In the Know with Erin Glow

This special comeback episode features a ruby jubilee celebration as Erin turns 40. She's joined by four special guests, including her cousin Robin and friends, Jessica, Stephanie, and Lori, who all represent each decade of her life. They discuss other subjects turning 40 this year, and take a deep dive into Erin's latest blog post, 40 Things I Learned Before Turning 40. 

Follow along during the episode by checking out Erin's blog post here: https://eringlow.com/40-things-i-learned-before-turning-40/

Check out Erin's 40 years playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4mVXfNNzpYoKklBd8UdKoW?si=a6f6f0de8fe34f17

Chef Claudia Sandoval, who won the 6th season of MasterChef in 2015, joins me for this first episode of 2023. She talks about growing up in San Diego, CA, where her mom and grandma taught her how to cook, and shares how she kept her family’s culture alive through food. We also discuss how her life’s journey led her to earning a spot on MasterChef and what it was like competing in front of Gordon Ramsay. Claudia also shares the joy she found in creating and publishing her first cookbook, Claudia’s Cocina, and gives insightful advice to people, especially those in the Latino community, who are struggling while chasing a dream that may seem impossible.

"Food is romantic. Soul. It’s about putting everything in your heart onto the plate. Hoping it’s perceived well. Honestly, it’s about passion. It’s about love.” - Hillary Sterling

Check out Claudia’s website here: http://chefclaudiasandoval.com/

Follow Claudia’s Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/chefclaudiasandoval/

Purchase Claudia’s cookbook here: https://www.amazon.com/Claudias-Cocina-Mexico-Winner-MasterChef/dp/1617691895

Watch Claudia on MasterChef here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQx6NkhVKHo

Follow the podcast’s new Instagram page @eringlowpodcast here: https://www.instagram.com/eringlowpodcast/?hl=en

Find out more about Erin Glow here: www.eringlow.com

The Christmas Special is a fun, memorable Christmas extravaganza! YouTubers Tony and Derek join me once again to go over a Christmas bucket list and historical Christmas fun facts. We also recommend classic and modern Christmas movies, TV show episodes, and songs, and have a memorable discussion about our favorite Christmas media and moments. We follow that up with an entertaining Christmas trivia drinking game and wrap things up with a New Year’s segment that includes reflections on 2022 and hopes for 2023.

“When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness.” - Bob Hope

Check out the Christmas bucket list here: https://bucketlistjourney.net/christmas-bucket-list-things-to-do-this-holiday-season/

Check out Tony's YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/c/Zero2Manic

Check out Derek's YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/c/SinisterOfficial

Check out the podcast's new Instagram page @eringlowpodcast here: https://www.instagram.com/eringlowpodcast/?hl=en

Find out more about Erin Glow here: www.eringlow.com

Some music in this episode (Jingle Bells, Dance of the Sugar plum Fairies) is attributed to:

Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Author and yoga instructor Anita Grace Brown joins Erin for this episode to talk about her background, work, and faith. Anita opens up about the life-changing moment she found out who her birth father was and how she mustered up the courage to drive to his house and meet him face to face despite his rejection of her in the past. She also talks about her book, Kamikaze Yogi: Christ, Yoga, and the Courage to Emerge, the joy she finds in teaching yoga, and how her deep inner child work led to her being a happier and more content person who now walks the path of helping others.

“We are able to hear only what we are able to take in.” - Kamikaze Yogi by Anita Grace Brown

Check out Anita’s website here: https://www.grooveology.org/

Purchase Anita’s book, Kamikaze Yogi: Christ, Yoga, and the Courage to Emerge, here: https://www.amazon.com/Kamikaze-Yogi-Christ-Courage-Emerge/dp/1734823437

The Autumn Special brings you all things Autumn! This episode includes 40 things to put on your Autumn bucket list as well as Autumn fun facts and movie, TV, and song suggestions. YouTubers Tony (Zero 2 Manic) and Derek (SinisterGamez) also join me for a discussion and game based on our favorite Autumn movies. We also share our favorite Autumn recipes and a Massachusetts-themed spooky section that includes discussions on the Salem Witch Trials, the Bridgewater Triangle, and the Lizzie Borden Murder Mystery.

