Uncorking a Story

"As a Secret Service agent, I was a secret writer... I kept my writing hidden for about five years." – Richard Podkowski In this episode of Uncorking a Story, I sit down with Richard Podkowski, a former U.S. Secret Service agent turned author. Richard takes us on a journey through his career, his novel The Walk On, and his passion for storytelling. We dive into the themes of redemption, how profes...

"Resilience isn't just bouncing back—it's finding new purpose after everything changes." — Jonathan Bogner In this inspiring episode of Uncorking a Story, host Mike Carlon sits down with Jonathan Bogner, a seasoned film and reality TV producer who has faced unimaginable challenges. From experiencing heart failure, two strokes, and aphasia, to receiving a life-saving heart transplant, Jonathan’s st...

"Perseverance is probably the most important skill or quality to have. Stick with it, and eventually you'll cross some kind of finish line." – Linda Moore In this episode, Linda Moore, a late-blooming fiction writer and art historian, shares her unique journey from political science and journalism to owning an art gallery and finally embracing a career as a novelist. Through candid discussions on...

“There's so much literature in cannabis... I'm kind of acting a little bit like a translator for the general public and for the medical community." — Dr. Benjamin Caplan In this episode of "Uncorking a Story," host Mike Carlon sits down with Dr. Benjamin Caplan, a renowned family physician and expert in medical cannabis. Over the past 17 years, Dr. Caplan has overseen the care of more than 250,000...

"I felt really alienated before, but when I started walking on the streets and all these people started sharing their stories, I slowly started to heal." — Varuni Sinha In this compelling episode of "Uncorking a Story," host Mike Carlon interviews Varuni Sinha, a New York-based writer and multimedia producer, about her transformative journey from a copywriter in New Delhi to an author in America....

"I wasn't interested in writing about my own cancer journey, but I was interested in the idea of what if my situation had been flipped." — Ann Bancroft In this heartfelt episode of "Uncorking a Story," host Michael Carlon sits down with Ann Bancroft, a remarkable two-time breast cancer survivor who has made her literary debut at the age of 71. Bancroft shares her journey from a career in journalis...

"Writing is like therapy; it reveals the soul and heals the heart." — Holly LaBarbera In this episode of "Uncorking a Story," Holly LaBarbera, an accomplished author and psychotherapist, takes us through her fascinating journey from childhood letter writing with her grandmother to becoming a published novelist. She shares how her career as a therapist intertwines with her love of storytelling, rev...

"Writing is like staying in shape; even when things aren't going well, sitting at the desk and writing keeps you ready for the day when the right ideas and words come." - Philip Cioffari Today we dive deep into the world of storytelling with special guest Philip Cioffari. Philip is a novelist, short story writer, playwright, and filmmaker whose journey from a young boy writing cowboy stories to an...

"I like the idea of thinking of it as a gift, although it certainly doesn't feel like it at the time." — Hannah Mary McKinnon In this episode of "Uncorking a Story," host Michael Carlon welcomes back internationally bestselling author Hannah Mary McKinnon. Known for her gripping suspense novels and heartwarming holiday romantic comedies, Hannah shares insights into her creative journey, her latest...

“When your fears disappear, your dreams appear.” —Gamma, from ”Closet of Dreams.” In this episode, we dive into the enchanting world of childhood imagination and creative collaboration with brother-sister duo, Mark Ukra and Tara Masalaik McMahon. Join us as we explore their journey from a shared childhood closet of dreams to the creation of their heartwarming children's book series starting with C...

"It's okay to not be okay. Writing has been my way to let things out, to release the constriction of emotions, and to heal. I don't hold back in my poetry, and I encourage others to find their own way to express and release their feelings." – Jasmine Gonzalez In this episode of "Uncorking a Story," we welcome Jasmine Gonzalez, a New York City-based poet whose work delves into the depths of mental...

"Magic finds us in our darkest times." — Christina Bacilieri Christina Bacilieri’s life and career were profoundly shaped by her Italian grandmother and a dream that inspired her to write her first novel, "The Last Refuge." In this episode, Christina shares her journey from a career in marketing to becoming a full-time writer, discussing the challenges of balancing creativity with practicality, an...

