Uncorking a Story
Episodes
Taking Care while Giving Care, with Suzanne Marriott
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when "in sickness and in health" becomes "in sickness"? Today’s guest, author Suzanne Marriott addresses that question, and many others...
The Art And Science Of Brand Transformation: A Conversation With Emmanuel Probst
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I’m thrilled to welcome author and executive Emmanuel Probst on Uncorking a Story. Emmanuel’s background combines over 16 years of market research...
Vulnerability In Fiction Writing: Advice From Hannah Halperin
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast episode, Mike interviews author Hanna Halperin about her latest novel, I Could Live Here Forever. Meet Hannah Halperin Hanna is the...
Treating Trauma through Psychedelics, with Shannon Duncan
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On today's episode of Uncorking a Story, Author Shannon Duncan discusses the use of psychedelics as a tool for healing trauma, particularly childhood ...
Flickering, with Pattiann Rogers
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Pattiann Rogers has published fifteen collections of poetry and two book-length essay collections, The Dream of the Marsh Wren and The Grand Array: Wr...
Write from your Heart, with Karen White
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast episode, Mike interviews Karen White, a successful author of Southern women's fiction with a paranormal twist. Karen shares her journe...
Standing Out, with Kristina Lucia
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever felt like, at times, you are the black sheep of your family? You know, those times when you question why you are so different from every...
A Call to Action, with Kenneth Nixon Jr.
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If there is one thing I’ve noticed that all pastors share in common, it’s the ability to tell a story, and Rev. Kenneth Nixon is no different. Ken...
Woman in the Field, with Brittany Butler
28 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When she was in high school, Brittany Butler didn’t have dreams of working for the Central Intelligence Agency—she was a cheerleader and was in be...
Give Yourself Permission, with Jane Healey
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jane Healey isn’t just a successful author, she also has great taste in TV. During the course of this entertaining conversation, I uncorked her love...
The Real Bob Crane, with Carol Ford
21 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Like many people of my generation, I grew up watching Hogan’s Heroes in reruns. Also like many people of my generation, I was shocked that Bob Crane...
Let it Be, with Lauren DeStefano
18 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Just like the classic Let it Be by The Beatles, author Lauren Destefano shares many words of wisdom for authors in today’s episode of Uncorking a St...
Loose Cannons, with Susan Reinhardt
14 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Susan and I have three things in common; we are authors, we have a great sense of humor, and we both root against Duke basketball regardless of who th...
Nine Times! With Audrey Carlan
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I’ve interviewed many authors who were signed to muti-book deals very early in their careers—typically two or three book deals. Today’s guest on...
Building Wealth, with Tom Suvansri
07 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us define wealth by what we can quantify in our bank accounts, but today’s guest on Uncorking a Story, Tom Suvansri, thinks that’s way too...
Love Remembers, with Charlotte Maya
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Charlotte Maya’s life was turned upside down when she arrived home from a hike with her children to find a police officer and priest waiting at her ...
Tutto Bene, with Rose Patruno
31 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Rose Patruno grew up in a very patriarchal society where her brother enjoyed many more freedoms than she did. Over time, this impacted her mental and ...
Finding the Fun, with Lina Chern
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There is one thing that Lina Chern and I can wholeheartedly agree on and that’s the importance of having fun during the writing process. If what you...
Getting Curious, with Jill Santopolo
24 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes, beauty comes from tragedy, which is the backstory to Jill Santopolo’s debut novel The Light We Lost, which she penned after going through...
Give it All you Got! With Lyn Liao Butler
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest on Uncorking a Story, Lyn Liao Butler, is the type of person who likes to have many irons in the fire. While working as a professional...
Letting Go, with Christopher Rice
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the expressions my father is very fond of saying is, “Everything happens for a reason.” He’s also fond of saying, “If a problem can be ...
Flashpoints, with Cheryl A. Head
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The sparks that ignite story ideas are almost always rooted in experience, emotion, and curiosity. Today’s guest on Uncorking a Story, award winning...
Finding the Love Within, with Vanessa David
10 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you are like me, when you hear the term lunch lady you immediately think of Adam Sandler and Chris Farley, but today’s guest on Uncorking a Story...
The Story of the Case, with William Landay
07 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We can add today’s guest, William Landay, to the growing list of former lawyers turned authors who have come on Uncorking a Story to promote their w...
Hang in There, with Cort Casady
03 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Long-time listeners know that I’m the proud father of triplets and anyone who has seen me perform stand-up knows that I lean on my experiences raisi...
