At My Kitchen Table

Welcome to At My Kitchen Table where I’m joined this week by my friend and Snap-streak partner in crime, Annette Reitano!  Annette is a creative in her core and she nurtures that part of herself both professionally and personally.  She joins me to talk about the importance of creativity and allowing yourself space to play in managing your body's stress response.  She also chats about how her parents used her love of theater as a motivational tool for school, how the messy middle is where you grow, mortality awareness syndrome, and why she's chosen to make her creative content free.   Come give her a listen!

Intro riff by Dale Lytle (concert husband).

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

It's been a half a year, you guys!  Week 26 of connecting with people and bringing their stories to you.  So I took a pause to talk about the path to the pod, how we got here to week 26 of a passion project, and what's coming up next for At My Kitchen Table.  I also mention how I loathe the sound of my own voice, my takeaways from a bar meeting with Jason & CJ, and my regular listener in Singapore!  The message of this episode is that like Lumiere in Beauty & the Beast, I just want you to be my guest.

Intro riff by Dale Lytle (concert husband).

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

We’re flying high with Michelle Sedlak at my kitchen table this week!  Michelle is a flight attendant and she joins me to talk about all things air travel.  We dive into a bunch of topics, though, including the many jobs she had before the flight attendant gig, her passenger pet peeves (they mostly involve people who do not listen), how a girls trip with 10 ladies on one catamaran inspired her to apply to become a flight attendant, and how fast she can evacuate a plane that’s on fire with half of the exits blocked.  She spills some tea about KC having the best BBQ and playing the "that's not water" game with passengers who head to the bathroom in socks or bare feet, but gets serious when discussing her training.  Pull up a seat and listen to us have a yap!

Intro riff by Dale Lytle (concert husband).

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

Amy Becker, the best thing to come from my time at the University of Pittsburgh aside from my husband, sits down at my kitchen table today.  She talks about how our friendship shouldn't have worked, how becoming a parent helped her navigate her own parent-child trauma bonds, learning how to be a duck, and giving herself permission to stop giving a fuck.  We giggle a lot in this episode because Becker's joy is infectious.  Pull up a seat while we spill some tea!

Intro riff by Dale Lytle (concert husband).

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

Today I sit down with Heather Papiernik to talk about some of the things she did to find her people after relocating to the Pittsburgh area.  Heather grew up in Youngstown, OH, living in her hometown for about 40 years before she moved away.  Turns out, it can be difficult to get close to people who have known each other for most of their lives.  As she talks about some of the ways she put herself out there to find people with common interests, she also chats about bourbon, drinking Alabama Slammers & playing Euchre in college, bourbon, working for a big conglomerate for-profit school, bourbon, gateway cocktails to bourbon, and why it's important to learn how to do things alone.  Pull up a chair and listen to us yap!

Intro riff by Dale Lytle (concert husband).

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

Kayla Rennie pulls up a chair at my kitchen table this week, bringing a lot of energy and humor to her story about her son, Samson, and his early diagnosis of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD).  In simplest terms, ALD is caused by a genetic mutation that causes an accumulation of very long chain fatty acids which can then affect the brain, spinal cord, and adrenal cortex.

We get into the science of it all, and Kayla also chats about COVID derailing her goal to become a Spanish educator, the janky part of Children’s Hospital that houses the rare diseases floor, and how she went from being a shy kid to becoming a fierce advocate for her child.

And an update for when you get to the three good things about her week – her test was negative, and that’s great news!

If you would like additional information about ALD and how you can help by donating for research or spreading awareness, consider visiting some of the following sites:
X Out ALD – https://xoutald.org
ALD Connect – https://aldconnect.org
ALD Alliance – https://www.aldalliance.org
NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders) – https://rarediseases.org

Intro riff by Dale Lytle (concert husband).

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

Hey, hey everyone! I am joined at my kitchen table this week by my bonus son, Ian Stone, and my actual son, Patrick Shaak to chat about loneliness.  When we noodled on topics, this one kept coming back around for me as I think it needs to be discussed with the demographic most typically affected (depending on which definition of "male loneliness" you're using).

These two are bffs since college and have been there for each other through some rough times emotionally.  They talk to me about racing, gaming, how toxic masculinity and male loneliness often go hand in hand, and their emotionally vulnerable friendship.

The tea is piping hot, but the sound quality is sometimes cool - there are sound differences in the mics and you can actually hear an airplane flying over my house at one point.

Despite the sound faux pas, what their friendship means to them comes through loud and clear.  And as I listened to their perspectives, I definitely got the sense that the kids really are alright.  I hope you do, too!

Intro riff by Dale Lytle (concert husband).

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

At my kitchen table this week is my former co-worker, current friend, and fellow GenXer, Tim.  Tim joins me to discuss his journey to an OCD diagnosis.

I took AMKT on the road and recorded with Tim in Connecticut during the holidays for our annual "therapy session" with other former co-workers.  We chat about our shared love of music, the imminence of annihilation we experienced as kids in the 80s, the importance of having buddies, and how some of his obsessions seriously fucked with his ability to listen to Slayer.  He also covers why we aren’t using his last name or tagging him in social posts (it's because middle schoolers are still the douchiest age level in all of grade school).

Caveat: no matter how put together Tim sounds, I can assure you that he’s held together with duct tape like a proper 80s kid.

Intro riff by Dale Lytle (concert husband).

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

Welcome to my third episode that features Glen Rock, PA! At my kitchen table this week is Ali Collier, owner of Brabble Hill Farms and owner / proprietor of Main Street Market in Glen Rock.

My chat with Ali marks the first time that I sought a guest because of a topic – she and her husband own a micro farm, and I’ve become very interested in learning more about small, sustainable farming. Ali has worn many hats in her life, which is something she's done with intention.  Her curiosity and ability to solve problems has led her to constantly try new endeavors, which is how she ended up leaving corporate America for literally greener pastures.  Ali talks about how she became a mechanical engineer, the wilderness that is small farming, food as a community connector, her desire to live her life like her grandfather did, and wtf a brabble is.

Intro riff by Dale Lytle (concert husband).

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

Welcome to 2026, teabags! I’m back at my kitchen table this week with Rollin Apgar!  This is the second episode in what is becoming a short series of episodes that feature Glen Rock, Pennsylvania either as its center or as its backdrop.

Local, small-town politics is fascinating to me because it feels like it's often ignored, but is the most impactful politics to our day-to-day lives. Rollin and I chat about being drawn to service, the story of how he became involved with borough council, why it’s important to give people the space to be heard, and how Glen Rock is like vultures.  Pull up a chair!

Intro riff by Dale Lytle (concert husband).

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