Constantine Maroulis is a Tony Nominated Actor (Rock of Ages) who rose to stardom as the 6th place finalist on the 4th season of American Idol and has maintained a diverse and successful career ever since. He is a true hustler, a true Greek Idol, and a truly dedicated father to his beautiful daughter Malena.  We talked about everything from how he knew Carrie Underwood was going to win, to what it was like to originate a role on Broadway, all the way to the time he and I were in Jesus Christ Superstar together and half the cast quit in the middle of the run. We had fun. 

Check out all things Constantine, including upcoming gigs like the one tonight (9/23/19) at Birdland in NYC,  at www.constatinemaroulis.com  and/or follow him on all of the social media things. 

Don’t forget to check out our sponsor at store.bariatricpal.com and get some snacks!!  

The Codes: 

Lighterside15 – 15% off your first order

Lighterside20 – 20% off all BariatricPal branded items

LightersideBox – 50% off your first subscription snack box

Music by www.rememberjones.com and www.constantinemaroulis.com 

When Stephanie Wittels Wachs wrote a memoir about the years before and after her brother Harris’s death, she couldn’t have possibly known the profound effect she would have on me. When I listened to the audiobook, I couldn’t have possibly known she would agree to sit down and speak with me about the book, her brother, her new podcast (Last Day), and all manner of other topics ranging from taking naps in cars to why Stranger Things will never jump the shark. 

Stephanie is a mother of two, a talented writer and speaker, and a genuinely delightful human. I loved every minute of our conversation. 

Harris Wittels was a comic and writer on The Sarah Silverman Program, Parks and Recreation, and Master of None. He died of a heroin overdose in 2015, after several stays in 30 day rehab facilities. Stephanie has made it her mission to keep his legacy alive, and the work she is doing to dig deeply into the opioid crisis through her show Last Day is eye opening, devastating, and necessary. Subscribe now and be ready for the first episode to drop on 9/25. The final trailer for the show is available now. 

Don’t forget to check out our sponsor, Bariatric Pal. They have more snacks than you can shake a protein bar at. Use the code LighterSide15 for 15% off your first order. 

Music by Remember Jones and Val Emmich

If you love the show, please drop a review!! 

Jessica Cordova Kramer is the co-founder, CEO, and Executive Producer of Lemonada Media, a podcast network she formed with Stephanie Wittels Wachs in order to share the unfiltered version of the human experience. She is also Executive Producer of Pod Save the People, one of the most cutting-edge sources for news, culture, and social justice in existence. She's also a super-cool mother of two who has been through some sh*t and come out the other side ready to take on the world. 

We talked about how she accidentally became a podcast producer while cleaning her house, how losing her brother to an accidental overdose has re-shaped her world, and how Lemonada Media hopes to change the world one podcast at a time.

Head over to Lemonada and subscribe to all of their shows, including Last Day, an exploration of the opioid crisis, hosted by Stephanie Wittels Wachs, who will be my guest on next week's show.

Bariatric Pal is the best sponsor in the world!! Head on over there to get you some snacks. Use the code "LighterSideBox" for 50% off of your first subscription box order. 

Music by Remember Jones and Val Emmich

Emily Martens is one half of the Mom's Spaghetti Podcast, and one whole groovy lady. She has shockingly red hair and the kind of fiery wit that keeps me on my toes. She lost 135 lbs after having gastric sleeve surgery, and opened up to me about what it feels like put a teensy weensy bit of that weight back on. We waxed philosophical about the world's best candy bar, the anxiety you feel when there isn't enough food at the party, and what it's like to be a divorced mother of two.

The Mom's Spaghetti Podcast is part of the Bariatric Pal Family! Head on over there to get you some snacks. Use the code "LighterSideBox" for 50% off of your first subscription box order.

Also head over to my friends at Lemonada Media and subscribe to all of their podcasts, including Last Day, an exploration of the opioid crisis as hosted by Stephanie Wittels Wachs.

