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“I really wanted to reach the parents who might be crying in their kitchen and feeling alone—to let them know they’re not alone in those feelings.” – Jennifer Celeste Briggs
In this moving episode, Jennifer Celeste Briggs opens up about her powerful memoir Watching Sarah Rise, the story of raising her daughter Sarah, who faced developmental challenges from birth. With honesty, warmth, and resilience, Jennifer shares how she turned overwhelming fear into focused action—building a Sunrise program at home and documenting every step in a series of letters that became the foundation for her book. Tune in to hear how one mom rewrote the rules of parenting, self-compassion, and advocacy.
Key Themes:
Buy Watching Sarah Rise
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cXhes4
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781647428242
Connect with Jennifer
Website: https://www.watchingsarahrise.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenniferbriggsauthor/
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
#WatchingSarahRise #ParentingSpecialNeeds #SunriseProgram #MemoirWriting #AutismAwareness #MomLife #UncorkingAStory #JenniferCelesteBriggs #Neurodiversity #EmpathyInParenting
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“All love is risky. People die, they leave, they don’t listen to you—but you love them anyway.” — Virginia DeLuca
When Virginia DeLuca’s husband unexpectedly walked out on their marriage in his 60s—claiming he wanted children—her gut reaction wasn’t just heartbreak. It was: If you must go, I wish you triplets. That quip became the title of her deeply honest and darkly humorous memoir. In this episode of Uncorking a Story, Virginia joins Mike Carlon to talk about grief, personal reinvention, writing as therapy, and why putting your story out into the world is an act of both courage and compassion.
Key Themes:
Writing is healing – Virginia began writing her memoir the moment her husband walked out, using it to make sense of her emotional shock.
You can’t control others—only your reaction – A central theme in Virginia’s journey is the power of choosing your response when life veers off script.
Grief is a lifelong relationship – Whether it’s a sibling lost decades ago or a recent heartbreak, grief evolves with us and often deepens our compassion.
Snark can be survival – The title of her book, while cheeky, came from a place of real pain—and became a tool for reclaiming her story.
Memoir is exposure – Writing a memoir is an act of radical vulnerability, especially for someone who identifies as private, not performative.
Publishing is a rollercoaster – Virginia shares her path from agent rejections to finding a supportive home at a student-run university press.
Not everyone understands your pain—but that’s okay – From parenting to heartbreak, sometimes the only validation you need is your own.
Buy If You Must Go, I Wish You Triplets
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4jSfaUv
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781627205542
Connect with Virginia
Website: https://www.virginiadeluca.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/virginiadelucaauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virginia.deluca.author/
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
#MemoirMonday #WritingAsTherapy #TripletDad #GriefJourney #AuthorInterview #WomenWriters #IfYouMustGo #UncorkingAStory #VirginiaDeLuca #CreativeHealing
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“We spend so much of our life trying to put the pieces back in the dollhouse… the furniture changes, the people change.” — Beverly Jean Armento
In this emotional episode of Uncorking a Story, Michael Carlon sits down with author and educator Beverly Jean Armento to discuss her powerful memoir, Seeing Eye Girl. Beverly reflects on a childhood marked by violence, secrecy, and trauma—and how the love of teachers, a resilient spirit, and the act of writing helped her reclaim her story. Now in her 80s and still writing, Beverly proves it’s never too late to transform pain into purpose.
Key Themes:
Buy Seeing Eye Girl
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Yexgrg
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781647423919
Connect with Beverly
Website: www.beverlyarmentoauthor.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beverlyarmento8430
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
#UncorkingAStory #MemoirMonday #TraumaRecovery #AuthorInterview #ChildhoodResilience #BeverlyArmento #SeeingEyeGirl #ForgivenessJourney #WritersOfInstagram #BookPodcast
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
“I’ve always believed that within the realm of what’s possible, I can do it—and fiction was just another challenge to embrace.” — Iris Mitlin Lav
In this episode of Uncorking a Story, Michael Carlon uncorks the remarkable second act of Iris Mitlin Lav, a seasoned public policy expert who turned to fiction writing after retirement. Iris shares how her real-life experiences and family history shaped her second novel, Gittel’s Freedom, a moving portrayal of three generations of immigrant women navigating identity, hardship, and hope. She opens up about the steep learning curve of fiction, the importance of editing, and the confidence it takes to pursue creativity at any age.
Key Themes:
Buy Gitel’s Freedom
Amazon: https://amzn.to/42x5TLu
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781647428587
Connect with Iris
Website: https://irismitlinlav.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067865341751#
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
“My dad looked at me [from his deathbed] and said, ‘It just went so fast.’ I asked what did, and he said, ‘Life.’ That moment changed everything—I knew I had to write the book.” — Jennifer Griffith
On this special Mother’s Day episode of Uncorking a Story, I sit down with Jennifer Griffith—host of About Your Mother and author of Both Sides of Then—to talk about motherhood, grief, generational trauma, and the stories that define us. Inspired by a powerful moment with her father just before he passed, Jennifer shares how her memoir became a way to heal, understand, and ultimately honor her family’s complicated legacy. Whether you’re a mom, missing a mom, or just reflecting on your own family story today, this episode is for you.
