“It took me 12 years to write it and get it to a publisher… writing a book was a lot harder than an Ironman.” In this heartfelt episode of Uncorking a Story , I sit down with Betsy Armstrong—writer, mom, athlete, and philanthropist—to explore the winding path that led her to authorship. From losing her mother at 23, to navigating midlife, infertility, and ultimately adopting two children from Russia, Betsy’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and radical love. Her memoir, The Mother of All...
Aug 12, 2025•50 min•Ep. 427
“I flipped twice… my seatbelt wrapped around my neck, so my airway was cut off and I was blue… Doctors called my family in for my last rites that evening.” — Lisa Labozzo In this moving episode of Uncorking a Story , Reiki Master and intuitive healer Lisa Labozzo shares how a life-altering car accident became the catalyst for a spiritual awakening. Once a high-powered fashion executive, Lisa now devotes her life to healing others through energy work and divine intuition. We talk about trauma, lo...
Aug 05, 2025•57 min•Ep. 426
“I realized I couldn’t write sex scenes, so I went darker. Turns out, murder is more my thing.” — Kaira Rouda Bestselling author Kaira Rouda returns to Uncorking a Story to talk about her latest psychological thriller Jill Is Not Happy—a twisted, funny, and disturbing journey through a seemingly normal marriage gone off the rails. Kaira shares her journey from marketing executive to novelist, her struggles with writing romance (spoiler: no sex scenes), and how she found her true voice writing de...
Jul 29, 2025•35 min
“The pain of carrying the weight of this secret for so long was more damaging than the reveal.” – Rob Tonkin At age 14, Rob Tonkin entered the world of radio and climbed his way to the top of the entertainment marketing industry, producing iconic events like the Honda Civic Tour. But behind the success was a lifetime of buried trauma, self-sabotage, and a quest for healing. In this revealing conversation, Rob discusses his bold new memoir Asshole: A Memoir, and how writing helped him unearth his...
Jul 22, 2025•56 min•Ep. 424
“Once you start understanding someone as a person, not a role, it’s impossible to make them a villain anymore.” — Christina Adams Today’s episode of Uncorking a Story shines the light on co-authors Anthony and Christina Adams—writing as A.C. Adams—who unpack the personal odyssey that inspired their debut novel, Chasing Shadows . Fueled by Christina’s search for her vanished father and the shocking truth behind his secret double life, the couple shares how trauma, love, and forgiveness shaped bot...
Jul 15, 2025•44 min•Ep. 423
“You have to start walking the path before the path is revealed to you.” – Samantha Greene Woodruff In this lively episode of Uncorking a Story, Mike sits down with bestselling author Samantha Greene Woodruff to unpack her unexpected journey from Nickelodeon executive to acclaimed historical fiction writer. Sam shares how yoga teacher training led to her first novel, how a fascination with lobotomy inspired The Lobotomist’s Wife, and why flexibility and courage are crucial for any writer. Along ...
Jul 08, 2025•51 min•Ep. 421
“There’s never been a movie or TV series about Casey Stengel—and he’s the most animated, fun-loving, Robin Williams-type of character ever. And I intend to change that.” — Mark Galley In this very special episode of Uncorking a Story , I’m joined by Emmy-winning PA announcer for the NY Mets Colin Cosell —yes, that Cosell—as we welcome author, creative force, and lifelong storyteller Mark Galley . Mark takes us behind the scenes of his new book How the Worst Was Won , a comedic, heartfelt, and hi...
Jul 03, 2025•41 min•Ep. 421
“I don’t want to tell anyone what to think—I want to expose things and say, here’s what’s going on. What do you think about it?” — Jacqueline Friedland In this episode of Uncorking a Story, Mike Carlon sits down with bestselling author and former attorney Jacqueline Friedland to talk about her latest novel, Counting Backwards, and her inspiring journey from the world of law to the world of fiction. Jacqueline shares how a Supreme Court case she discovered at 17 sparked a lifelong interest in soc...
Jul 01, 2025•34 min•Ep. 419
“I want women to feel seen, supported, and connected—this chapter of life isn’t the end, it’s the beginning of something new.” — Lauren Tetenbaum Lauren Tetenbaum is an author, therapist, and advocate who helps millennial and younger women navigate the big transitions of life—from perinatal shifts to perimenopause and beyond. In this warm and insightful conversation, Lauren joins Uncorking a Story to talk about her new book, Millennial Menopause: Preparing for Perimenopause, Menopause, and Life’...
Jun 26, 2025•33 min•Ep. 418
“The essence of art is taking life’s randomness and shaping it into something meaningful.” — Lina Chern Lina Chern’s debut mystery Play the Fool earned major acclaim, winning the 2024 Mary Higgins Clark Award. Now she’s back with Tricks of Fortune, a darker, more nuanced follow-up inspired by a real-life incident in her community. In this candid conversation, Lina and Mike talk about the writer’s true superpower (curiosity), the difference between myth and reality, and how life experience shapes...
