Your Daily Chocolate

Patty Deutsche
  • 4.8 (18)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Tired of all the negativity and bad news in the world? This brief weekly podcast will boost your mood. With funny stories, clean jokes and interviews with people who will inspire you — it’s like a bite of chocolate… feels good and it's good for you!

  1. Mark Steven Porro on Caregiving Humor and His Memoir “A Cup of Tea on the Commode”

    17H AGO

    Mark Steven Porro on Caregiving Humor and His Memoir “A Cup of Tea on the Commode”

    Today Patty welcomes Mark Steven Porro, a New Jersey native who spent 28 years in Hollywood, to discuss his bestselling, award-winning debut memoir, A Cup of Tea on the Commode, The book is about caring for his mother during the final three and a half years of her life after a near-death experience in 2011.  He explains the title’s origin from a daily bedside commode routine that included his mother’s favorite tea, and shares how hospice taught him hands-on caregiving tasks such as treating bed sores, changing diapers, sponge bathing, and managing stress. Porro describes using humor to handle difficult moments, recounts stories about both parents, and notes a caregiver health crisis that led to emergency surgeries. He also talks about creating the organic snack brand Grandpa Po’s Originals, life in the south of France, and an upcoming second book focused on his father. Find out more about Mark below: Choose your favorite bookstore to order Our website Our Facebook page Instagram TikTok Our YouTube channel Episode Highlights: 00:00 Meet Mark Porro 01:04 Title Meaning Explained 01:54 From Notes to Memoir 02:38 Hospice Care Lessons 04:46 Not a How To Book 06:32 Humor as Medicine 09:14 Dad Stories and Dignity 12:58 Why Mark Became Caregiver 16:47 Caregiver Burnout Warning 18:37 Third Emergency Recovery 18:58 Wild Hospital Meds 20:16 Accidental Nonprofits Story 21:11 Grandpa Poes Origins 23:11 Flavors And Factory 25:03 Mantras And Burnout 25:35 Screenplay And Next Book 27:08 Awards And Reader Letters 28:24 Life In France 30:15 Wine Actor Chocolate Picks 32:56 Wrap Up And Next Guest

    35 min
  2. Tenacity, Fear of Failure, and His New Book Tenacious with Scott Scovill

    APR 13

    Tenacity, Fear of Failure, and His New Book Tenacious with Scott Scovill

    Today Patty welcomes Nashville-based country singer, award-winning videographer, and video director Scott Scovill to talk about his new book, Tenacious, which features Scovill’s stories and insights from 17 notable collaborators including country artists, an astronaut, and an Olympian. Scott defines tenacity as the inner fortitude to keep going despite obstacles in front of and inside you, emphasizing overcoming fear of failure by taking the first step toward a dream.  He discusses mentorship, surrounding yourself with supportive people (including authors through books), and lessons like “there’s more than one way around the barn,” illustrated by a detour job that led to touring opportunities. Scott also shares surprising contributor moments, his late-start singing career that led to opening for Brad Paisley internationally, and his early involvement helping Paisley and Kim Williams-Paisley launch The Store, a dignity-centered free grocery store model in Nashville. Find out more and connect with Scott below: www.tenaciousbook.comwww.scottscovill.comwww.mootv.comwww.thesteelmill.comwww.moocreativemedia.comwww.centerstaging.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scott.scovill/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/scottscovill X: https://x.com/scottscovill YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@scottscovillcreativeEpisode Highlights: 00:00 Meet Scott Scovill 01:15 Defining Tenacity 02:28 Fear of Failure 04:09 Why Write Tenacious 06:22 Mentors and Your Team 09:31 U2 Tour Hustle 12:23 More Than One Way 13:14 Detours to Success 17:09 Quotes From Contributors 19:17 Astronauts and Awe 23:18 Finding Your Voice 25:43 Touring With Brad 28:26 The Store Charity 34:14 Rolling Off the Board 35:17 New Songs and Dark Times 37:57 Rapid Fire Round

    44 min
  3. Escaping a Family Cult and Reclaiming Faith, Fatherhood, and Freedom with Peter Young

    MAR 30

    Escaping a Family Cult and Reclaiming Faith, Fatherhood, and Freedom with Peter Young