“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.” - Author Stanley Horowitz

Check out the Autumn bucket list here: https://bucketlistjourney.net/fun-fall-bucket-list-activities/

Check out Tony's YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/c/Zero2Manic

Check out Derek's YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/c/SinisterOfficial 

Here are the Maple Cookies we raved about: https://www.cvs.com/shop/gold-emblem-maple-leaf-creme-cookies-prodid-938107

Check out the podcast's new Instagram page @eringlowpodcast here: https://www.instagram.com/eringlowpodcast/?hl=en

Find out more about Erin Glow here: www.eringlow.com

Find our Autumn recipes at the Latest Updates section on eringlow.com or below!

Erin’s Apple Cider Glazed Chicken

Ingredients

1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed

Directions

Step 1. Preheat oven to 425°. In a medium bowl, add potatoes, apples and chopped rosemary and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and toss until combined.

Step 2. In a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat, heat remaining olive oil. Add chicken and sear, skin side down, until golden, about 2 minutes. Remove chicken from heat while you make the glaze.

Step 3. To the same skillet, add apple cider, honey and grainy mustard. Bring mixture to a rapid simmer and cook until mixture has reduced slightly then whisk in the butter. Return the chicken to the skillet, skin side up, and scatter the sweet potato mixture and rosemary sprigs around the chicken. Turn off the heat and transfer the entire skillet to the oven.

Step 4. Bake until the sweet potatoes are tender and the chicken is cooked through, about 20 minutes. (If potatoes need longer to cook, transfer chicken to a cutting board to rest and continue cooking until tender.)

Step 5. Serve chicken and potatoes with pan drippings.

Nana’s Green Junk

Ingredients

1 lb. cottage cheese (16 oz.)

Directions

Step 1. Dissolve package of jello in 1 1/4 cup boiling water.

Step 2. Mix all ingredients together.

Step 3. Pour into a mold dish and put in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours or overnight.

Step 5. Garnish with cherries if desired and serve while you imagine Nana smiling down on you.

Derek’s Greatest Pie On Earth

(Makes 2 pies, for 1 pie cut recipe in half)

Ingredients

1 1/2 c. sugar

Directions

Mix sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in a small bowl. Beat eggs in a large bowl and then stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk. Pour into pie shells and bake in a preheated 425 degrees F oven for 15 min. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees F; bake 40-50 min. or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 2 hours. Serve immediately or refrigerate!

Nora Sophia is the founder of The Dream Factory and “everyone’s fairy godmother.” She has dedicated her life to helping others live their best life by opening her heart and sharing the knowledge she’s learned through her own experiences over the years, in classes, one on one sessions, on social media, and more. In this episode, we talk about the incredible insight she’s gained, what led her to being the influential figure she is today, the advice she’d give to others embarking on their own self-love journey, and her experience in recently realizing she’s not only a “sensitive person” but an intuitive empath. A truly memorable conversation that can help guide people in finding their way from the darkness to the light.

“The greatest paradox of the Universe is that whatever we resist persists, while whatever we accept transforms.” - Jennifer Elizabeth Moore

Check out Nora’s website here: www.norasophia.com

Check out Nora’s Instagram page here: www.instagram.com/thenorasophia

Sabra, her educational platform, can be found here: www.sabraedu.com

You can also check out the video of my Love project, which Nora took part in, here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2bYXaKHJzY

In this episode, I welcome my longtime friend and comedian, Janet McNamara. Janet is a comic who performs regularly in the New England area and beyond. You may also recognize her from her failed but very hilarious televised audition in front of Simon Cowell, Victoria Beckham, Randy Jackson, and Kara DioGuardi (NOT Paula Abdul!) on American Idol back in 2010. We talk about her experiences growing up in Massachusetts and how she went from being a very shy child to making people laugh hysterically with her awkwardly uncomfortable comedy routines. We also reminisce on our adventurous and memorable friendship, which dates back to 20 years ago and started all from our love of the band Hanson.

Janet doesn’t hold back when she goes on to tell me just how she ended up on the American Idol stage, how it felt to be famous over night and become a trending topic on Twitter, and what exactly happened behind the scenes of the hit FOX singing competition show. We conclude the episode by gushing over her experiences as a professional comic, reveal what advice she’d give to aspiring comics, and look forward to what she hopes is in store for her comedy future.

