The Bucketwish With ERICKA NICOLE MALONE

Ericka Nicole Malone
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

Welcome to the Bucketwish Podcast I am your host Ericka Nicole Malone! Is there a dream sitting on your bucket list that you're just waiting to check off? Then you are in the right place! The BucketWish Podcast is your weekly dose of inspiration and action. We’ll dive into my journey, share incredible stories from special guests who are walking proof that it can be done, and give you the real tools to make your bucket wishes come true. This isn't just theory; this is about moving from wishful thinking to truly living. Let's make it happen!

  1. Sep 17

    Wisdom With Ericka Nicole Malone and Valerie Nero

    In this moving episode of *The Bucket Wish*, host Ericka Nicole Malone sits down with minister, entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker **Valerie Nero**—niece of the iconic gospel legend and civil rights figure Mahalia Jackson. What began as a documentary has turned into a movement to help you uncover parts of yourself you never knew existed. In this conversation, Ericka and Valerie explore what it was truly like behind the scenes with "Aunt Mahalia"—from childhood memories of playing in her closet and getting Shirley Temple curls, to watching a cultural giant navigate church, business, and her historic connection to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Valerie opens up about carrying her family’s legacy, navigating deep personal grief and loss, finding strength through prayer and community, and launching her own mission to pass down "front porch wisdom" to the next generation through her upcoming podcast, *Auntie's Winning Wisdom*. Tune in for an inspiring, soul-stirring conversation about resilience, discernment, and honoring the strength of the women who came before us. --- **In This Episode, You’ll Hear:** * **Life with a Legend:** Intimate childhood memories of Mahalia Jackson at home—her love for children, her hair styling, her famous wig collection, and her apartment on Chicago's Michigan Avenue. * **Business & Discernment:** The vital life lessons Mahalia passed down about protecting your business, staying mindful of people's motives, and remaining humble. * **A Historical Moment:** The story behind Mahalia’s connection to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and her vocal encouragement during the March on Washington. * **Overcoming Life's Darkest Valleys:** How Valerie leaned on faith, family DNA, and prayer to navigate the loss of her brother, family strain, and the isolation of the COVID pandemic. * **Passing the Torch:** Valerie’s passion for uplifting young women through community, mentorship, and "front porch" wisdom.

    Wisdom With Ericka Nicole Malone and Valerie Nero

  2. Sep 9

    Pt 2 Tara Punzone and Deborah Mars

    This week on Bucketwish, host Ericka Nicole Malone continues her conversation with Tara Punzone, owner of a vegan Italian restaurant born out of the pandemic and a lifetime of conviction, and Debra Mars, whose corporate career and entrepreneurial reinvention took a very different path. Punzone opens up about growing up vegan out of love for animals long before it was a trend, and how simple, honest ingredients — just flour and water — became the foundation of a restaurant that keeps every promise of real Italian comfort food. Mars shares how a mentor pushed her into a business career in a field where she rarely saw herself represented, and how decades in corporate America eventually led her toward an unexpected new venture and product line she never could have prayed for. Together, the two guests dig into what it means to build a life around self-worth instead of self-neglect, why understanding your purpose — not just your gifts — changes everything, and how forgiveness, quiet moments, and music keep them grounded. The episode closes with a deeply personal reflection: what would each of them say to God about the life they've lived? Equal parts joyful, funny, and moving, this episode is a reminder that reinvention is always possible, dreams don't come with expiration dates, and sometimes the wildest wishes are the ones that quietly come true.

    Pt 2 Tara Punzone and Deborah Mars

  3. Sep 2

    Chatting with Tara Punzone and Deborah Mars

    "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.

