At My Kitchen Table

Teabags, I love making a guest connection kind of in the wild!  Steve Malcolm reached out to me after he heard his friend, Jonathan Slade, in Season 1.  We struck up an email conversation that led to me asking if he was interested in chatting with me for the pod, and here we are!

Steve joins me at my kitchen table today to talk about his non-traditional path to becoming a TV producer, and how is religious upbringing influenced his love / hate relationship with TV.

Did you know that you can use cows as collateral to buy a guitar amp? Steve explains how as he also chats about how a TV producing job is good for a squirrel brain, why the thesaurus was his friend, what a crank telephone is, how boredom is good for creativity, and some of the many slippery slopes to hell.

As you listen today, be aware that sometimes airpods and Zoom recordings don’t always pair well, and that fixing the sound variations is currently above my pay grade.  You can still hear Steve clearly, so get cozy!

Intro riff by Dale Lytle (concert husband).

All content edited (I use that term very loosely) by Karen Shaak.

It’s Wednesday, Teabags, so pour a cup and settle in as Laura Schreiber joins me at my kitchen table.  I met Laura through work, and she quickly earned my respect (plus, I was intimidated by her!) because she was extremely good at her job.  As I got to know her better over time, I also discovered that she's a gem of a human.

Laura discusses her journey to doing improv at Chicago’s own Second City, and it starts us on a meandering but connected course of topics that includes taking care of her mental health and how our choices impact the evolution of our friendships.

She also chats about Star Wars art, how her dog is her best friend, the fact that everything is a scene, and how details are gift.

Get cozy!

Intro riff by Dale Lytle (concert husband).

All content edited (I use that term very loosely) by Karen Shaak.

Teabags, do you know what a Mummer is?  Well, neither do we!  This week my sister-in-law, Sam, sits at my kitchen table to talk about how & why after years of pursuing an education and career in dance, she shifted gears in a completely different direction.

She also spills dance tea about her family, illustrates why it’s sometimes necessary to distinguish between “coke” and “Coca-Cola,” points out that while confetti is great for TV, it’s bad for dancing in 3-inch heels, and the ways she has surprised herself on her newest journey.

Get cozy!

Intro riff by Dale Lytle (concert husband).

All content edited (I use that term very loosely) by Karen Shaak.

Welcome to a September Wednesday where the weather is starting to show hints of cooler days ahead!  I am so honored to have one of my bonus kids, Tyler Hendzel, join me at my kitchen table this week to talk about his ability to maintain a healthy outlook on life despite the childhood chaos that propelled him into adult responsibilities at a really young age.  Tyler basically lost two foundational family units by the time he was 13 and taught himself how to "leave home at home" while seeking stability in sports and leaning on his close friends.

Ty also chats about being the class clown, how he chooses to identify as a husband and dad, closet kegs, and how not being broke can change the family dynamic.

Get cozy!

Karen's note: Kennywood Park gets a mention during the pod, and I did look it up to confirm that Kennywood is one of the oldest amusement parks in the U.S. as we suspected.  It's in the top 10 oldest amusement parks and is one of only two amusement parks to be given a National Historic Landmark designation!

This week's Small Business Spotlight shines on Umber Chocolates:

Find Umber Chocolates on Instagram / Threads: @umberchocolatespgh

Find Umber Chocolates on Facebook: \umberchocolatespgh

Intro riff by Dale Lytle (concert husband).

All content edited (I use that term very loosely) by Karen Shaak.

It’s good to be back, Teabags!  Sean Patrick Sears is his government name, but you can call him Shaggy.  He pulls up a seat at my kitchen table to kick off season 2 by regaling me with stories.  Shaggy is an incredible storyteller whom I’d originally asked to chat about all things theater.  But during background, I quickly realized that you can wind him up and point him in any direction, and you’ll get story time gold.

In addition to speaking candidly about the difference between theater in the American south versus other places, Shaggy talks about the time he discovered he was working for an MLM cult, how theater hooked him, his experience hiking Kilimanjaro, and the theory that the Twilight movie craze led to Trump’s first presidency.

Get cozy!

This week's Small Business Spotlight shines on Umber Chocolates:

Find Umber Chocolates on Instagram / Threads: @umberchocolatespgh

Find Umber Chocolates on Facebook: \umberchocolatespgh

Intro riff by Dale Lytle (concert husband).