Jun 24, 2025•27 min•Ep. 417
“You have to believe before you see—if you believe your body can rebuild itself, it will surprise you.” — Dr. Grazyna Pajunen Dr. Grazyna Pajunen never set out to be an author—but after 14 years of helping clients in the anti-aging space, she realized there was a need to put the basics in writing. In this inspiring episode of Uncorking a Story, we explore the world of biohacking through the lens of her latest book, Biohacking: A Way to a Better You—Look and Feel Better Than You Did 10 Years Ago....
Jun 19, 2025•44 min•Ep. 416
This episode is brought to you by Mike Carlon's latest novel, the Waiting Room. Check out that #1 New Release in Inspirational Spiritual Fiction Here We all have resources inside ourselves. We can get through just about anything. — Kirsten Mickelwait In this moving and insightful episode of Uncorking a Story , Mike welcomes Kirsten Mickelwait—copywriter by day, author by night—whose memoir The Ghost Marriage explores her journey through profound loss, forgiveness, and unexpected spiritual awaken...
Jun 18, 2025•35 min•Ep. 416
“Each time I speak, someone comes up crying, saying they finally feel seen. That’s how I know the healing matters.” —Babs Walters Babs Walters has spent her life helping others find their voice—first through corporate training, and now through the courageous act of telling her own story. In this heartfelt episode of Uncorking a Story , Babs joins me to discuss her raw and inspiring memoir Facing the Jaguar , a story decades in the making. As a survivor of domestic violence and sexual abuse, Babs...
Jun 17, 2025•40 min•Ep. 421
If you remove the rule of law, the dark side of human nature is very powerful—and in this period, there was no law. — Jeffrey Konvitz In this riveting episode of Uncorking a Story , Mike chats with entertainment attorney, screenwriter, producer, and bestselling author Jeffrey Konvitz —known for The Sentinel and now Circus of Satan . Jeffrey takes us deep into the violent, forgotten history of the Irish mob, the collapse of their political grip, and the rise of organized crime in America. He also...
Jun 12, 2025•49 min•Ep. 414
In this inspiring episode of Uncorking a Story , Mike sits down with trailblazing journalist, bestselling author, and entrepreneur Jackie Lapin. From being one of the first female sportswriters in America to building a top PR firm and now creating a global community for history lovers through Historic Traveler International , Jackie shares her remarkable journey through storytelling, spiritual awakening, and a life lived with curiosity and passion. If you’re a writer, entrepreneur, traveler, or ...
Jun 10, 2025•42 min•Ep. 413
“Nobody writes alone—and if they do, I don’t think they write well.” In this riveting episode of Uncorking a Story, debut novelist and former fashion exec Kay Smith-Blum shares how a haunting dream, buried Cold War secrets, and a real-life radioactive whale led to her award-winning novel Tangles. We dig into her writing process, the staggering truth behind the Hanford nuclear site, and the twists in her own personal history—including finding her birth family and saving a sibling’s life. This is ...
Jun 05, 2025•45 min•Ep. 412
“If I accept that I’m his victim… can I even say I’m a wife? If my child’s DNA is evidence of a crime… can I say I’m a mother?” – Brandi Dredge In this emotional conversation, author Brandi Dredge shares the raw and redemptive journey behind her memoir Girl Uncoded. From surviving childhood trauma and an abusive marriage to reclaiming her voice through writing and faith, Brandi opens up about how journaling unlocked long-buried truths and gave her a powerful new identity: survivor, storyteller, ...
Jun 03, 2025•41 min•Ep. 411
“I really wanted to reach the parents who might be crying in their kitchen and feeling alone—to let them know they’re not alone in those feelings.” – Jennifer Celeste Briggs In this moving episode, Jennifer Celeste Briggs opens up about her powerful memoir Watching Sarah Rise, the story of raising her daughter Sarah, who faced developmental challenges from birth. With honesty, warmth, and resilience, Jennifer shares how she turned overwhelming fear into focused action—building a Sunrise program ...
May 29, 2025•32 min•Ep. 410
“All love is risky. People die, they leave, they don’t listen to you—but you love them anyway.” — Virginia DeLuca When Virginia DeLuca’s husband unexpectedly walked out on their marriage in his 60s—claiming he wanted children—her gut reaction wasn’t just heartbreak. It was: If you must go, I wish you triplets. That quip became the title of her deeply honest and darkly humorous memoir. In this episode of Uncorking a Story , Virginia joins Mike Carlon to talk about grief, personal reinvention, wri...
May 27, 2025•32 min•Ep. 409
“We spend so much of our life trying to put the pieces back in the dollhouse… the furniture changes, the people change.” — Beverly Jean Armento In this emotional episode of Uncorking a Story , Michael Carlon sits down with author and educator Beverly Jean Armento to discuss her powerful memoir, Seeing Eye Girl . Beverly reflects on a childhood marked by violence, secrecy, and trauma—and how the love of teachers, a resilient spirit, and the act of writing helped her reclaim her story. Now in her ...