Buy Both Sides of Then
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4m1nF1j
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798888455142
Connect with Jennifer
Website: https://byjennifergriffith.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byjennifergriffith
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byjennifergriffith/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/byjennifergriffith/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ByJenniferGriffith
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
#MothersDay #UncorkingAStory #JenniferGriffiths #BothSidesOfThen #MemoirWriting #FamilySecrets #MotherhoodMatters #GriefToGrowth #AdoptionStories #WriteYourTruth #AboutYourMother
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
“Your marriage can be anything you want it to be—you don’t have to just follow a supplied script.” — Wayne Scott
In this deeply honest and thought-provoking episode of Uncorking a Story, writer and psychotherapist Wayne Scott opens up about the emotional terrain behind his memoir The Maps They Gave Us. We dive into his decades-long marriage, navigating a mixed-orientation relationship, and redefining monogamy. With vulnerability, humor, and insight, Wayne shares how creative adaptation—not rigid roles—can help relationships thrive. Plus, we talk writing, rejection, and why the maps we’re handed may be out of date.
Key Themes:
Buy: The Maps they Gave Us
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4bMkcis
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781625571540
Connect with Wayne
Website: https://www.waynescottwrites.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waynejosephscott/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wayne.scott.359
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
#WayneScott #TheMapsTheyGaveUs #MemoirWriting #NonMonogamy #LGBTQStories #MixedOrientationMarriage #TherapistAuthor #UncorkingAStory #RelationshipRealTalk
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
“I learned that I’m dogged… I didn’t abandon it, and that became very important—not giving up.” — Janet Constantino
In this soulful and insightful episode of Uncorking a Story, psychotherapist-turned-novelist Janet Constantino shares the winding journey that led to her debut novel Becoming Mariella. A former competitive Latin ballroom dancer with Sicilian roots and a love of jazz, Janet brings decades of life experience to her writing. She opens up about the long road to publication, her deep connection to family history, and how writing helps us make sense of where we come from—and where we’re going.
Key Themes:
Balancing a career in psychotherapy with a lifelong passion for writing
The story behind Becoming Mariella and its Sicilian inspiration
Lessons in rejection, resilience, and rewriting
Why some novels live in the drawer—and why that’s okay
Writing authentic, emotionally rich characters from family roots
Choosing 2000 as a setting to avoid the social media minefield
How personal curiosity fuels both therapy and storytelling
Buy: Becoming Mariella
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4hsYHV1
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781647427689
Connect with Janet
Website: https://www.janetconstantino.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janetconstantino2/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561036835050
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
#JanetConstantino #BecomingMariella #DebutNovel #WritersJourney #ResilientWriters #ItalianAmericanStories #PsychotherapistAuthor #HistoricalRoots #UncorkingAStory
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
“The whole idea of historical fiction is to fill in the gaps in the emotional feeling of the participants in the crisis.” — Barbara Southard
In this episode of Uncorking a Story, historian and debut novelist Barbara Southard shares the emotional and intellectual journey behind her novel Unruly Human Hearts. Drawing from her academic roots and a deep fascination with 19th-century America, Barbara reimagines the infamous Beecher-Tilton adultery trial through the eyes of Elizabeth Tilton, the woman at the heart of the scandal. We explore gender dynamics, moral codes, and the role of historical fiction in giving voice to those left out of traditional narratives.
Key Themes:
Buy: Unruly Human Hearts:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4bK1Ajb
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781647428303
Connect with Barbara
Website: https://www.barbarasouthard.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbara.southard45/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraSouthardAuthor
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
#BarbaraSouthard #UnrulyHumanHearts #HistoricalFiction #VictorianScandal #WomenInHistory #DebutAuthor #BeecherTilton #FictionWithFeeling #UncorkingAStory
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
“We’ve got to start thinking of ourselves as the Earthling tribe.” — Dr. Peter Solomon
In this eye-opening episode of Uncorking a Story, scientist and author Dr. Peter Solomon shares how his passion for physics, sparked in a college classroom, led to a lifelong mission to communicate science through storytelling. We explore his Stardust Mystery project and dive into his upcoming novel 100 Years to Extinction, inspired by Stephen Hawking’s chilling prediction about humanity’s future. From DNA and AI to interstellar travel and misinformation, Dr. Solomon challenges us to think big, act fast, and imagine a world where science and society evolve together.
Key Themes:
Connect with Peter
Website: https://www.100yearstoextinction.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/100yearstoextinction/
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
#PeterSolomon #100YearsToExtinction #StardustMystery #SciComm #ClimateFiction #ScienceAndSociety #AIethics #GenZActivism #UncorkingAStory #SavetheEarth
#SavethePlanet
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
“Don’t be your own no—if the answer is no, let someone else say it. Don’t take yourself out of the race because of your own insecurities.” – Joanne Howard
In this episode of Uncorking a Story, we sit down with debut novelist Joanne Howard, author of Sleeping in the Sun, a historical fiction novel inspired by her grandfather’s childhood in India at the end of British rule. Joanne shares her journey from copywriter to published author, the emotional and creative process of writing her first novel, and how a pandemic pup named Kash became part of her storytelling. With humility, humor, and insight, Joanne offers writers at every stage the kind of inspiration that sticks.
Key Themes:
Buy Sleeping in the Sun
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3DvSOZt
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781647427986
Connect with Joanne
Website: https://www.joannehowardwrites.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093201296124
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joannesbooks
Connect with Mike
Website: https://uncorkingastory.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSvS4fuG3L1JMZeOyHvfk_g
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncorkingastory/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@uncorkingastory
Twitter: https://twitter.com/uncorkingastory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncorkingastory
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/uncorking-a-story/
If you like this episode, please share it with a friend. If you have not done so already, please rate and review Uncorking a Story on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
#JoanneHoward #SleepingInTheSun #HistoricalFiction #DebutAuthor #WritersLife #MFAWriting #HybridPublishing #AuthorInterview #UncorkingAStory
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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