The Bucketwish With ERICKA NICOLE MALONE

In this week’s episode of The Bucket Wish, Erica Nicole Malone sits down with a true "change maker" and culinary rockstar: Tara Punzone, the visionary chef behind the renowned West Hollywood restaurant, Pura Vita Tara shares the deeply personal journey behind her new book, Vegana Italiana. It isn't just a cookbook—it’s a classy, story-filled tribute to her Southern Italian heritage and her Brooklyn roots. Tara discusses how she bridged the gap between her traditional Italian-American upbringing and her vegan lifestyle, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice flavor, family traditions, or your heritage to follow your heart. In this episode, we dive into: The Power of Heritage: How Tara’s grandparents' Brooklyn sandwich shop inspired her commitment to community and feeding the soul. Defying the "No": Tara’s hilarious and empowering story of being told she’d "never be hired" in a Roman kitchen because she was a woman—and how that fueled her fire to build her own empire. The Bucket Wish Philosophy: Why doing "you" and embracing the possibility of failure is the only way to catch the most amazing things in life. Dreams Beyond Borders: Tara reveals her long-held dream of opening a boutique vegan hotel and the importance of staying positive in a heavy world. Join Erica and Tara for an infusion of pure positivity and a reminder that your dreams are worth the "excavation" of your true self. Whether you are a foodie, an aspiring entrepreneur, or someone looking for the courage to start, this conversation will leave you inspired to move forward. --- "If you really feel that passion and you really believe that you want to do something... just do it. Try it. If you fail, you fail. But if you don't try, you could be missing out on one of the most amazing things in life." — Tara Punzone Follow The Bucket Wish: Don't forget to subscribe and join our community as we uncover the impossible together. See you next week!

"I am so excited to have with me some of the most incredible women I have ever met." In this episode of The Bucketwish, Ericka Nicole Malone welcomes two dear friends who have paved impossible paths. First, the visionary Tara Punzone, owner and operator of Pura Vita in West Hollywood—the first 100% vegan Italian restaurant in the country.

Tara shares the heart behind her journey, from her grandfather’s influence to her award-winning cookbook, Vegana Italiana, and how she found the endurance to keep her community fed through the hardest years.

Ericka also sits down with the legendary Deborah Mars, an expert marketer and branding powerhouse who has shaped international icons (including Chester Cheetah) before pivoting into her true passion as a writer and creator.

Deborah shares the powerful "COVID story" that led her to create her Black Santa line—a movement of representation born from a place of deep prayer and personal reboot.

Together, they discuss the "Superwoman" myth and why the most creative thing you can do is finally show up for yourself.

Protecting the Little Girl Inside In this deeply moving episode of The BucketWish Podcast, Erica Nicole Malone sits down with the luminous Deborah, an entrepreneur and creative whose life story is a masterclass in resilience, boundaries, and the pursuit of joy. Deborah opens up about her personal evolution—from the rigid world of corporate suits and "church lady hats" to her current "Bohemian" era of luxury, kimonos, and self-chosen peace.

She shares the poignant story behind her signature red-and-white kimono, a gift to herself that served as a catalyst for moving out of a mindset of lack and into a life of abundance. In this conversation, Erica and Deborah discuss: Honoring "Little Debbie":** Deborah keeps a childhood photo by her bed as a reminder to protect her inner child and trust her intuition. The Weight of Decade: Unpacking 50 years of "invisible" grief through counseling and finding the strength to put down the heavy burdens of the past. The Art of the Pivot: Moving from "hunting and killing" for a living to creating passive income and memorializing a legacy through writing. Guarding Your Peace: The necessity of "putting folks out of the car" and why Deborah no longer tolerates phonies, mean girls, or sarcasm masked as humor. *Finding Stillness: Why the biggest breakthroughs happen in the quiet moments and why you must be careful about who you speak your dreams to. Deborah’s mission is simple yet profound: to sprinkle joy.