Ticket to Ride, with Meg Stafford
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Some may believe that an author’s superpower is in the ability to string the right words together, in the right order, and use correct punctuation. ...
Increasing Revenue, with Anthony Iannarino
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As a small business owner, I’m always interested in how I can get better at sales, which is why I was so excited to speak with today’s guest, Anth...
Lessons from the Other Side, with Vincent Tolman
24 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode will leave you questioning whether or not the events that my guest Vincent (Vinnie) Tolman discusses actually happened. I’m okay w...
Take That, Professor! With Donna Loughlin
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest on Uncorking a Story, Donna Loughlin, and I were both involved in the early days of the 90s dot.com bubble, in similar roles. I was wo...
Reaching Performance Potential, with Elma Linz Kanefield
17 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For anyone out there who feels crippling stage fright before having to perform in front of an audience, this episode is for you! Today’s guest, Lice...
Ending Scarcity, with Kristen Ragusin
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What if it was easy to stop living for money? To have the health, wealth, and life you dream of? And the solution had nothing to do with politics or o...
Listen to the Voice, with Suzanne Roske
10 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever experienced a little voice inside your head trying to tell you something? Did you ever wonder where that voice was coming from? Have you...
Getting Ambitious, with Glenn Kaplan
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I share a few things in common with today’s esteemed guest on Uncorking a Story. Glenn Kaplan and I both worked at Foote, Cone, and Belding and we b...
The Greatest Gift, with Edward Di Gangi
03 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I love stories that involve cemeteries and libraries and today’s guest on Uncorking a Story has a one that involves both. Meet Ed Di Gangi Ed was ad...
Challenging Conventions, with Jessica Weaver
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I love a good story about people who break conventions and today’s guest on Uncorking a Story, Jessica Weaver, does just that. Shortly after getting...
Declassified, with Sewall Menzel, Ph.D.
27 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we have a real treat for fans of US History. Today’s guest, Sewall Menzel, Ph.D., drops a bombshell about how President Roosevelt, playing th...
Now Blooming, with Trish Michael
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We are often told to always look on the bright side of life—at least those of us who grew up watching Monty Python movies were told that. But how ca...
99 Rejections, with Melissa Payne
20 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Melissa Payne is the bestselling, award-winning author of The Secrets of Lost Stones, Memories in the Drift and The Night of Many Endings. She joined ...
Believing in Magic, with M.J. Rose
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
New York Times, USAToday, and Wall St. Journal bestseller, M.J. Rose grew up in New York City mostly in the labyrinthine galleries of the Metropolitan...
The Power Trio, with S.E. Boyd
13 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
S. E. Boyd is the creation of veteran journalists Kevin Alexander and Joe Keohane, and editor Alessandra Lusardi. All lightly damaged Catholics prone ...
Start Asking Who, with Matt McWilliams
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When I was a kid, I had dreams of joining the PGA tour; the only problem was, I really didn’t show a tremendous aptitude for the game of golf, which...
Do More, Better with Susan Combs
06 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Susan Combs is President of Combs & Company, a full-service insurance brokerage firm based in New York City. She started the company at twenty-six yea...
Taking Stock, with Nick Jonsson
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Jonsson is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of one of Asia’s premiere networking organizations. He built a caring community that provides h...
7 Beliefs, with Mike Carlon
01 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we are doing something a little different on Uncorking a Story. It’s a new year and, for our first episode, there is no guest. I’m using th...
Writing for Everyone, with K.K. Weakley
30 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
K.K. Weakley was born and reared in Wexford Ireland. She has written 11 books and plays for stage. K.K. loves to read historical fiction and a good ...
Getting Happy, with Tori Whitaker
27 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tori Whitaker is a bestselling author who also belongs to the Bourbon Women Association and the Historical Novel Society. Her work has appeared in the...
Getting Weird, with Eric G. Wilson
23 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What’s wrong with being a little weird? I am fortunate in my career to meet new people every week through the work that I do and let me tell you, I ...
Radio Wave Illumination, with Mark Thompson
20 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I like to tell people that I started Uncorking a Story as a way to give authors a platform for promoting their books, but the reality is that I had an...
Womentoring, with Michelle Renaldo Ferguson
16 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Over the course of my career I can point to three people who were excellent mentors for me—people who really helped shape who I am not only as a qua...