May 20, 2025•34 min•Ep. 408
“I’ve always believed that within the realm of what’s possible, I can do it—and fiction was just another challenge to embrace.” — Iris Mitlin Lav In this episode of Uncorking a Story , Michael Carlon uncorks the remarkable second act of Iris Mitlin Lav, a seasoned public policy expert who turned to fiction writing after retirement. Iris shares how her real-life experiences and family history shaped her second novel, Gittel’s Freedom , a moving portrayal of three generations of immigrant women na...
May 13, 2025•33 min•Ep. 406
“My dad looked at me [from his deathbed] and said, ‘It just went so fast.’ I asked what did, and he said, ‘Life.’ That moment changed everything—I knew I had to write the book.” — Jennifer Griffith On this special Mother’s Day episode of Uncorking a Story , I sit down with Jennifer Griffith—host of About Your Mother and author of Both Sides of Then —to talk about motherhood, grief, generational trauma, and the stories that define us. Inspired by a powerful moment with her father just before he p...
May 09, 2025•56 min•Ep. 407
“Your marriage can be anything you want it to be—you don’t have to just follow a supplied script.” — Wayne Scott In this deeply honest and thought-provoking episode of Uncorking a Story , writer and psychotherapist Wayne Scott opens up about the emotional terrain behind his memoir The Maps They Gave Us . We dive into his decades-long marriage, navigating a mixed-orientation relationship, and redefining monogamy. With vulnerability, humor, and insight, Wayne shares how creative adaptation—not rig...
May 06, 2025•36 min•Ep. 406
“I learned that I’m dogged… I didn’t abandon it, and that became very important—not giving up.” — Janet Constantino In this soulful and insightful episode of Uncorking a Story , psychotherapist-turned-novelist Janet Constantino shares the winding journey that led to her debut novel Becoming Mariella . A former competitive Latin ballroom dancer with Sicilian roots and a love of jazz, Janet brings decades of life experience to her writing. She opens up about the long road to publication, her deep ...
Apr 29, 2025•32 min
“The whole idea of historical fiction is to fill in the gaps in the emotional feeling of the participants in the crisis.” — Barbara Southard In this episode of Uncorking a Story , historian and debut novelist Barbara Southard shares the emotional and intellectual journey behind her novel Unruly Human Hearts . Drawing from her academic roots and a deep fascination with 19th-century America, Barbara reimagines the infamous Beecher-Tilton adultery trial through the eyes of Elizabeth Tilton, the wom...
Apr 22, 2025•29 min•Ep. 403
“We’ve got to start thinking of ourselves as the Earthling tribe.” — Dr. Peter Solomon In this eye-opening episode of Uncorking a Story , scientist and author Dr. Peter Solomon shares how his passion for physics, sparked in a college classroom, led to a lifelong mission to communicate science through storytelling. We explore his Stardust Mystery project and dive into his upcoming novel 100 Years to Extinction , inspired by Stephen Hawking’s chilling prediction about humanity’s future. From DNA a...
Apr 15, 2025•47 min•Ep. 403
“Don’t be your own no—if the answer is no, let someone else say it. Don’t take yourself out of the race because of your own insecurities.” – Joanne Howard In this episode of Uncorking a Story , we sit down with debut novelist Joanne Howard, author of Sleeping in the Sun , a historical fiction novel inspired by her grandfather’s childhood in India at the end of British rule. Joanne shares her journey from copywriter to published author, the emotional and creative process of writing her first nove...
Apr 08, 2025•20 min•Ep. 401
“The writing is the easiest part. It’s everything after that—the marketing, the visibility, the noise—that makes this business so tough. But you’ve got to keep going.” — Rochelle Weinstein Bestselling author Rochelle Weinstein joins Uncorking a Story to reflect on the career crossroads that changed her life. After walking away from a successful role in the music industry, Rochelle sat down and wrote her first novel—without any formal training—and took a leap into self-publishing. That leap paid ...
Apr 01, 2025•37 min•Ep. 397
“We all have a light to shine, and today more than ever, the world needs us to shine those lights in all the different areas that are there.” – Julie Wignall In this illuminating episode of Uncorking a Story , Julie Wignall shares her unconventional journey from marine biology to corporate leadership to writing The Extraordinary Power of Fireflies . She reveals how each of us has an inner light and a unique purpose, and she offers insight into overcoming fear, embracing creativity, and finding m...
Mar 25, 2025•48 min•Ep. 399
Each book has its own trajectory and process… The things that are meant for you come to you.” – Kristen Arnett Bestselling author Kristen Arnett joins Uncorking a Story to talk about her latest novel, Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One , a book about a queer birthday clown navigating art, grief, and life in Central Florida. We dive into her writing journey, the importance of place in storytelling, and how her background in library science influences her work. Plus, we discuss clowns, wrestling, St...
Mar 18, 2025•31 min•Ep. 399
