“Grief is actually a guru that guides us, taking us through the dark night of the soul and transforming us—even when it feels like it’s breaking us down.” Listen in as Cindy Finch, a seasoned therapist, cancer survivor, and author of the powerful new workbook Epic Comeback dives deep into the gritty journey of healing…

“I think we’re always trying to heal ourselves, whether it’s through fiction or not.” In this episode of Uncorking a Story, Mike Carlon chats with Mary Keliikoa, an award-nominated author whose journey to becoming a published crime novelist took over two decades. From co-writing her first book during lunch breaks as a legal secretary to…

“Food had controlled me. The grocery store controlled me, restaurants controlled me—and I wanted to break free of that.” In this mouth watering episode, Mike Carlon uncorks the story of Jared Gleaton, a nationally certified school psychologist and captivating food critic. Jared takes us on a fascinating journey from his early social media food reviews…

“I had no idea how big this was…over 80 percent of people you see in the alley were once you and me—soccer moms, CEOs—pulled into addiction by something that was supposed to help.” In this episode of Uncorking a Story, host Mike Carlon sits down with debut novelist Laura Essay, author of Side Effects Are…

“If you feel you have something worth saying, why not take the effort and pursue it?” — Jude Berman In this episode, host Mike Carlon uncorks the story of Jude Berman, an award-winning author and former editor who made the leap from publishing other people’s books to writing her own. Jude reflects on her journey…

“I think emotional intelligence invites us to slow things down and really take pause in relation to who we are in the world.” – Patrick Kilcarr In this episode of Uncorking a Story, host Mike Carlon sits down with Patrick Kilcarr, PhD,  the Director of Georgetown University’s Center for Personal Development and an expert in…

“Writing is not just putting your fingers on the keys. Writing is thinking, imagining, and playing games in your head.” — Fiona Barton In this episode of Uncorking a Story, host Mike Carlon sits down with New York Times bestselling author Fiona Barton, known for her psychological thrillers The Widow, The Child, The Suspect, and…

“My desire is to be for others what I needed when I was at my lowest.” – Kristina Kuzmic In this powerful episode of Uncorking a Story, Mike Carlon sits down with renowned author, comedian, and mental health advocate Kristina Kuzmic. Kristina shares her journey from a struggling single mother on food stamps to becoming…

“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…

“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…