Music provided by Val Emmich and Remember Jones 

Like what you hear? Please leave a review!

It's my birthday!! Join me as I celebrate by having my best friend and hetero life mate Michael Buckley ask me questions HE doesn't know the answers to!

Special guest appearances by friends, family, listeners, followers, and maybe a celebrity or two*

As a special Birthday Bonus, listeners can receive 50% OFF AN ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAM  at www.fitasbuck.com with the code "LighterSide"

Don't forget to stop by Bariatric Pal and use code "lighterside50" for 50% off your first subscription box!

Also don't forget to get over to Lemonada Media and subscribe to all of their upcoming podcasts, including "Last Day", an exploration of the Opiod Crisis as narrated by Stephanie Wittels Wachs. 

*I said maybe.

Kelley Gunter's book "You Have Such A Pretty Face" tells the story of a woman who lost 240 lbs,  and then lost everything. Kelley and I talked about what happens when you are not psychologically ready for such a massive life change, and how the true work begins when you face your inner demons.

We laughed too. I promise.

Trigger Warning: Sexual Abuse.

Get Kelley's book at youhavesuchaprettyface.com
Check Kelley out on instagram at instagram.com/gunterkelley

Go to Lemonadamedia.com to subscribe to Last Day, an upcoming podcast exploring the opioid epidemic in America, hosted by author Stephanie Wittels Wachs.

Be sure to visit bariatricpal.com to get some delicious snacks!  Use code "LighterSideBox" for 50% off your first subscription box. 

Martha Duke is the founder and CEO of Recover Out Loud LLC, a company focused on the de-stigmatization of addiction. She is a sober mother of two who has been been through extreme emotional and physical abuses, but come out the other side in true phoenix fashion.

She can be found brightening the days of all of her followers on instagram right here. She brightened mine as we discussed alcoholism, recovery, burrata, and Dan Akroyd's dramatic work.

This and every episode is brought to you by Bariatric Pal , the BEST site for snacks and supplies for a healthy lifestyle. 

Use code Lighterside15 for 15% off your first order
Use code Lighterside20 for 20% off all Bariatric Pal Branded Products
Use code LightersideBox for 50% off your first subscription box. 

Wendy Adamson's memoir, Mother Load, opens with her shooting her husband's mistress in the arm in a meth-addled craze. It ends with her being 25 years sober,  a counselor, a motivational speaker, an entrepreneur, an author and a philanthropist, helping her son to operate Hav a Sole, whose mission is "to provide the homeless and at risk youth population with quality footwear to encourage healthier lifestyles and prevent disease, while fostering a sense of community along the way"

Wendy is using her gifts to help others. She is the best kind of person, and was a delight to speak with.

Get the book!

Visit our sponsor, Bariatric Pal, to get a full year's supply of Bariatric Vitamins for only $99.99 

Jenny Bee, my sometimes co-host but always boo, returns and we talk about everything from life a year after weight loss surgery to Michael Jackson to staying out of reproductive organs that don't belong to you.

Don't forget to visit my sponsor, Bariatric Pal, to pick up some of the deliciousness Jenny and I discuss on this episode.

LighterSideBox- 50% off of your FIRST Subscription Box.
https://store.bariatricpal.com/…/bariatricpal-box-of-the-mo…

LighterSide20- 20% off of BariatricPal BRANDED products. (the ones with "Bariatric Pal" on the box) https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/bariatricpal

Lighterside15- 15% off of your first order, includes all products and subscription box.

Jonathan Giordano, aka Mudhustler, returns to the Lighter Side to talk about his mental health, his weight loss journey, and, of course, his balls.  His Bird Balls.Learn how to make them, the Big Ass Waffle, and all his other insanely delicious recipes at themudhustler.com

Remember to Check out our sponsor, Bariatric Pal for all of your high protein/low carb snacking needs. 

Promos:
Lightersidebox - 50% off your first Subscription Box

Lighterside20 - 20% off all BariatricPal branded items. 

Lighterside15 - 15% off your first order