“Comedians are people who embarrass themselves in style.” - Adrienne Posey

Check out Janet’s comedy videos on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/user/Jmcnamara123

See Janet’s American Idol audition and find out where and when she’s performing on her website here: https://www.janetmcnamara.com/

*This episode is dedicated to Edward Silvia Sr.*

This is the Father’s Day special of In the Know with Erin Glow. In this themed episode, which celebrates all things dad, “Lunchbox Dad” blogger, Beau Coffron talks about his journey in creating food art for his kids. I also sit down with my brother, Tom, to talk about his fatherhood journey. Father-related fun facts, and song, movie, and TV show suggestions are also featured, as well as a special giveaway.  We then cap it off with a special tribute to my dad, who passed away in June 1995. I hope you all enjoy. Happy Father’s Day, everyone.

“A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.” - Billy Graham

*For more information about Beau, please visit his Lunchbox Dad website: www.lunchboxdad.com

For more information on Erin Glow please visit: www.eringlow.com.

In this episode, I chat with my friend, music recording artist, A-Hi, and producer Bobby California. They’re promoting their new collaborative project, Concord Greens, which comes out on all digital streaming platforms on June 26th. We dig deep into their backgrounds, including what inspired them to start making music, their current takes on the music industry and social media, as well as why they do what they do and why it’s important to always remember, “Dreams don’t have an expiration date.”

Be sure to also listen to a snippet of their upcoming single "When the Week Ends" in the second half of the episode!

"You know very well who you are. Don’t let ‘em hold you down. Reach for the stars. You had a goal, but not that many. ‘Cause you’re the only one, I’ll give you good and plenty.” - “Juicy” by The Notorious B.I.G./“Juicy Fruit” by Mtume

*For more information about A-Hi please visit: @thehavenaut on Twitter & Instagram.

*For more information about Bobby please visit: @eye5productions on Instagram.

*For more information on A-Hi & Bobby’s collaborative project, Concord Greens, please visit: @concord_greens on Instagram.

For more information on Erin Glow please visit: www.eringlow.com.

*This episode is dedicated to Barbara Lee Silvia*

This is the Mother’s Day special of In the Know with Erin Glow. In this themed episode, which celebrates all things mom, “Positive Mom” blogger, Elayna Fernandez talks about her journey as a mom in America. I also sit down with my sisters, Debbie and Dawn, to talk about their motherhood journeys. Mother-related fun facts, and song, movie, and TV show suggestions are also featured, as well as a special giveaway.  We then cap it off with a special tribute to my mom, who passed away in December 2021. I hope you all enjoy. Happy Mother’s Day, everyone.

"There are so many kinds of mother. The mothers you cherish and celebrate. The mothers who were never really there. The mothers who broke you. Who built you. The mothers who cheered you on. Who chipped away at you until you were dust. The mothers who reveled in your astonishing intelligence and grace and power. Who saw only their own light. The mothers who died painfully young. The mothers who lived so long you felt yourself disintegrating with them. Petal by wilted petal. The mothers who shined. Who dimmed. Who did their best. Who disappointed. Who redeemed themselves. Who accepted your redemption. Who zigged and zagged. The mothers who were a beacon. The mothers you never knew. The mothers who sewed themselves into the quilt you became. The mothers who couldn’t bear to tell the truth. The mothers who were brave. The mothers who didn’t know who they were without you. Who never saw you no matter how wildly you waved. The mothers who grieved you. Who believed in you. The mothers you call. The mothers you no longer speak to. The mothers you take for granted. Or treasure. The dead mothers. The mothers you have to search for and carry. The mothers you find in people who are not your mother. The mothers like a limb. The mothers like a mirror. The mothers like a flame. The mothers you wish. The mothers you love. The mothers you ache. The mothers you echo. The mothers you wanted to be. The mothers you became. I am thinking of you. I am holding you all." -Cheryl Strayed

*For more information about Elayna please visit: www.thepositivemom.com

Find out more about Elayna's daughters' book, I Love Me!, at: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Me-Self-Esteem-Seven-Morgan/dp/1630471402

For more information on Erin Glow please visit: www.eringlow.com.