Coming of Age, with Sarah McCraw Crow
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
My eighty-nine year old mother has a catch phrase. When she doesn’t know what to say, she’ll typically belt on, “It’s all good.” Even though...
Getting Creative Together, with Steven Kowalski
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This is going to sound funny coming from the author of eight novels, but there was a time I didn’t consider myself to be creative. Growing up, I dre...
Shall All Be Saved, with Karen Winnick
29 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest on Uncorking a Story, Karen Winnick, reminds me so much of my mother. Both are from Brooklyn and are animal lovers who would rather se...
Do No Harm, with Richard Gallagher, MD
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When I was a kid there were a few things I thought would be more of big deal in adulthood including quicksand, killer bees, and satanists. Now I am no...
Finding Meaning, with Nathanael Garrett Novosel
18 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
My guest today, Nathanael Garret Novosel, was just six years old when he started questioning the meaning of life. When I was younger, I questioned it ...
Freedom Through Surrender, with Brian O'Hare
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I believe that, no matter how old we are, we never stop trying to secure the approval of one or both of our parents. While my twin brother was always ...
From Physics to Prose, with Dilani Kahawala
11 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Most people who now make their living as authors had a day job at some point. It is common for me to interview former teachers, professors, journalist...
The Human Perspective, with Alli Frank and Asha Youmans
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For so many of us writers, the actual act of writing is a solitary process. We write alone and maybe, after a while we will share something with a con...
Quiet on the Set, with Lygia Day Peñaflor
04 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How well do you remember high school? Chances are you are more likely to remember the big events that happened—prom, the homecoming dance where you ...
Taking the Red Pill, with Suzanne Yatim Aslam
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Parenting is supposed to come naturally to us, right? Especially moms! After the baby (or babies in my case) arrives, those motherhood instincts are s...
Such Sharp Teeth, with Rachel Harrison
31 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In my opinion, werewolves don’t get enough attention in the horror genre. Vampires are a bit higher on the food chain as are traditional slashers, b...
The Stories of Ourselves, with Barbara Linn Probst
28 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After interviewing almost two hundred authors on Uncorking a Story I’ve come to believe that the real superpower authors wield isn’t their ability...
Give it a Go, with Clare Pooley
27 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest, Clare Pooley, and I share a few things in common. We both have backgrounds in advertising, we were both bloggers before becoming auth...
Throwing the Bones, with Jeannée Sacken
26 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I remember being called home from school during my senior year in High School because my grandmother, who lived with us at the time, had slipped into ...
Mysterious Ways, with Kamila Shamsie
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
U2’s seminal album Achtung Baby was released during my senior year in high school. At the time, I was a huge fan and didn’t know what to make of t...
Back to the Beginning, with Robert Kerbeck
24 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I spent most of my corporate career working in the area of market research. In short, I talk to consumers for a living and then turn their stories int...
The Waiting, with Ali Michael, Ph.D.
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As writers, we are eager for feedback and validation that something we’ve birthed has value and waiting for it, to paraphrase the late Tom Petty, is...
Moving Around, with Ellen Nichols
20 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I remember being a kid never rushing away after big holiday dinners as I enjoyed listening to the adults tell stories. My twin brother was always bore...
Humanizing Brands, with Sarah Panus
19 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I love connecting with fellow marketers. I love it even more when those fellow marketers are also fellow podcasters! I’m not ashamed to admit it, wh...
Owning Your Destiny, with Kelley Holland
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Way back in 1985, my sister Mia took my twin brother Jimmy and me to see Back to the Future. Shortly after leaving the theater, her car ran out of gas...
Getting Smart, with Maya Smart
17 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I remember the days before our triplets could read and I’d spend at least an hour between the three of them reading stories every night. By the time...
Till I Drop, with Joy Jordan Lake
14 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
One thing stayed with me after my conversation with Joy Jordan Lake. She opened up to me about how a fear of failure as a writer prevented her from fu...
Leaving Home Behind, with Abdulrazak Gurnah
13 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Prior to meeting Nobel Prize winning author Abdulrazak Gurnah a few weeks ago, the only thing I knew about his home country of Zanzibar was that Fredd...
Flipping the Script, with Steve Borys
12 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Do you wonder why bad things always seem to happen to good people? Do you want to know how to overcome adversity and become successful despite terribl...
Where the Sky Begins, with Rhys Bowen
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many years ago I was taking guitar lessons with a great teacher named Ken Volpe, or Master Ken as I liked to call him. When shooting the breeze over a...