    Today Patty interviews author and former sports broadcaster Peter Young about his memoir, Stop the Tall Man, Save the Tiger, detailing how he married into a small, hidden cult led by “Uncle Robert” (Robert Booty). Over two decades, Robert used secrecy, isolation, and spiritual manipulation—claiming to be a gatekeeper to salvation—to control Paige, her parents, and eventually Peter, fueling parental alienation and a divorce in which Peter was portrayed as “the devil.”  Peter describes how family support, faith, and a court-appointed guardian's report identifying severe parental alienation and cult influence helped expose the abuse, leading to the three youngest children returning to live with him. He shares key lessons: keep Christ at the center of marriage, maintain strong fellowship and communication, and remember salvation precedes sanctification, plus warning signs of cult leaders. Peter also talks about his basketball-themed novels The Blue Team and Wardrobe of the Wolf, with East of Ashton forthcoming. website: www.authorpeteryoung.com Facebook page: Author Peter Young Instagram: peterbyoung Episode Highlights: 00:00 Meet Peter Young 02:21 How He Married In 04:53 Red Flags After 9 11 06:37 Gatekeeper To Salvation 09:19 Isolation And Secrecy 11:31 What The Cult Leader Wanted 13:56 Legacy And Surrogacy 15:20 Divorce And Rock Bottom 17:09 First Steps Toward Clarity 18:18 Breaking Free and Reaching Out 18:56 Robert Rewrites the Marriage 20:24 Kids Turned Against Dad 21:27 Guardian Ad Litem Turning Point 23:30 Shunning Rebecca the Warning Sign 24:41 Single Dad and Hope for Healing 26:51 Book Lessons and Cult Red Flags 30:23 Other Books and Where to Buy 31:46 Rapid Fire Q and Closing 34:51 Host Wrap Up and Next Season

    36 min
  4. Packets of Hope: Turning Bullying into a Global Life Skills Curriculum with Jill Chalsty

    MAR 16

    Packets of Hope: Turning Bullying into a Global Life Skills Curriculum with Jill Chalsty

    On today's show, Patty welcomes Jill Chalsty and talks about how being bullied in middle school led her to help create Overcoming Obstacles, a free K–12 life skills curriculum now used in nearly 200 countries and reaching about 180 million children. Jill explains the program’s focus on skills like asking for help, communication, conflict resolution, goal setting, problem solving, and especially decision making, and notes updates to address cyberbullying.  She and Patty discuss her free book, Packets of Hope, and how, after losing her husband and facing cancer, she took a five-month world cruise delivering letters and materials to Ministries of Education to drive schools to the Overcoming Obstacles website, leading to responses including a planned Tagalog translation. She shares favorite cruising moments, challenges onboard, and her plans for more books and travel. Find out more and connect with Jill at the links below: Packets of Hope |  Overcoming Obstacles Facebook | Instagram |  LinkedIn Episode highlights: 00:00 Meet Jill Chaste 01:01 Bullying to Purpose 03:27 Life Skills Toolkit 05:29 Students Changed Forever 06:58 Full Circle Hospital Story 09:19 Cyberbullying Today 10:15 World Cruise With Purpose 13:35 Packets Not Envelopes 15:20 Resilience Through Setbacks 16:46 Breakthroughs and Translations 18:26 Travel Log With Purpose 19:16 Free Book Big Impact 20:07 Most Vital Life Skill 21:31 Cancer Joy And Service 23:17 Next Journeys And Routes 24:18 Cruise Rapid Fire 25:53 Quotes Love And Smiles 28:28 Chocolate Stories And Cadbury 30:13 Final Thanks And Wrap

    32 min
  5. Mo Mountain Mutts: The Viral Puppy Bus from Alaska with Morgan Thompson

    MAR 2

    Mo Mountain Mutts: The Viral Puppy Bus from Alaska with Morgan Thompson

    Every once in a while, you see something on TV that just makes you smile — and this was one of those moments. After spotting a heart-melting segment (yes, the one with the dogs riding a bus with assigned seats!) on Good Morning America, I knew I had to meet the woman behind it. In this joyful and inspiring episode, I sit down with Morgan Thompson, founder of Mo Mountain Mutts in Skagway, to hear how a seasonal job in Alaska turned into a full-time dog hiking, training, and viral content empire — complete with a real puppy bus. If you’ve ever dreamed of building a business around something you love, this one’s for you.