This episode is an invitation to get still, get brave, and finally start granting your own wishes. "Once you start adulting, you can't get so serious that you're not protecting the little girl inside. I have a responsibility to protect her."* —

Deborah-Join the Movement: The BucketWish is more than a podcast; it’s a community dedicated to uncovering the impossible. Subscribe and join us each week as we share the stories that help you follow your dreams. Follow us on social media and share your own BucketWish today

What if the path to your biggest dreams starts with a cupcake, a solo dinner, or flowers you sent yourself? In this episode, Ericka gets real about the tiny, overlooked acts of self-love and self-celebration that quietly build the courage to keep going — even on the days you're crawling out of bed.

Ericka  shares why we have to unlearn the "go until the wheels fall off" mindset we inherited, how giving back is woven into her own everyday magic, and why the BucketWish community exists: because none of us were meant to do this alone. If you've been waiting for permission to pat yourself on the back, this is it.

Guest: Satema Nali (Former New England Patriot, Speaker, and Coach) In this moving episode, Erica is joined by Satema Nali, a man who traded the grass of the NFL gridiron for the stage of human potential. Satema opens up about his journey from being "the worst player on the team" to winning a Super Bowl, and the subsequent "wilderness" of the 2008 recession that stripped away his wealth but revealed his true calling.

In this episode, we explore: The Divine Nudge: How to recognize the "whispers" in your spirit that tell you there is more to your life than the status quo. The "Game Changer" Mentality: Defining the courage it takes to break generational curses and pursue a legacy that outlives you. Rising from the Abyss: Satema shares his "humbled heart" moments—from EBT cards to knocking on doors—and how those trials prepared him to lead others.

The Art of Regeneration: Practical wisdom on "sharpening the saw" through meditation, prayer, and knowing when to turn the world off. The Bucket Wish: Satema reveals his three deepest desires, including a touching tribute to his parents' legacy of grit and sacrifice.

Join the Movement Don't let "someday" become code for "never." Whether you are a leader needing a breath of oxygen or a dreamer looking for a sign to start, The Bucket Wish is here to light the way. Listen, subscribe, and remember: Your desires are divine.

"Go out, live your dreams, and do something special just for you. We’ll see you next week." — Erica Nicole Malone

The Bucket Wish began as a documentary. It became a movement. A bucket list is what you want to do before you die. The Bucket Wish is something different — it's what you dare to want right now, while you're still here to live it.

Hosted by writer, playwright, and storyteller Erica Nicole Malone, The Bucket Wish is a weekly podcast for anyone who watched the rug get pulled out from under them and wondered if they'd ever get back up. For the restaurant owner who lost everything. For the actor who stopped working. For anyone who has ever quietly let a dream go. Each week, Erica brings you real stories of people who refused to quit — along with the tools, the community, and the roadmap to help you navigate the doubt, the fear, and the moments when you can barely walk.

This isn't just about inspiration. It's about equipping you to actually make your wishes come true. You are not just one thing. You were built for more.

The Bucket Wish officially launches May 15th. You won't be doing this alone.

In this powerful episode of the BucketWish Podcast, Erica Nicole Malone shares a masterclass in intentional living. Drawing from her high-stakes experience as a filmmaker and researcher—including the nine months of meticulous preparation required to tell the story of the legendary Mahalia Jackson. Erica reveals why your life deserves the same rigor as a hit screenplay.

Are you moving forward with a roadmap, or are you just "doing you" without a destination? Erica breaks down the essential elements of "scripting your life," from drafting your personal beat sheet to auditing the "cast" of characters currently occupying your space. Key Takeaways from This Week’s Episode: The Power of the Script: Why showing up prepared with a plan is the only way to ensure you don't end up in "New York" when your soul is calling you to "Texas." Character Audits: How to identify the "bad actors" and "set fillers" in your life—those who consume your energy and time without moving your story forward.