Love and Murder, with Alicia Thompson
10 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When I was eighteen, I was very clear on what I wanted to be when I grew up—a psychologist. Two people are to blame for my fascination in this socia...
Mass Class, with Fr. Dave Dwyer, CSP
07 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I’ll admit it, I became a subscriber to Sirius XM when Howard Stern left terrestrial radio for satellite. One evening, though, on a long drive from ...
Catching a Wave, with Lauren Forsythe
06 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes when I’m writing I get into what I call "the zone." Time seems to stop and I’m only pulled out of it when my presence is missed, which i...
From Outsider to Insider with David Pepper
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
I’ve interviewed a lot of lawyers turned authors on Uncorking a Story but who I haven’t interviewed is a lawyer turned author who received a call ...
Forgiveness is Freedom, with Giovanni Ruscitti
04 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For the past twenty years, I’ve been the father of triplets and so much of my identity is tied to my role as father. But what happens when they fly ...
Just Keep Going, with Sangu Mandanna
03 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
About Sangu Mandanna Sangu was four years old when an elephant chased her down a forest road and she decided to write her first story about it. Sevent...
Timeless Maverick, with Allison Gilbert
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
About Allison Gilbert: Allison is an award-winning journalist and author of numerous books including Passed and Present and Parentless Parents. Her...
Happy Little Accidents, with Katherine Linn Caire
23 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Runaway Train, with Ava Glass
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
About Ava Glass: Ava Glass is a former civil servant and journalist who once worked closely with spies. She lives in the same town in the south of Eng...
Seeing in Color, with Annette Libeskind Berkovits
16 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 stor...
Addressing Shame, with Jim Young
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
About Jim Young: Jim is on a personal mission to help men defeat burnout. He does this through his coaching business where he is known as The Centered...
Mindset is a Muscle, with Carrington Smith
08 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
About Carrington Smith: Carrington Smith is a single mom, attorney, business owner, and executive search professional. Despite being born with a silve...
Enjoying The Ride, with David Bell
06 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
About David Bell: David is the USA Today-bestselling author of twelve novels from Berkley/Penguin, including THE FINALISTS, KILL ALL YOUR DARLINGS, TH...
Sophie Irwin: Fortune Hunting
23 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
About Sophie Irwin: Sophie has spent years immersed in the study of historical fiction, from a dissertation on why Georgette Heyer helped win World Wa...
Going Off Script, with Annabel Monaghan
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
About Annabel Monaghan: Annabel is the author of two Young Adult novels: A Girl Named Digit, optioned by the Disney Channel, and the sequel, Double Di...
Keeping it Hot with Ashleigh Renard
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
About Ashleigh Renard: As a figure skating coach and choreographer, Ashleigh Renard spent two decades building trust and fostering teamwork, growing h...
Ripple Effects, with Johnny Sirpilla
04 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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, ...
Inner Voices with Sandra Butler
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
About Sandra Butler: Sandra is the author of several books, each designed to identify something unspoken and move those issues into the public convers...
At the Seat of Your Pants, with Anastasia Zadeik
29 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
About Anastasia Zadeik is an author, editor, and narrative nonfiction storyteller. When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll find her practicing ...
Writing with the Door Closed, with Eleanor Brown
28 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Eleanor Brown is the New York Times bestselling author of The Weird Sisters and The Light of Paris, and the editor of the anthology, A Paris All Your ...
Rewired, with Carl Marci, M.D.
27 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Carl Marci is a leader in the fields of social and consumer neuroscience and serves as the Chief Medical Officer at Cava Capital. Formerly the Chi...
Give Me Some Sugar with David Winkler
26 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
About David Winkler: David comes from Hollywood royalty and is a very successful film producer. His work includes the films Creed, Rocky Balboa, and T...
Make it Happen, with J.R. Harris
25 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Robert Harris (JR) has been exploring and backpacking long distance for more than 60 years in some of the most remote and inhospitable wilderness area...
Building Credibility, with Michael DeLon
22 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As the president of Paperback Expert, Michael DeLon helps business owners publish a book that positions them as the expert in their field. He recently...
Stolen Moments, with May Cobb
21 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
May Cobb earned her MA in literature from San Francisco State University, and her essays and interviews have appeared in the Washington Post, the Rump...
Full Circle, with Fabian Nicieza
20 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Fabian is a comic book writer and editor who is best known as the co-creator of Marvel's Deadpool and for his work on titles such as X-Men, X-Force, N...