Uncorking a Story

Stories influence, teach and inspire us, but what about the storytellers who create them? Uncorking a Story profiles storytellers to uncover how their background and life experiences influence the stories they create. We learn what motivates them, their path to success, and what fuels them to keep creating. It all starts by asking one simple question, where does your story begin? Welcome to uncorking a story. All of the books promoted on Uncorking a Story can be viewed and purchased here: https://bookshop.org/shop/UncorkingaStory

Timeless Maverick, with Allison Gilbert 09/27/2022

Happy Little Accidents, with Katherine Linn Caire 09/23/2022

Happy Little Accidents, with Katherine Linn Caire I’ll admit it, I love watching The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross. Here’s the thing, though, I can’t draw to save my life, but I am drawn to that show the way some people are drawn to watching fish swim in a tank. He was a talented artist, no doubt, but what I appreciated more than his talent was his calm and serene demeanor which complimented the naturescapes he was fond of painting. One phrase he used often when he may have made unanticipated brush strokes was “Happy little accidents.” And a happy little accident is where author Katherine Linn Caire’s story begins. About Katherine Linn Caire Kathe was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. She attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, where she swam for the Mustangs and received her BBA (Finance), with Minors in Art History and Economics. Although her career has spanned the gamut from commercial banking lender to advertising account executive, from calligrapher/artist to tennis official, she has found her true delight in putting pen to paper. She recently joined me to discuss her memoir Accidental Sisters: The Story of My 52-Year Wait to Meet My Biological Sibling. The happy little accident that set the events of this memoir into motion was when her birth mother’s full name was not redacted in a file including her birth parents’ health history. Curiosity got the better of her and Kathe did some Googling to try and find her birth mother, but kept hitting wall after wall. One year, for Mother’s Day, her daughters gave her a birth mother search as a gift. While it turned out her birth mother had died years earlier, it did reveal something Kathe didn’t anticipate—she had a sister. In our conversation, Kathe and I discuss: Her belief that divine intervention was at play, bringing her together with her sister. Why the best gifts are the ones you never anticipated asking for. What it was like talking and meeting her sister for the first time. Why your book is never 95% done when you hand it over to your editor. The importance of collaborating with your content editor to make your book as good as it can be. “Don't be so sure that you know what you want until you're faced with the situation. I think for many years, I was very sure that having my mom and my dad, my brother, and my grandmother and my grandfather, was all I needed. And that there wasn't really anything more to my life than the family that I had.I did not have any idea whatsoever that I felt the way that I did, until I was actually faced with the situation.” — Kathe Caire Buy: Accidental Sisters:The Story of My 52-Year Wait to Meet My Biological Sibling. Amazon: Bookshop.org: Connect with Katherine Website: Instagram: Facebook: Twitter: Connect with Mike Website: Youtube: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: LinkedIn: If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story , or wherever you get your podcasts. /episode/index/show/uncorkingastory/id/24446361