    34 min
  6. Milk and Honey Ranch: From Tech Exec to Texas Luxury Farm Retreat

    FEB 16

    Milk and Honey Ranch: From Tech Exec to Texas Luxury Farm Retreat

    Looking for a little lavish getaway? Today Patty interviews Brent and Daniela Phillips about Milk and Honey Ranch, a luxury farm resort between Houston and Austin near Brenham, Round Top, and Blue Bell Ice Cream. Brent left a tech career after COVID, selling his company, and a Texas freeze exposed how unprepared he felt without power. He bought the land unexpectedly, first for family life and learning practical skills.  After a financial hit, they listed their garage on Airbnb and it grew fast. Daniela survived a severe hydroplaning crash; while she was hospitalized, bookings surged 1300% as millions followed and prayed online. Guests come for animal experiences, especially mini Highland “cuddle cows,” plus alpacas, kangaroos, pigs, and goats. Next: a pond water park, golf simulator, and Promised Land Village for up to 40. Find out more and connect with Brent, Daniela, and Milk and Honey: Website: https://milkandhoneyranch.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/milkandhoneyranchtx IG: https://www.instagram.com/MilkandHoneyRanch/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx3IjbNw1kMIYHYl81hJxNQ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/milk-honey-ranch/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milkandhoneyranch Episode Highlights: 00:00 Meet Brent & Daniela + the viral rooster sculpture story 01:15 What is Milk & Honey Ranch? Luxury farm resort vibes 03:00 Why they left tech life: COVID, family time, and the Texas freeze wake-up call 04:38 Buying the land (without telling Daniela) + the original family-farm plan 06:10 From “just our home” to Airbnb: the financial hit and Round Top’s surprise boost 08:28 Scaling up to 35 stays: reinvesting, risk, and the ‘if you build it’ reality check 10:10 Faith, closed doors, and grinding through doubt to keep the ranch alive 13:30 Cuddle cows & the animal experiences: the $7K risk that paid off 16:39 The real work behind the magic: hospitality + farm life (and doing it all at first) 17:35 How the Kids Pitch In at the Ranch (Guests, Animals & Coffee Bar) 18:47 No Regrets: What Ranch Life Has Taught the Whole Family 19:40 Daniella’s Car Accident: Injuries, Recovery & the 2-Year Anniversary 20:46 Viral Prayer Chain: Social Media Support & 1300% Booking Surge 23:42 “Established by Creation, Inspired for Connection” + The Goat Birth Story 26:10 What’s Next: Water Park, Golf Simulator & Promised Land Village Expansion 28:09 Rapid-Fire Q&A: 2026 Goals, Dream Jobs, Favorite Animals & Chocolate 30:10 Wrap-Up: Visit the Ranch, Share the Episode & Teaser for Next Guest

    32 min
  7. The Journey to Earned Freedom: Les Suhayda's Harrowing Tale

    FEB 2

    The Journey to Earned Freedom: Les Suhayda's Harrowing Tale

    In this episode of Your Daily Chocolate, Patty welcomes Les Suhayda, author of '12 Bells to Freedom.' He recounts his childhood memories of escaping communist Hungary during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. Les explains how his family navigated through forests and evaded Russian troops to reach Austria. He discusses the historical context of post-World War II Hungary, his family's experiences, and the profound impact of these events on his life. Beyond his book, Les shares his ventures as an inventor, including the creation of a wine slushie and fire retardant products. This episode is a compelling mix of personal history, resilience, and innovation. Learn More about and Les and check out his book! Website 1: http://www.laszlochem.comWebsite 2: http://www.menrathwines.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lessuhaydaLink for Book: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=twelve+bells+to+freedom&crid=2SA3OG5LU498G&sprefix=Twelve+bells+to+Freedom%2Caps%2C106&ref=nb_sb_ss_ab-ac-rank-f5_1_23 Episode Highlights: 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction 01:20 Les Suhayda's Early Memories and Family's Escape 02:39 Historical Context: Hungarian Revolution and Soviet Occupation 06:19 Family's Struggles Under Communism 08:16 The Escape Journey to Austria 11:32 Role of Religion and Cardinal Centi 14:33 Les Suhayda's Book: 12 Bells to Freedom 18:38 Family Stories and Name Changes 19:36 Fitting In Through Sports 20:12 College and Navy Achievements 21:06 Mother's Perspective and Family Challenges 22:16 Becoming an Author and Inventor 24:08 The Wine Slushie Business 26:22 Innovative Fire Protection Product 29:46 Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Remarks

    34 min

  8. JAN 19

    Shaping Lives, Against All Odds with John David Graham

    In this episode of 'Your Daily Chocolate,' John David Graham discusses his extraordinary life. After founding Good Samaritan Home, a program for helping former inmates reintegrate into society, John reflects on his diverse career history and life challenges. He shares how his upbringing in the 50s and 60s and various job experiences, from truck driver to firefighter, shaped him. At 53, he pivoted to nonprofit work, and later at 75, published his debut novel, 'Running as Fast as I Can,' which won 48 literary awards. John highlights the importance of second chances and community support in overcoming life's obstacles. Find out more and connect with John David Graham: https://johndavidgraham.com/ https://goodsamaritanhome.org/ https://facebook.com/JGrahamAuthor https://johndavidgraham.substack.com/ Episode Highlights: 00:00 Introduction to John David Graham 01:22 John's Early Life and Career Detours 02:28 Meeting His Wife and Early Struggles 06:18 Founding Good Samaritan Home 07:29 Challenges and Success Stories 09:50 The Importance of Second Chances 15:14 John's Novel and Its Inspiration 16:09 Lifeboat Safety and Second Chances 16:51 Overcoming Rejections and Finding the Right Audience 18:42 The Sequel: Requiem and Its Themes 19:07 Reflections on Race and Society 20:59 Advice for Overcoming Hardships 22:18 The Importance of Community Support 24:01 Future Plans and Personal Reflections 26:20 Rapid Fire Questions and Fun Facts 29:46 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser

    31 min
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4.8
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Tired of all the negativity and bad news in the world? This brief weekly podcast will boost your mood. With funny stories, clean jokes and interviews with people who will inspire you — it’s like a bite of chocolate… feels good and it's good for you!

Information

  • Creator
    Patty Deutsche
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    169
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Patty Deutsche
  • Show Website
    Your Daily Chocolate