The Delicious Story

News alert: I’m not perfect. Of course, this isn’t news, but it makes the contradiction of receiving criticism an odd struggle. Each of us knows we are works in progress, yet having others point that out can still be a hard pill to swallow. Call it constructive criticism, critique, or “gentle love,” we need to have an outside point of view to help us see ourselves with fresh eyes. I began this episode of The Delicious Story with the premise that criticism is a push-pull concept, a...

Pssst. Listen. Do you want to know a secret? Do you promise not to tell? Then lean in, and I’ll tell you one: for most people, the promise of information that is “hush-hush” is intoxicating. We want to know—almost need to know—details that seem to put us in the know or give us an edge in the world. We all gossip or have been in circles where gossip takes place. Gossip plays out in families, friends, work, even in politics and other national organizations. At its core gossip usually comes...

Have you ever looked out on the world (listened to too much news) and wondered, "why can't people just get along?" We all want roughly the same things: a happy life, experience love and family, prosper and live. But we all seem ready to roll over others to achieve these goals, desperate in our feelings of lacking. Indeed, global peace and recognizing each other's shared needs and desires seem unimaginable. It is easy to feel hopeless and powerless in that reckoning because even many of our...

Even as baby boomers march by the millions into older age, redefining what it means to be old, we still struggle as a culture by limiting beliefs about seniors. And of all the fiction about aging, one devastating falsehood that seems to stick is that elders can't learn new things, including technology. In this episode of #thedeliciousstory, we chat with Senior Savvy's expert Abbie Richie who busts the myth that seniors can't learn tech. Abbie shares her inspiring story of helping seasoned...

Each person has a story to tell, but not everyone believes that – or even wants to tell theirs. However, others have the drive to share their story because of a particular experience, one that perhaps scarred them but left them with an important life lesson as well. If you seek to write your story but don't know where to begin or how to accomplish it, then this episode of The Delicious Story is for you. Here you'll meet Stormi Lewis, the published author of several books and a story-sharing...

Indulge your senses and feel the splashy effervescence of life in this interview (#thedeliciousstory podcast #63) with chef Terrie Kohl. Based in Des Moines, Iowa’s largest metropolitan area, she is a one-woman culinary powerhouse that dazzles and delights, one great meal at a time! With a career in the food industry that spans decades, you’ll learn how Terrie took brave steps that earned her the credentials to become a top chef. She launched her business Country Club Market, where she...

Something rare awaits you in this episode of The Delicious Story. We visit with aviation and urban historian Dr. Janet Bednarek, professor at the University of Dayton. She takes us on a journey covering the historical highlights of aviation after WWI, including the evolution of the airport system, and the role of barnstormers in igniting the public’s interest for flight. You’ll also learn the surprising impact the United States Postal Service played in aviation development. Prepare to be...

In this episode of #thedeliciousstory, we visit with Ginger Johnson, expert connector, author, and coach, about how the world you live in is filled with the opportunity to connect, an adventure just waiting for you to grasp it. Her goal is nothing short of epic—to ignite your curiosity and help you find the thrill in looking out and seeing the possibilities when you engage with others. If you’re asking, “Why do I need a refresh on how to connect with others?” The answer is because...

In this episode of The Delicious Story we chat with Stephanie Hoover, history author and podcaster, who researches and writes about true crime stories and the spiritualism movement of the 19th century. Stephanie digs deep to unearth events and people of intrigue and reveal historical culture and ancestors who often acted upon their belief in the supernatural. With nine books to her credit and the ranking podcast “Stephanie Hoover Has That Story,” she has amassed impressive knowledge of our...

Until recently, the only thing I knew of Peru was that Paddington the Curious Bear (with tattered hat, old suitcase and all) came from there. The beloved character of children’s books was made famous by British author Michael Bond, describing the bear that lived in “darkest Peru” before becoming a stowaway deposited at a railway station in London. My knowledge of the South American country all changed a few years ago when my daughter Alexandra moved there after falling in love with Lima,...