Runaway Train, with Ava Glass 09/20/2022

Seeing in Color, with Annette Libeskind Berkovits 09/16/2022

Seeing in Color, with Annette Libeskind Berkovits Every now and then I uncork a story that just won’t leave me and Annette Libeskind Berkovits’ story is exactly one of those. While this is a story about a person growing up in the shadow of the Holocaust, I want to be clear, as does Annette, that this is not a tragedy. In fact, it is a story about overcoming trauma and learning how to adapt when the winds of change are blowing in your face. In our rich and emotional conversation centered around her latest memoir, Aftermath: Coming-of-Age on Three Continents, Annette and I cover: Why, when growing up in post-war Poland, Annette felt she did not see in color, only black and white. How she felt when moving to the fledgling state of Israel, the challenges of learning a new language, Hebrew, and how she began seeing in color during this time. The heartbreak she felt when her father left Israel for America. How Annette adjusted to life in America after settling in the Bronx, all the while not knowing the language with her only frame of reference of the United States being the propaganda the Soviets taught her about America when she was in Poland. Why learning from the past is important and how it does not have to define what the future holds for us. “My father populated my entire childhood with people who were murdered, not just his family, but also his friends and his teachers and and I just feel a responsibility to pass it on. And recently, my daughter wrote a story about the impact of anti-semitism that she just had published in the Jewish Writing Project. So that history, as you say, gets passed down the generations, and when it doesn't it's a real problem.” — Annette Libeskind Berkovits Annette’s story is really one of overcoming hardship, adversity, and the trauma of the past. I know you will be inspired by our conversation and ask that you take the time to listen to this in its entirety. Buy: Aftermath: Coming-of-Age on Three Continents Amazon: Bookshop.org: Connect with Annette Website: Amazon Author Page: Facebook: Connect with Mike Website: Youtube: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: LinkedIn: If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story , or wherever you get your podcasts. /episode/index/show/uncorkingastory/id/24389922

Addressing Shame, with Jim Young 09/13/2022

Mindset is a Muscle, with Carrington Smith 09/08/2022

Enjoying The Ride, with David Bell 09/06/2022

If Not Now, When? with KJ Dell'Antonia 08/30/2022

Sophie Irwin: Fortune Hunting 08/23/2022

Going Off Script, with Annabel Monaghan 08/16/2022

Keeping it Hot with Ashleigh Renard 08/09/2022

Keeping it Hot with Ashleigh Renard About Ashleigh Renard: As a figure skating coach and choreographer, Ashleigh Renard spent two decades building trust and fostering teamwork, growing her synchronized skating organization to one of the biggest in the world. Now she offers support and encouragement to millions of couples every week through her lifestyle blog and coaching practice. She also co-hosts a podcast for content creators looking to grow their platform. She's here with us today to discuss her newest book, Keeping it Hot: The Workbook. In this episode, Mike and Ashleigh discuss: The motivation behind writing Keeping it Hot, the Workbook The role uncovering your own needs plays in building intimacy How intimacy outside the bedroom can lead to intimacy inside the bedroom How to speak openly and honestly about your needs Key Takeaways: Bringing the spark back to the relationship should be fun, not a fight. Self-awareness, or knowing what you want from yourself and a partner, is crucial in every relationship. The first step to finding out what you want is to allow yourself to listen to your inner voice and then practice self-care. There's nothing wrong with discussing your sexual desires with your partner. You can’t expect them to know what you want unless you tell them. Sharing your true feelings gives them permission to do the same. Being a parent doesn't mean you can't have intimate time with your partner or yourself. Planning is everything—take the time to continually invest in your relationship and your kids will grow up with a better understanding of romantic love. "Both people in the partnership need time to themselves. They need time to be in their body, they need time to laugh with friends, they need time to really do the things that they love. They need some time for that or else they're not going to have any empathy for the other person who also needs something." – Ashleigh Renard Buy Keeping it Hot: The Workbook Amazon: Bookshop.org: Connect with Ashleigh Website: Instagram: Tiktok: Facebook: Email: Connect with Mike Carlon: Website: Youtube: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: LinkedIn: Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it. /episode/index/show/uncorkingastory/id/23976609

