On The Record With Sarina Fazan

The things you like, or find funny for that matter, truly reflect your personality and values. That is what inspired Joey Lundahl and Statler Gause to create “The Meme App,” that was designed to put a much more personable spin on the traditional dating app lineup.  

As men in their 30s, these eligible bachelors are searching to date with intent, and Jonathan Perrone, friend of the Meme App creators, makes this very clear! In this episode, we cover everything from the “7 styles of humor,” to baby fever... and yes, men get baby fever too! 

Join us as we hear all about the app that builds connections based off of humor, and see how these three men are navigating modern-day dating while taking superficiality out of the equation.  

“The YMCA is for everybody- it has grown to be an organization that can touch every life” 

This On the Record features Matt Mitchell, CEO and President of the Metro Tampa YMCA, and Dawn Kita, Director of Community Health. Together, they share the history of the YMCA and how it has shaped the lives and character of each community it’s present in. Matt never expected the YMCA to become a career for him, and since the 5 years he’s been here, he has watched the YMCA become an indispensable part of Tampa Bay. With programs such as LiveStrong, senior-living activities, youth development, and services geared towards mental health, healthcare, and food security, Matt and Dawn describe how the YMCA is much more than just a place to “Get fit.”  

“No matter who you are, what you are, how you worship, how you love, the YMCA is a place you can connect with people- it’s for everybody.” 

How lucky were we to have former St. Petersburg Mayor, Rick Kriseman and his gorgeous, talented wife, Kerry, in the studio for Love in America? Sarina has been dying to know their love story... and what perfect timing for them to share it with us following their 30th wedding anniversary? 

 
Rick and Kerry discuss their personal journey on building a family with faith as the foundation, while sharing their experience of intersecting the Jewish and Catholic religion in the upbringing of the children. The two lovebirds express the importance of “finding similarities and respecting differences” as the key to a successful relationship.  

When a first date watching Silence of the Lambs turns into a one-of-a-kind romance... you know these two share a real kind of love! You absolutely have to tune into this episode to hear the perspectives from this role-model couple.  

When Jen Bingham and her husband moved to Tampa Bay from Chicago, they quickly realized the wine culture wasn’t quite the same. Not long after their realization, they were inspired to contribute to the Bay Area by sharing the importance and value of a quality bottle of wine. That’s when Cru Cellars was born in 2010. 

Pour a glass with Sarina for this On the Record, as we learn about the history behind some of the finest wines and the development of Cru Cellars. The Owner, Jen, and Director of Cru Cellars, Julian Mayor, join me in an “early happy hour” while pouring me a variety of samples of their unique-quality wines and sharing the facts behind their origins.  

"There is no other beverage on earth that is meant to be shared than wine...you pop open a bottle and want people to join you.” 

“The fairway hasn’t always been fair to us!” 

 “Tee off” your evening with Sarina and tune in to this fun episode of “On the Record,” as Sarina speaks to Clemmie Perry and Vasti Amaro of Women of Color Golf! 

 Out of the 25 million people who play golf, less than 1% are women of color. Clemmie, Founder and Creative Director, and Vasti, Director of Strategic Partnerships share the path that led them to the game they love so much.  

The WOCG was created to promote diversity in the game of golf and encourages accessibility for everyone, all while shining a light on minority representation. These two women dedicate their lives to continue conveying this message, all while hitting some hole in ones together as great friends.  

“The dating world is very different in this age...tolerance for certain things is skewed and it’s hard to meet in the middle while aligning with someone else.” 

 In this Dating in America, Sarina sits down with Tammy Bove, Leslie Palmer, and Scott Schoonmaker to discuss both the struggles and advantages of dating in their 40s and 50s. From outlooks on dating someone with children, to opinions on whether to keep their own children separate from the exploration of new relationships, these three singles guide a thoughtful and contrasting conversation that encourages viewers to assess their own perspectives. 

Regardless of the niche preferences, all three of these guests bring a positive light to the dating world, as they express how important it is to prioritize the things they love first while filling their own cup before pouring into someone else’s. We can’t wait for you to tune in! 

“We don’t research this topic until we have to.” 

This On the Record highlights two very special people who dedicate their lives to making the lives of others easier. Traci Lamb, CEO of Smart Caregiving, and Kevin MacRitchie, COO of Tactical Rehabilitation, join Sarina to discuss their passion for serving those that may lack the resources in order to get through a crisis or the hardships of everyday situations. 

 With first-hand experience with her own parents, Traci knew how much of a burden it was to take care of her loved ones as they aged, which inspired her to create Smart Caregiving, that provides answers, services, and support to people in similar overwhelming situations.  

Kevin, on the other hand, works to better the health and well-being of military personnel, while also serving as an Active-Duty Law Enforcement Officer. Together, he and Traci bring their teams together to help each other reach out to populations who are seeking help. 

Do you believe in “the one” even if it seems like an obstacle to find them? 

Emily Christian and Mendy Jones sure do. Join me for another episode of Dating in America as I speak to two beautiful and insightful women and get the scoop they have on dating around Tampa Bay! Dating dynamics have their differences when it comes to different age ranges, yet the challenges tend to remain the same. Why aren’t people showing their true selves on dating apps? What does it take for someone to simply follow-up on a conversation? 

Luckily, you can’t have these “single and successful” women fooled! Emily and Mendy are true catches and I learned so much from the perspectives of these two beauties. Be sure to tune in and also be sure to check out Mendy’s paddle boarding group that has over 5K members! Find the Facebook page searching “Pinellas Paddlers!” 

“It all started with a routine eye exam.” 

Only six in one-million people are diagnosed with Ocular Melanoma, known as an “orphan cancer” due to the rarity of the disease and the lack of pharmaceuticals behind it. On this On the Record, Sarina speaks with Linda O’brien, a first-hand victim of this cancer and Bernadette Boyle, who tragically lost her husband shortly after a diagnosis. Both of these women have courageously come together to form The “Your Next Step is the Cure” 5k run that raises funds to expand the research behind this rare disease that silently affects its victims. 

This year, the run is being held on November 19th in Lithia, Florida. After hosting their first 5k in 2017, the run has now grown to a much bigger event that features raffle items and a variety of vendors. After raising over 21 thousand dollars in 2021, Bernadette and Linda hope to surpass that number with their event this year.  

“All the single ladies, now put your hands up!” 

This edition of Dating in America had our production team in the control room falling out of their chairs! It was so much fun and hilarious to interview two Tampa girls in their mid-twenties, Kasey Wishart and Kellie O’Connell.  

With Kasey “petrified” of dating apps, and criminal defense attorney, Kellie, who is just hoping to find a man with no criminal record, these two young ladies give it to us straight when it comes to the struggles of modern-day dating. 

This episode takes every route, from exposing guys for lying about their height, to the dread of receiving “unsolicited pictures...” But don’t worry, there are no names exposed for the “sake of integrity” around here!