The word "philanthropy" or "philanthropic" often conjures up images of black tie events, limos, and the naming of buildings but that notion--along with all remaining glass ceilings--needs to be shattered. This week on my podcast I talk with Laura Ducceschi , president and CEO of The Scranton Area Community Foundation, about what philanthropy looks like for, by, and of women and...

When is the last time you sat down with a gal pal over coffee, wine or a cup of some other substance and uncorked...let thoughts and ideas just pour out? I feel like this week's podcast episode is the product of such a session. The beautiful, talented, smart and funny Roya Hamadani joins me for this week's conversation--and what a conversation it is. Roya shares what life has been like sin...

Welcome August and cooler temperatures. My favorite season is right around the corner. And speaking of cool...there are so many amazing women who will be guests this month. Take a listen to hear what I've got in store for you this month and hear a snippet from next week's guest, the smart and funny Roya Hamadani who performs stand-up and sketch comedy and is just fun to talk to. Be sure to...

What does community feel like to you? What does it mean? While the pandemic showed us ways to connect with people across the world online, it took away the in-person fellowship and opportunities that build community like patronizing local restaurants and businesses, chatting with people you bump into in the grocery aisles or at a local art event or theater. Thankfully, we're back out there rec...

Have you ever arrived at a business, a party or an event and not been able to gain access to the entrance? Have you ever had someone judge you for the way you process information, think or handle certain tasks? This week my guest is Vicki Landers, Founder and Executive Director of Disability Pride PA . We're talking about the importance of acceptance, accessibility, understanding, and equality...

It's my second and last week of mini vacation. On this week's mini-sode, I talk about humor and the question of whether or not it can be taught. As I prepare for the start of my ECornell class "Using Humor in the Workplace," I'm getting more and more excited about sharing the power of humor for our personal and professional lives! Listen and hopefully you will be excited to i...

Happy July! I hope you enjoyed a safe and satisfying 4th of July holiday. I'm taking a short break from producing full episodes...for just a few weeks. My fabulous femme guests will return at the end of this month. In the meantime, I'm sharing my meltdown of thoughts and opinions (yikes) in a few mini-sodes like this one. But remember that you can take this time to go back and listen to fu...

Beautifully manicured green lawns rose to popularity in the 1950s when mothers wearing pearls and high heels were baking cookies. (Was that ever really a thing besides on television?) With the growing urbanization of America, the importance of having a beautiful lawn grew, hence the popular phrase: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence (actually it originated from Roman poet O...

Ever spend your vacation under a blanket, shivering from the chills caused by a bad sunburn while the rest of your family and friends are playing in the sand? This fair-skinned maiden has been there done that. Ever since I was a kid I've been getting bad sunburns...sometimes even with blisters. So before you head off to bike, hike, play at the beach or do anything under the sun, remember to us...

Connor Pensack is a miracle baby...born even after his mother had tubal ligation (aka got her tubes tied). So from the start, he was special, defying the odds. That strength is helping him as he undergoes treatment for pediatric ulcerative colitis. This week, my guest, who is my cousin and mother of Connor, Danielle Pensack, shares her gratitude for all of the medical professionals, especially tho...

A person living with bipolar disorder isn't their illness. Their illness is a part of who they are, but they are so much more. And that goes for any illness. My guest this week is Kelly Moran-- a writer, a NAMI volunteer, a political enthusiast, and...a person living with bipolar disorder. In our conversation, we discuss her work with NAMI to help break the stigma surrounding mental illness, t...

Observances are great because they bring light to and attention on important issues and people. But that doesn't mean we just move on and forget just how important something is. The month of May may be over but that does not mean we stop experiencing, caring about and talking about mental health. Northeast PA had the pleasure of talking about and working to stop the stigma around mental health...

Can you believe it's been two years already? Uncorked with Funny Wine Girl has been delivering original content nearly every week for the past two years--conversations that feature fabulous women who have life lessons, strategies and tips to share. Each week, my hope is that you will listen and walk away informed, inspired and entertained. With the two-year anniversary of the first full episod...

Anyone who has ever tuned in to an episode of Hell's Kitchen can see that chefs experience a lot of stress (and heat) in the kitchen. And let's face it, that's just a television show. In a real kitchen--without the cameras--things can get much hotter. Now imagine being in this position of always serving others. Trying to get it just right, meal after meal, but never serving yourself wh...

Have you heard of somatic embodiment? It is not new. Pioneer Dr. Pat Ogden has been practicing somatic and psychotherapeutic techniques for 45 years. And Dr. Peter A Levine has been working over the past 50 years on somatic experiencing, a naturalistic and neurobiological approach to healing trauma. How aware are you of what is happening in your body? How connected are you to your body? My guests...

Healing cannot happen in a vacuum. As Barbra Streisand sings: People, People who need People, Are the luckiest people in the world. And that's all of us. We all need connection to other humans...to help us heal, to feel whole. That is true whether or not a person is living with a mental health diagnosis. This week, my guest is Marie Onukiavage, Executive Director of NAMI Northeast Region PA. W...

We don't keep wearing pants that don't zip or shirts that don't fit, so why do we keep doing things and spending time with people who no longer seem to fit our lives? Reflection can lead to difficult discoveries about ourselves and change can be difficult. But once we're ready, and we begin to focus on discovering new ways to live, habits to form, and actions to take...life becomes...

Nationally recognized comedian, public speaker and mental health advocate Gab Bonesso describes her stand-up as Robin Williams on cocaine times a hundred. She says that performing is "a beautiful cathartic release of my art and my disorder coming together and giving me peace. I need to do it. It is something for my soul, for my brain, it is who I am." Gab will bring that high energy, hon...

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 week is for you then, eh? 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 wedding in Am...