All content edited (I use that term very loosely) by Karen Shaak.

Hey Teabags!  As you may know, I’m taking a little time off to steep!  I’m on a short break for some relaxation and to prep new episodes for the Season 2 launch in September. While you wait to meet new guests and hear their stories, enjoy this re-release of Season 1 Episode 32 with Veronica Molitor.

Friend of the pod, Veronica is the Owner & Chief Executive Chocolatier of Umber Chocolates.  We had a ton of fun chatting about how she started her business, playing all of the sports in school, the benefits of having the gift of gab, and that box of stuff that goes in the cabinets above the fridge through every move.  And how we owe her husband, Adam, for encouraging her to pursue her dream job. 

Get cozy!

This week's Small Business Spotlight shines on Umber Chocolates:

Find Umber Chocolates on Instagram / Threads: @umberchocolatespgh

Find Umber Chocolates on Facebook: \umberchocolatespgh

Intro riff by Dale Lytle (concert husband).

All content edited (I use that term very loosely) by Karen Shaak.

Hey Teabags!  As you may know, I’m taking a little time off to steep!  I’m on a short break for some relaxation and to prep new episodes for the Season 2 launch in September.

But I’ll be honest, I’d planned a different episode for this week’s re-release. I made a last-minute pivot in light of recent news.  Postpartum depression with psychosis has been front and center lately, and it feels like a good time to listen to Angela Myers talk about her postpartum journey.  We don’t do enough to support women in postpartum.  We don’t do enough to support the people who support new moms. And even when there is support, this journey is incredibly difficult.  Give season 1, episode 1 with Angela a listen.

Get cozy!

This week's small business spotlight is on Umber Chocolates.

Find Umber Chocolates on Instagram / Threads: @umberchocolatespgh

Find Umber Chocolates on Facebook: \umberchocolatespgh

Order Umber Chocolates at www.umberchocolatespgh.com

Intro riff by Dale Lytle (concert husband).

All content edited (I use that term very loosely) by Karen Shaak.

Hey Teabags!  As you may know, I’m taking a little time off to steep!  I’m on a short break for some relaxation and to prep new episodes for the Season 2 launch in September. While you wait to meet new guests and hear their stories, enjoy this re-release of Season 1 Episode 16 from Adam Wright.

Get cozy!

This week's small business spotlight is on Game On, Girls!

Search Game On, Girls! on Facebook and find them on Instagram @gameongirlsapparel

Order from Game On, Girls at https://gogapparel.com

Intro riff by Dale Lytle (concert husband).

All content edited (I use that term very loosely) by Karen Shaak.

Hey Teabags!  As you may know, I’m taking a little time off to steep!  I’m on a short break for some relaxation and to prep new episodes for the Season 2 launch in September. While you wait to meet new guests and hear their stories, enjoy this re-release of Season 1 Episode 9 from November 5, 2025 with guest Victoria Ribeiro.  Victoria talks about what it was like to be on the receiving end of online hate and vitriol that spilled into fear and intimidation in the real world.

Get cozy!

This week's small business spotlight is on Game On, Girls!

Search Game On, Girls! on Facebook and find them on Instagram @gameongirlsapparel

Order from Game On, Girls at https://gogapparel.com

Intro riff by Dale Lytle (concert husband).

All content edited (I use that term very loosely) by Karen Shaak.

Hey, Teabags!  Welcome to my kitchen table for a season 1 wrap-up in which I switch roles and answer questions on all things related to At My Kitchen Table.  My sister and first pod guest, Angela Myers, flips the script and asks me both fun and poignant questions about my experiences over the last year with the podcast, with questions about what I’ve learned, what’s made me laugh, whether I cry with emotional guests, and what I’m focused on for season 2.

She also tries to get me to say what my favorite episode is, but I held firm like only an older sister would.  Because, honestly, if I were our youngest brother I’d have caved immediately to her pressure.

Thank you so much for taking this journey with me.  I’m excited to get to work on season 2!  Get cozy!

This week's small business spotlight is on Game On, Girls!

Search Game On, Girls! on Facebook and find them on Instagram @gameongirlsapparel

Order from Game On, Girls at https://gogapparel.com

Intro riff by Dale Lytle (concert husband).

All content edited (I use that term very loosely) by Karen Shaak.