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

History, Poetry, and the Art of Biography, with Lewis Bowling

“I love to read, I devour books—wouldn’t it be nice if I wrote something that somebody else would love to read?” — Lewis Bowling In this episode of Uncorking a Story, host Mike Carlon sits down with Lewis Bowling—author of 14 books, columnist, and educator at Duke University and North Carolina Central University. Lewis shares…

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What are you Really Hungry For? With Jane McGuinness

“We eat from a thousand different hungers—and most of them aren’t about food.” — Jane McGuinness In this episode of Uncorking a Story, I sit down with Jane McGuinness—registered clinical counselor, mother of three, and author of the memoir Always Hungry: How I Lost the Weight and Found Myself. Jane opens up about her journey…

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Ghosts, Grit, and Grandogs, with Karen White

“The Lady on Esplanade is about ghosts, grief, and flipping murder houses.” In her third appearance on Uncorking a Story, bestselling author Karen White uncorks the story behind her 37th novel, The Lady on Esplanade. From her unexpected start in writing—sparked by Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series—to her reflections on the evolving publishing landscape, Karen shares…

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Trauma, Healing, and Finding your Voice, with Wendy Correa

“I realized my family’s secrets had written my biography—and my biology. I wanted to take back the pen.” — Wendy Correa In this deeply moving episode of Uncorking a Story, host Mike Carlon sits down with author, yogi, and former music industry insider Wendy Correa to discuss her debut memoir, My Pretty Baby. Wendy shares…

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She Journeys: Sarah May on Healing, Forgiveness, and Life in a Van

“What felt like the darkest night became the beginning of something brand new.” — Sarah May In this inspiring episode of Uncorking a Story, host Mike Carlon speaks with yoga instructor, Reiki healer, and debut memoirist Sarah May about her transformative journey through heartbreak, healing, and radical reinvention. From living in a van with her…

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Lightkeeper: Stacy Bass on Grief, Photography, and the Power of Memoir

“Grief doesn’t end—it lives alongside joy, love, and purpose. You can carry both.” — Stacy Bass In this deeply moving episode of Unquarking Your Story, host Mike Carlon sits down with author and photographer Stacy Bass to explore her memoir Lightkeeper, a poignant reflection on love, loss, and legacy. Stacy shares how personal tragedy led…

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Leading Through Freefall: Brianna Sylver on Innovation, Emotion, and Surrender

“Innovation isn’t just about process—it’s about emotion. If you’re not feeling resistance, you’re probably not stretching far enough.” — Brianna Sylver In this episode of Uncorking a Story, host Michael Carlon sits down with nationally recognized innovation strategist Brianna Sylver, founder of Sylver Consulting and author of Leading Through Freefall. Brianna shares the deeply personal…

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From Video Store to Bestseller: Miranda Smith on Writing Dark Fiction and Finding Her Voice

“Write the book you want to read. That’s when everything changed for me.” — Miranda Smith  In this episode of Uncorking Story, host Mike Carlon sits down with bestselling author Miranda Smith, whose psychological thrillers and domestic suspense novels have captivated readers since her debut in 2020. From growing up in a video rental store…

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Heaven is a Place on Earth: A Conversation with Spiritual Medium Anna Raimondi

“Energy cannot be destroyed. So where does it go? The energy is the soul, and the soul goes on. Heaven isn’t up through the clouds—it’s right here, a different dimension.” — Anna Raimondi Spiritual medium, intuitive, and author Anna Raimondi joins me for a deeply moving conversation about faith, the afterlife, and finding your soul’s…

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A Love Letter to Reading, with Heather Snodgrass

“Whether or not money comes out of this is yet to be seen. The main thing is—does it help people? Is it spreading a good message? That’s ultimately why I’m doing this.” — Heather Snodgrass Actor, author, and debut novelist Heather Snodgrass joins me to talk about her first book, A Love Letter to Reading,…

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