"Marriage can hold more difficulty than you believe and still move forward and evolve into something positive." – Anna Monardo How does an arranged marriage spanning continents and generations reveal the hidden strengths and vulnerabilities of a family, and what can it teach us about our own relationships and identities? Meet Anna Monardo Anna Monardo was born in Pittsburgh, spent many years in Ne...

"Being chosen doesn't mean being whole; it means navigating a journey to find yourself.” — Adoptee Lisa Ann In this heartfelt episode of "Uncorking a Story," host Mike Carlon welcomes Lisa Ann, the host of the "Wandering Tree Podcast." Lisa Ann shares her deeply personal story as an adoptee, discussing the complexities of identity, family, and the search for her biological roots. From the revelati...

"The idea of found family and the hope that you have a pod of people out there who will accept you for who you are is central to my story." — Mary Carol Moore In today’s episode, Author Mary Carol Moore discusses her journey from being a food journalist to an accomplished novelist, inspired by her mother's legacy as a World War II era pilot. She shares insights into her latest novel, "A Woman's Gu...

"Poetry is a gift from the Divine, a voice from ancestors, expressing profound truths and deep emotions." - Lauren Martin In today’s episode of Uncorking a Story we sit down with Lauren Martin, a psychotherapist, poet, and a devoted Ìyânífá. She shares her journey from discovering her poetic voice in sixth grade to compiling her latest collection, Night of the Hawk. Through a conversation that spa...

"We have a lot to learn from them. It's really about the survival of the human spirit." - Dr. Stephanie Covington In this informative episode of Uncorking a Story, we dive into the life and expertise of Stephanie Covington, Ph. D. who shares wisdom gained through her work with incarcerated women and reveals how they support each other in the most challenging of environments. Meet Stephanie Covingt...

“Be quick to forgive yourself. It's hard to do, but be quick to forgive people around you. We're going to disappoint ourselves, and people are going to disappoint us. Just forgive, get over it. Don’t let a mistake ruin a relationship—it's not worth it. The relationship is so much more.” — Link Forester Join us in this powerful episode of Uncorking a Story with  Link Forester, an author whose life...

“Be your own fool. You’ve got to be a little bit crazy to believe your writing matters, and it does!” Today, I chat with author Joe Di Prisco who shares the mosaic of his life, from a Brooklyn childhood shadowed by mob connections to his spirited pursuits in poetry and education. This episode delves into Joe's complex relationship with religion, his vibrant storytelling in both novels and poetry,...

"It's like a honey badger; dementia doesn't give a shit. It doesn't care about what you want to do." — Kitty Norton Tune into this episode of Uncorking a Story for an honest and inspiring exploration of the highs and lows of caregiving, the power of storytelling, and the unexpected paths life can take. Meet Kitty Norton In 2016 Kitty left her job as an NBC assistant editor in Los Angeles, CA, for...

"Right, you'll forget it ever happened. That's what my social worker told me and other girls at the Florence Crittenton home for unwed mothers. But yeah, you don't forget that you are a mother. And also, how does one keep the secret from oneself? That's an absolute impossibility." — Tracy Mayo In the lead up to Mother’s Day, I wanted to share the powerful story of a mother who worked tirelessly to...

“I found writing almost an unbelievably incredible way to deal with the grief. It was a way to channel my energy in a really productive way that ultimately led to this book that I've written. And it was therapeutic. It was really helpful for me in many ways." — Glenn Hilemann In this deeply moving episode of "Uncorking a Story," we explore the poignant journey of Glenn Hilemann, who turned a heart...

"It's interesting to compare the process of creating an image with writing. In photography, I find myself editing the scene to highlight what draws my interest, focusing on the essence and minimizing distractions. This approach is similar to writing, where the goal is to strip away the superfluous to communicate the core message clearly. Both processes involve a pathway to clarity, whether it's th...

"I have my wife as my ultimate support system. But as a man, it feels like you shouldn’t show weakness or talk about things that might make you vulnerable because you worry about what others will think. That’s why I decided to just go for it, to muster the courage to openly share my story. I committed to laying everything out there, telling my story in all its truth." — Reggie Reed Tune in to this...

"The day my dance instructor had her jaw wired shut to lose weight was the day I realized how deep the rabbit hole of body image issues really went. It wasn't just about being thin; it was about battling your body at war with societal expectations." - Lori Brand Welcome to a compelling episode that dives deep into the heart of how societal pressures shape our self-perception and the lengths to whi...