310 episodes

Listen in to Uncorking a Story, where we pop the cork on hidden narratives and delve deep into the brilliant minds of your favorite authors. Get ready to unlock the magic behind your favorite books, one unforgettable story at a time. Hit that subscribe button and never miss a sip of inspiration!

Uncorking a Story Michael Carlon

    • Arts
    • 4.9 • 46 Ratings

Listen in to Uncorking a Story, where we pop the cork on hidden narratives and delve deep into the brilliant minds of your favorite authors. Get ready to unlock the magic behind your favorite books, one unforgettable story at a time. Hit that subscribe button and never miss a sip of inspiration!

    Finding Sunlight, with Chrissy Holm

    Finding Sunlight, with Chrissy Holm

    Chrissy Holm is a writer, editor, and project manager and is the host of the podcast Stirred By Words, where she talks about words, writing, and wellness. Her writing has been featured on Everyday Health, National Council on Aging, Gizmodo, Lifehacker, and more. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her latest book Finding Sunlight: A Coming-of-Age Memoir about Love within the Wreckage of Purity Culture.

    Key Takeaways


    How her book began as a way to work through her parents divorce but ended up being about so much more.

    Her experience with purity culture and what it took to move beyond confusion and shame into a place of greater clarity.

    How embracing her bisexuality helped her find her individuality and learn what love means to her.

    Her advice for teens (and adults) who may be struggling to find their true selves amidst restrictive church teachings.


    Buy Finding Sunlight: A Coming-of-Age Memoir about Love within the Wreckage of Purity Culture
    Amazon: https://amzn.to/46kh3ly
    Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781634896498


    Connect with Chrissy
    Website: https://www.chrissyholm.com/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrissyholm_
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chrissyholm_
    Instagram: https://twitter.com/chrissyholm_
    LinknedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissyholm-/


    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.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 39 min
    Taking a Stand, with Robert W. Norris

    Taking a Stand, with Robert W. Norris

    Robert W. Norris was born and raised in Humboldt County, California, where he played basketball in high school and junior college. In 1969, he entered the Air Force but subsequently became a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War and served time in a military prison for refusing to fight. He joined me on Uncorking a Story to discuss his latest book, "The Good Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise: Pentimento Memories of Mom and Me," an autobiography and tribute to his mother.

    Key Takeaways


    The power of language and careful communication: Robert's specific choice of words during his court-martial may have saved him from a harsher sentence.

    Experiences within the military justice system: His story shares the process of the military court, and how his military lawyer's advice played a crucial role in his trial.

    Finding one's path and the inspiration to write: Robert's travels and encounters with various European artists contributed to his desire to express himself and eventually led him to start writing.

    Robert’s search for identity: Which involved hitchhiking across the United States and traveling through Europe, an experience that enriched his life and gave him a new perspective.

    A mother’s Impact: Robert's mother had a really strong influence on him and was more than just his mother, but also his best friend for most of his life. She was always there supporting him, even when others criticized his decisions, such as refusing to fight in the war. Robert describes her as a strong and independent woman who had quite an adventurous life herself.




    Buy The Good Lord Willing and the Creek Don't Rise: Pentimento Memories of Mom and Me
    Amazon: https://amzn.to/3QucmzK
    Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781801000000

    Connect with Robert
    Website: https://robertwnorris.com/

    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.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 39 min
    A Journey Through Grief, with Natasha Daniels

    A Journey Through Grief, with Natasha Daniels

    Natasha Daniels is an anxiety and OCD child therapist and has published multiple books including How to Parent your Anxious Toddler, Anxiety Sucks: A Teen Survival Guide, Social Skills Activities for Kids and It is Brave to Be Kind. She also hosts the AT Parenting Survival Podcast and has a Youtube channel, Ask the Child Therapist. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her latest book, The Grief Rock: A Book to Understand Grief and Love.

    Key Takeaways




    Processing Grief: The discussion centered on how to help children process grief, especially when the person assisting them is simultaneously dealing with their own grief.


    Writing as Therapy: Natasha turned to writing after the sudden passing of her husband, which left her widowed with three young children who were each expressing their grief in unique ways.


    Silver Linings: The conversation revealed that Natasha has a strong focus on her relationship with her children and her parenting, emphasizing the importance of not getting lost in the details of life and appreciating every moment:

    Grief can lead to a greater appreciation for life, as it makes you realize that tomorrows are not guaranteed.

    Grief can bring families closer together, as it did for Natasha and her children, strengthening their bond.

    Experiencing grief can lead to significant lifestyle changes that prioritize family and personal well-being, such as closing a private practice to focus on more flexible work that allows for traveling and spending quality time together.

     It can inspire personal growth and new experiences, like traveling to different parts of the world, which might not have been considered before the experience of loss.




    Buy The Grief Rock: A Book to Understand Grief and Love
    Amazon: https://amzn.to/40ztEQs
    Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781839974397

    Connect with Natasha
    Website: https://www.anxioustoddlers.com/
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/anxioustoddlers78
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atparentingsurvival
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atparentingsurvival
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/gingerpin
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@atparentingsurvival

    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.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 39 min
    Snakes, Society, and Storytelling, with Ginger Pinholster

    Snakes, Society, and Storytelling, with Ginger Pinholster

    Ginger Pinholster’s first novel, “City in a Forest,” won a Gold Royal Palm Literary Award from the Florida Writers Association in 2020. She is a volunteer member of Florida’s Volusia Turtle Patrol and resident of Ponce Inlet, near Daytona Beach. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her latest book, Snakes of St. Augustine.