Ripple Effects, with Johnny Sirpilla 08/04/2022

Ripple Effects, with Johnny Sirpilla Every now and then I uncork a story that simply inspires the hell out of me—and this is one of those stories. As Founder and CEO of Encourage LLC, Johnny Sirpilla specializes in leadership development. Every year he addresses organizations with his message of the importance of managing and reframing thoughts, modeling healthy thinking, and searching for positive meaning. Developing meaningful professional and personal relationships that genuinely reflect the personal brand of the individual and organization create synergies that drive growth for all stakeholders. I didn’t know it going into my interview with Johnny, but he and I have a lot in common. We are both Italian (well, I’m only half, but that’s the half I identify with), we both have written books, and we both have fathered triplets. He and his wife, however, lost Nicholas, Mary, and Peter not long after they were born. More tragedies would follow Johnny and his wife as they attempted to start their family and you might assume that so much loss would lead to a dark place and maybe even the dissolution of their marriage, but the opposite was true. Yes, Johnny and his wife grieved hard together, but they were also able to reframe their experiences into something positive. The loss of their babies led to a ripple effect of positivity in the lives they have touched. Johnny decided to document his experiences and beliefs in a memoir entitled, Life is Hard but I'll Be OK: The Power of Hope Emerging through Pain and Learning to Live with Gratitude and joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about it. During our conversation we touch on: How he and his wife dealt with so much loss and the importance of grieving together. How he was able to hang onto his faith and not hate God in the face of so much tragedy. How he and his family celebrate and honor Nicholas, Mary, and Peter every year. How an empty nest can lead to a rediscovery of one’s relationship with their partner. Quote from Johnny: A young man asked me, what do you wish you knew when you were sitting in our seats that would prepare you for the life you're going to live? The answer came to me quickly. I said, I wish I knew that life will be hard, but I'll be okay. And that's where the title of my book came from. As a young guy I think you set goals, you reach them, you set the next goal, and life just keeps going in that great trajectory. And you almost don't prepare yourself for those unexplained situations that happen. A child passing, an illness, adoption nightmares. So you know, I wish I knew that life will be hard, but I'll be okay. Buy Life is Hard but I’ll Be Ok. Amazon: Bookshop.org: Connect with Johnny Website: Instagram: Facebook: Twitter: Connect with Mike Website: Youtube: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: LinkedIn: If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story , or wherever you get your podcasts. /episode/index/show/uncorkingastory/id/23952315

Inner Voices with Sandra Butler 08/02/2022

At the Seat of Your Pants, with Anastasia Zadeik 07/29/2022

Writing with the Door Closed, with Eleanor Brown 07/28/2022

Rewired, with Carl Marci, M.D. 07/27/2022

Give Me Some Sugar with David Winkler 07/26/2022

Give Me Some Sugar with David Winkler About David Winkler: David comes from Hollywood royalty and is a very successful film producer. His work includes the films Creed, Rocky Balboa, and The Mechanic. He joins us today to talk about his memoir, The Arrangement, a Love story, in which he depicts the time he spent being a sugar daddy. If that’s not a term that’s familiar to you, that will change in the next few minutes. In this episode, Mike and David discuss: Why did David decided to share his story The lessons he learned about himself while writing his memoir The differences between writing a memoir and writing a screenplay How David came full circle in his beliefs about monogamy Key Takeaways: Writing about your personal life is a complicated process as you must put yourself in a vulnerable position and expose very personal details. But if writing something truly personal is your goal, then go for it — just be prepared for some fallout. There is nothing wrong with using a dating website. It is sometimes the place where you can unintentionally reveal your true self, without attempting to conceal aspects of yourself or your past. Sometimes, through your writing process, you'll discover something about yourself that you couldn't have predicted would change your life. And, when writing a memoir, don't be too harsh on yourself. Don't worry about the outcome; what matters is that you finish what you started. It is in writing a memoir that will allow you to be brutally honest while still trying to tell an entertaining story. "If you go in with the best of intentions, and care and caution, you're likely to meet somebody really interesting." – David Winkler Grab a copy of The Arrangement: A Love Story Amazon: Bookshop.org: Connect with David Winkler: Website: Instagram: Facebook: Connect with Mike Carlon: Website: Youtube: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: LinkedIn: Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it. /episode/index/show/uncorkingastory/id/23856522