    Chatting with Tara Punzone and Deborah Mars

  4. Aug 18

    Tradition, Tenacity & Plant-Based Italian with Chef Tara Punzone

    Welcome to The Bucket Wish, where we turn bold dreams into reality. This week, Ericka Nicole Malone sits down with the visionary behind LA’s Pura Vita, Chef Tara Punzone, to celebrate the release of her new book, Vegana Italiana. From being told she’d never make it in traditional kitchens to creating a plant-based dining staple, Tara opens up about: Creating traditional Italian classics without meat or dairy. The lessons of love and hospitality were learned in her grandparents’ Brooklyn shop. Why hearing "you can't do that" became her biggest superpower. The dream of building an eco-conscious retreat. Tune in for an honest conversation about courage, heritage, and staying true to your vision no matter the odds. Subscribe & follow along every week as we uncover the impossible—together.

    Tradition, Tenacity & Plant-Based Italian with Chef Tara Punzone

  5. Aug 11

    Why making yourself a priority is important

    "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.

    Why making yourself a priority is important

  6. Aug 5

    Butterfly Girl Alexia Faith

    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.

    Butterfly Girl Alexia Faith

  7. Jul 30

    Summer Of Serenity Imagining

    This week, in place of our usual episode, we're giving you something from inside Summer of Serenity: a full guided meditation from the course, free. Ten minutes to quiet the noise. Close your eyes, breathe, and let the mental chatter settle — no experience needed. This is a real piece of the four-week program, yours to keep and return to whenever the week gets loud. If it lands, the full Summer of Serenity is open now → https://www.thebucketwish.com Hosted by Ericka Nicole Malone.

    Summer Of Serenity Imagining

  8. Jul 21

    Comparison is Costing You (And How to Reclaim Your Story)

    None of us have it together. We're all trying to get to the same place, and nobody is above anybody else." In this powerful episode of *The Bucket Wish*, host Ericka Nicole Malone drops a heavy dose of truth: comparison is costing you your confidence, your peace, and your path. In a world dominated by social media algorithms and hyper-curated lifestyles, it is dangerously easy to feel like you're falling behind. But the truth? You are trying to keep up with a rhythm you weren't meant to follow. Ericka opens up about her own journey—from growing up in a performing arts high school surrounded by trends, to watching her brother unapologetically stand out in a suit every day, to the tough-love moment her mother dropped her off at a library for nine hours, forcing her to write her very first play through the weight of depression. This episode is a masterclass in breaking free from the "template," identifying your own unique blueprint, and realizing that being different isn't just okay—it is your superpower.   Inside the Episode: The High Cost of the Scroll: Why social media creates a production of perfection, and how to stop measuring your real life against someone else's highlight reel. Lessons from the Deep End: Erica shares moving stories of family, sacrifice, and how her parents' belief pushed her to become one of the youngest playwrights to take a show on tour at just 19 years old. Envy as a Red Flag: How feeling jealous of someone else's vacation or home isn't actually about them—it’s a diagnostic tool telling you exactly what *you* want to change in your own life. The Power of Expansion: Why writing down your goals, leaning on ride-or-die accountability partners, and speaking your fears out loud can manifest the exact life you desire. "You are purposed by design. There is something special that you're supposed to do, and nobody else is going to do it like you. So get on up from that corner."This Week’s Challenge: The Unplug & List Ericka challenges *The Bucket Wish* community to step away from the herd this week: 1. Turn off social media to stop the noise and comparison. 2. Take a beat and make a list of the specific things you want to change, grow, or improve in your life—no matter how small. 3. Look at it every day. Write it down, hold yourself accountable, and let it expand.   Connect with The Bucket Wish: Join the movement, share your dreams, and tune in every week as we uncover the impossible, together. Go out, live your dreams, and do something special just for you!

    Comparison is Costing You (And How to Reclaim Your Story)
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Bucketwish Podcast I am your host Ericka Nicole Malone! Is there a dream sitting on your bucket list that you're just waiting to check off? Then you are in the right place! The BucketWish Podcast is your weekly dose of inspiration and action. We’ll dive into my journey, share incredible stories from special guests who are walking proof that it can be done, and give you the real tools to make your bucket wishes come true. This isn't just theory; this is about moving from wishful thinking to truly living. Let's make it happen!

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