    Key Takeaways



    Conflict Drives Story: She learned about the importance of conflict in storytelling, realizing that a protagonist must urgently want something and be willing to do anything to get it, which drives the plot and story. This understanding prompted her to restart her writing process, creating a cleaner and easier to follow story.


    Don't Give Up: Ginger's advice to aspiring authors is to never give up on their writing journey, emphasizing that it is a long and challenging process that requires perseverance and determination to succeed.


    Persistence Pays:  Writing is a craft that can be learned and perfected over time, similar to carpentry or playing a musical instrument. Ginger suggests that authors build up their writing skills progressively, starting with smaller pieces such as articles and short stories before tackling larger works.


    Importance of Community: Being part of a writing community and having a critique group is invaluable, as it helps authors navigate difficult parts of the writing process and provides constructive feedback, pushing writers to improve and refine their work.


    An Inclusive Message: One key inspiration for her latest book, Snakes of St. Augustine, is the exploration of individuals living on the margins of society, exemplified by characters such as Jazz, a neurodivergent and unhoused community college student, who feels invisible and disconnected from the community. The novel delves into themes of compassion toward those marginalized and the value of community, urging readers to consider how everyone is worthy of inclusion and is partially inspired by Ginger’s late brother.


    Buy Snakes of St. Augustine
    Amazon: https://amzn.to/3FSa2xA
    Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9781646033829

    Connect with Ginger
    Website: https://www.gingerpinholster.com/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingerPinholster
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gingpin/
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/gingerpin
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ginger_pinholster

    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 #GingerPinholster #CityInAForest #SnakesOfStAugustine #WritingCommunity #Storytelling #NovelWriting #AuthorsOfInstagram #Fiction #SouthernFiction #AuthorsOfyoutube #authorsoftwitter #booktube #booktok #bookstagram #wildlifeconservation #newrelease #whattoread #floridaman
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    • 43 min
    A Blank Canvas, with Lynne Golodner

    A Blank Canvas, with Lynne Golodner

    Lynne Golodner is the author of eight books and thousands of articles as well as a marketing entrepreneur, writing coach and host of the Make Meaning Podcast. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her first novel, Woman of Valor. 

    Key Takeaways


    Lynne's journey as a writer: Lynne shares her passion for writing, which began at a young age with journals and evolved into freelancing during college. Her dedication to writing and storytelling has been a consistent thread throughout her life.

    Writing as a means of comfort and healing: Lynne discusses how writing has served as a source of comfort and healing for her. It has allowed her to make sense of the world around her and express her creativity.

    Exploring religious identity in a positive light: Lynne's novel, "Women of Valor," delves into the exploration of religious identity in a positive and nuanced way. She aims to showcase the validity of choosing a religious path, even if it may not be the common choice for individuals in their 20s.

    The significance of personal growth and reflection in writing: Lynne reflects on her personal growth as a writer and the lessons she has learned throughout her journey. She emphasizes the importance of developing as a writer and understanding the direction of a story before diving into writing a full novel.



    Buy Woman of Valor
    Amazon: https://amzn.to/47e0SXS
    Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9798987650110


    Connect with Lynne
    Website: https://lynnegolodner.com/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LynneGolo/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnegolodner/
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/yourpeoplellc?reload=9
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/YourPeople


    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.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 37 min
    There's Always a Way, with Christina Henry

    There's Always a Way, with Christina Henry

    Christina Henry is a horror and dark fantasy author whose works include Horseman, Near the Bone, The Ghost Tree, Looking Glass, The Girl in Red, The Mermaid, Lost Boy, Alice, Red Queen, and the seven-book urban fantasy Black Wings series. She joined me on Uncorking a Story to talk about her latest novel, Good Girls Don’t Die.

    Key Takeaways



    Be the exception. Christina didn’t have an agent representing her when she landed a three book turned six book deal with a publisher. Sometimes you can be the exception to the rule.


    Discover as you go. While some writers have a lot of success outlining their stories, Christina chooses to see where her stories take her. This leads to her feeling surprised at her own stories and hopefully translates to readers absorbing the author’s sense of excitement and wonder as they turn each page.


    The Story may present Itself. We like to think that we are in control of our stories and often sit down with a specific intent as we begin to write only to find that a different story emerges. That’s okay—follow your curiosity and not your intention.


    Write for you. Christina breaks another rule in that she doesn’t think of “the market” when she writes her stories—she thinks about herself as the target. While many “experts” will tell you this is a recipe for disaster, Christina’s success suggests otherwise.



    Buy Good Girls Don’t Die
    Amazon:https://amzn.to/47lKJQh
    Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/54587/9780593638194


    Connect with Christina
    Website: https://www.christinahenry.net/
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorChristinaHenry/
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorchristinahenry/
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/C_Henry_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.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 33 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
46 Ratings

46 Ratings

Felixbehre ,

Unexpected and Unique

I’m a bit self conscious when being interviewed and photographed, and Mike turned out to be a perfect fit for me as I evolve into my public writer persona! I was immediately comfortable and drawn into his questions. It was a welcome surprise to hear how we both shared interests and inspirations, and how they similarly play into our writing. His preparation and thoughtful connections made for a wonderful conversation. I look forward to chatting with him again.

zwoman18 ,

Amazing Interview

I loved being interviewed by Mike. He does not ask your typical questions! He truly listens to what you have to say. This is my second interview with Mike. I can’t wait to release my third novel to do another show!!! Love from Miami, Fl

Carl94Bronc ,

A Gracious & Talented Host

Mike Carlon is the gracious and talented host of Uncorking a Story. He asks insightful questions, is prepared, has a great cadence and flow, and keeps it interesting! I had such a rewarding and fun time as his guest. I’m confident you’ll enjoy all of Mike’s episodes as much as I enjoyed chatting with him.

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