Make it Happen, with J.R. Harris 07/25/2022

Building Credibility, with Michael DeLon 07/22/2022

Stolen Moments, with May Cobb 07/21/2022

Full Circle, with Fabian Nicieza 07/20/2022

I Saw the Sign with Eileen Brill 07/19/2022

I Saw the Sign with Eileen Brill About Eileen Brill: Eileen is a painter, writer, and Sign Language Interpreter who grew up outside of Philadelphia and graduated from Carnegie Mellon with a B.S. in Economics. She has written professionally for the restaurant, hotel, and commercial real estate industries. A Letter in the Wall is her first novel, Eileen’s short story “Christmas Angel” appeared in the international literary magazine Beyond Words in 2021. In this episode, Mike and Eileen discuss: Where Eileen's story as a writer began The inspiration for A Letter in the Wall The lost art for writing letters Publishing your own book Key Takeaways: A child's passion for writing may stem from their parents' writing abilities, but it is up to the child to turn that inspiration into a career in the future. Writing at a young age gives children more opportunities to learn, grow, and develop their creativity. Inspiration for writing can sometimes be found unexpectedly in unusual things found in your surroundings. You have complete control over the stories you write, but you must also be intimately familiar with your characters' thoughts and motivations. There are many advantages to modern modes of communication, but there is something very special about writing and receiving letters, and it deserves to be kept alive now more than ever. Writing letters should not become a lost art. If you believe your story is good enough to be published and read by others, you must be willing to put yourself out there, especially if you are a debut author. Publishing a book is not an easy process but it is well worth the effort. "When you have an idea in your head, talk to people you respect and get their opinion because you do not know everything. So move forward, don't be afraid and talk to people and get it out of your brain in and out of the atmosphere." – Eileen Brill Grab a copy of A Letter on the Wall: Bookshop.org: Amazon: Barnes & Noble: Connect with Eileen Brill: Website: Facebook: Instagram: Email: [email protected] Connect with Mike Carlon: Website: Youtube: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: LinkedIn: Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it. /episode/index/show/uncorkingastory/id/23778692

Writing is Therapy, with Elissa Grossell Dickey 07/18/2022

Paying it Forward, with Rochelle Weinstein 07/15/2022

The Final Hurdle, with Jade Beer 07/14/2022

Getting Angry, with Sandra Feder 07/13/2022

Just Between Us, with Allison Raskin 07/12/2022

Just Between Us, with Allison Raskin About Allison Raskin: Allison is a New York Times best-selling author. She is also the co-host of the popular podcast, Just Between Us and co-creator of a YouTube channel of the same name. Allison has written and developed multiple TV shows and created the original scripted podcast, Gossip. A vocal mental health advocate, Allison also runs the mental health-focused Instagram account Emotional Support Lady. Her latest book is called Overthinking About You: Navigating Romantic Relationships When You Have Anxiety, OCD And/Or Depression. In this episode, Mike and Allison discuss: The benefits that Allison receives from writing Why laughter is medicine Allison’s motivation for writing her book How to figure out what you need (and how to ask for it) Key Takeaways: Writing not only helps us express ourselves better, but it also helps us process a lot of things and is an excellent way to get your point and purpose across, whatever that may be. Laughter is the best medicine, and we need it now more than ever to get us through these difficult times and remind us that life is not something to be endured. You can have a mental health issue while also having a healthy relationship. It just comes down to finding the right person who is worth your time and effort and understands your situation. It is important to figure out what you need and communicate it to those around you. People will never understand or know what you are feeling unless you tell them. "Have more self-compassion for yourself. You shouldn't deprive yourself of what you want. Instead, you should really honor that desire and put in the work so that you can have the life that you want." – Allison Raskin Grab a copy of Overthinking About You: : Bookshop.org: Connect with Allison Raskin: Website: Instagram: Twitter: YouTube: Connect with Mike Carlon: Website: Youtube: Instagram: Twitter: Facebook: LinkedIn: Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You’re the expert. Your podcast will prove it. /episode/index/show/uncorkingastory/id/23701508

Yes, And, with Kelly Leonard of Second City 07/11/2022

Telling Lies, with E. Lockhart 07/08/2022

American Blues, with Polly Hamilton Hilsabeck 07/07/2022

Uncorking a Story

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