The Energy Exchange: Why it is not only okay but necessary to expect a return on the love and inspiration you pour into others. Protecting Your Interior: Strategies for dealing with "triggers" and difficult people (the "Google" method) to ensure no one else takes the remote control to your spirit. Horse Blinders & Focus: The importance of maintaining a "storyboard" mindset to remain impenetrable against distractions and stay focused on winning your own race. Your time is your most valuable asset—more precious than a billion dollars.

Join Erica this week to learn how to reinvent yourself and become the person you’ve always dreamed of being. 

You are expensive. You are treasured. You are special. Stop letting people spend your energy without a script."

Visit thebucketwish.com for tools to help you plan your life and follow your dreams. New episodes of the BucketWish Podcast drop every week.

Subscribe and join the movement to uncover the impossible.

Butterfly Girl" — A Conversation with Alexia Faith This week on The BucketWish, Ericka Nicole Malone sits down with someone very close to her heart — her daughter, singer-songwriter Alexia Faith.

Alexia has been quietly ascending for years, and this conversation is your chance to truly meet her. She opens up about the pivotal moment that sparked *Butterfly Girl* — her breakout single with over half a million views worldwide — and what it really means to rescue yourself when the fairy tale doesn't show up on cue. She talks about growing up feeling different, learning to fly away from the towns and the people who wanted to keep her small, and why softness in a Black woman is not a weakness. It is, in fact, the whole point.

They also get into her brand new single *Incognito* — what it means to disappear on your own terms, let people lose access to you, and come back exactly when you're ready.

This one is equal parts inspiration and joy. Because if you know Ericka and Alexia together, you already know — the laughs are coming too.

Come with us. Your dreams are worth fighting for — not for the accolades, but because you love them.

🎧 New episodes every Monday  Subscribe so you never miss a moment.

I want to tell you about a memory from my childhood — laying out in the sun with my friends, not one of us thinking about who was white, who was Black, who was Latina. Just kids. Just happy to be together. That kind of innocence stays with you.

This week on The Bucketwish, I'm holding that memory up against the world we're living in right now — full of pain, full of chaos — and if you're an empath like me, it can feel like too much to hold. But I believe that when voices come together, there is change. When we choose love over fear, there is healing. I'm sharing something personal this episode — about growing up, about the moments in history we thought we'd never live through again, and the quiet courage it takes to keep showing up for each other anyway.

Because here's what I know — your dreams still matter in the middle of all of this. They matter *because* of all of this. The world needs you whole. The world needs you living, not just surviving.

That's what The Bucketwish was built for. To remind you that your dreams are worth chasing, that you don't have to do it alone, and that the life you're imagining for yourself is possible — even now, especially now. We are all our brother's keeper, and part of keeping each other is giving each other permission to rise. Come sit with me. Let's find the light together — and let's go after everything we were meant to be.

"We are everyone else’s number one cheerleader, but sometimes we aren’t the number one cheerleader for ourselves." In this soul-stirring episode, Erica Nicole Malone invites you to redefine what it means to live in excellence. Moving beyond the "hustle," Erica explores excellence as an act of integrity, character, and self-love. From the surprising lesson she learned from her handyman, Jose, to the "Broadway standard" she set for her cast at age seventeen, Erica illustrates how excellence isn’t about impressing "important" people—it’s about how you show up when no one is looking. In this episode, we discuss: The Excellence of You: Why treating yourself to a nice lunch and a moment of reflection is a high-level act of character. The "Hazmat" Standard: How true integrity means protecting and providing the best experience for others, just like a job well done. The Equalizer: Why money and status don't change your value, and why we owe the same excellence to the person cleaning the stalls as we do to a CEO. Filling Your Cup: Recognizing when you are "depleting out" and how to refuel so you can continue to be there for your family and your dreams. Are you moving, or are you growing? It’s time to stop the "quagmire of movement" and start moving in excellence.