If you enjoy good food, particularly when it’s accompanied with good wine, then this episode of #thedeliciousstory is for you. This week I talk with Todd White of Dry Farm Wines about the benefits of natural wine, his journey in creating a business that sources the organically-grown varietals, and how nourishing your body with intention can be good for your wellbeing, too. At our house, wine goes hand-in-hand with the evening meal. We’ve spent years selecting, tasting and amassing a wine...

Food, particularly plant-based produce, is anything cultivated for the purpose of consumption. Or perhaps the real definition is broader. For instance, what about foragable plants that grow randomly in nature? Today on #thedeliciousstory, we chat with wildlife biologist Karen Viste-Sparkman about this more ancient path to food. As a city dweller, I count on obtaining food from the grocery store and mostly think of what I eat as coming from an agrarian model. However, long before the...

If you’ve been inclined to feel a bit jaded about the world (or is just me?) then this episode of #thedeliciousstory will revive your hope in humanity. And how will you get to that happy state of mind? With a little help from the past, of course. For this interview, we visit with history blogger Howard Dorre, an unapologetic history enthusiast who is “plodding” his way through research into the presidents of the United States. As you listen, you’ll discover how he migrated from trudging...

There is almost nothing more essential to our existence than food, and nothing as deeply personal for humans in particular. Think about it: we communicate through food, express culture via food, and forge connection when we eat together. Food binds us to the earth and reminds us that we are equals in our need for nutrition to survive. This week on the #thedeliciousstory, we visit with Michelle Book of The Food Bank of Iowa who explains the status of food insecurity in Iowa. In doing so, she...

The mention of stuff—from the clutter in the basement and the garage to the pictures and items we treasure but have so many of—can, for many of us, elicit stress as well as guilt. We have baggage about what we cart around in life. Teri Ernst and Courtney Work of Preserved LLC understand that burden well, and work with their clients to gently free them of it while keeping the best of what matters. In this episode of #thedeliciousstory, the two of them talk about the process of decluttering...

This is an interview about how to make your food look good—and I mean REALLY good—in photographs. In this episode of The Delicious Story, we talk with accomplished food photographer Jena Carlin about the art and process of producing beautiful images of food and home. But her story serves up inspiration, too reminding each of us that we are the creative of our lives as well. Jena’s photos capture food such that you don’t even have to eat it to realize how delicious it really is. And a quick...

The world seemed difficult enough back in late April when I interviewed Don Shanahan of Every Movie Has a Lesson for #thedeliciousstory. But now in June things have gotten hotter still, so I offer you a reprieve from the news with this episode. Sit back and enjoy. Don believes that every film—epic or contained, big-budget or small—has lessons to impart about life. And once you meet Don, you’ll discover how he came to this belief. Teacher, spouse, and dad by day, Don has worked more than a...

What’s for dinner tonight? If you have NO idea, but you and a few people in your home want to know, then this episode of #thedeliciousstory is what can help. You’ll meet Marie Fiebach of Feed Your Family Tonight who helps people turn this kind of meal-planning angst into delicious and healthy food on the table. You know the drill if you’re in an active family—there are all those commitments after work and school that need to be done, plus things to do to prepare for the next day. Somehow,...

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “You’re never fully dressed without a smile.” And you can appreciate the sentiment, because something does happen when you feel the corners of your mouth lift. It’s as though your “look” were, indeed, finally complete. And while you literally AREN’T dressed without your clothes, what you wear can also affect the way you feel just like how you feel can affect your look! Perhaps the idea is self-evident for some of you, but in this interview with Nancy Dilts...

The variety of subjects covered in this week’s episode of The Delicious Story is vast, because we talked about living and investing like a nomad—that’s “21st century-style.” We also talked about the aspects of being a world traveler, an expat and an entrepreneur on a borderless planet, and eating a paleo diet a smidge on the kosher side of things, too. Whew! It’s a ruckus interview with Shlomo Freund of Free Financial Self, who is a financial planner for the expats and nomads (and those who...