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I don’t want to say that serving adult beverages makes for better conversation, but in Episode 46, recorded at Nini’s House of Tapas, the conversation flowed – and so did the vino!

 

Joining the party; guest cohost Gerry McGuire (sitting in for Duo, who’s back next week), Barbie Douglas, Katie Gerhard, Mary Elliot and Jon Crane.

 

 

Jon Crane operates Critical PR, a public relations firm that provides communications counseling services to organizations and individuals that are in the public spotlight, handling sensitive communications issues, or seeking to influence policymakers and/or public opinion. Jon’s most recently completely project was handling the media campaign to repeal Connecticut’s death penalty.

 

Jon is a former news anchor at WTNH-TV in New Haven and currently appears as one of six “contributors” to the nationally broadcast PBS television series My Generation hosted by Leeza Gibbons.

 

Barbie Douglas is a New York City native and has worked in print and broadcast journalism since she was 12 years old. A UConn Certified Master Gardener and Certified Usui Reiki Master, she is also a published poet and anthology writer, and dabbles in astronomy, yoga, Buddhism, kayaking, The Naderist Manifesto, Asian culture, science and education, urban homesteading, Thai cooking, inviting dissent, trout fishing, browbeating ultra-conservatives, the loopy things that politicians say, and animal and women’s rights. She lives in Guilford and East Windsor, Connecticut.

 

Katie O’Keefe Gerhard a real New Haven native born on Sept 25 a long time ago to John & Maisie O’Keefe both immigrants from Ireland. Born at the Hospital of St Raphel and the youngest of 4 siblings. she was raised on the morals to be thankful for what you have and don’t expect anything out of the ordinary. Katie decided to stay in New Haven and have been living here all her life so far.

 

Katie works for Carnival Cruise Lines in sales, and keeps “…people motivated and focused for a living!!”. Katie has been working in the travel industry for 25 years and will say it’s the most FUN industry to be part of!

 

Mary Elliott is a stay-at-home Mom with four children, one husband and no pets unless you count that ant farm on the dresser in her son’s bedroom. She has a Yale B.A., a Ph.D. in English from Boston College, and—in her old life—taught writing, English and American lit courses at B.C., Gonzaga University & Whitworth College in Spokane, WA. Upon the birth of her twins in Colorado, she perished rather than published, but has written a couple of novels that need serious rework before they see the light of day. She likes to play the fiddle, hike, bike-ride and unwind with good friends.

 

Gerry McGuire took his love of history, trivia, comedy, literature, music and film and turned himself into a pop culture quoting, chat machine. He is like Cliff Claven from Cheers if Cliff Claven was stunningly handsome, awesomely funny and unbelievably humble. He fancies himself what the French would describe as a raconteur or what Americans call, a loud mouth. Gerry writes for Milford Living Magazine, sings in the Celtic rock band The Butcher Boys and is a stay at home dad.

 

He is also the force of nature behind “Gerry McGuire’s Breakdown” for the RLSG, and you can read his analysis of this week’s proceedings tomorrow…

 

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We’ve been hearing great things about Olde School Saloon and Bistro in New Haven from some of our News 8 friends, and decided to record Episode 44 during their jazz brunch on a recent Sunday afternoon.

 

The next thing we knew, Chef/Owner Jeff Arnold was showing us a 19th century basement space that proved irresistible to our guest conversationalists - Rob Oliver, John Broker, Joe Amarante, Gary Choronzy and Marianne O’Hare.

 

 

Joe Amarante is a reporter and columnist for the New Haven Register who has written extensively about television and often-humorous lifestyle topics. Currently he’s covering more general-assignment stories for the Register, which is no longer known as a newspaper but as a media company with a constantly changing website and other “Digital First” initiatives. He’s a married father of four.

 

Marianne O’Hare is a radio producer and host, and likes to make a dramatic entrance!

 

John Broker is General Manager for H2H Media. He’s been a dedicated sports professional for over 10 years in progressive endeavors including broadcast, marketing, events, high performance athlete development, and athletic organization development. He has also been on-air talent for domestic and international live rugby telecasts. John is also the coach of Yale University Men’s Rugby. Prior to entering the sports field, John worked as a Project Manager in the A/E field, developing operational plans for communities to address infrastructure needs through transit solutions across the United States.

 

Rob Oliver is a New Haven native, married to a New Haven native, and father of 2. Rob works for an investment bank, loves his hometown, cooking, mountains (hiking climbing, skiing), history, travel, hockey and the Red Sox. Rob and his wife love entertaining, cooking and spending time with family and friends. Even though Hobart College had a swim test requirement for graduation and Rob grew up on the CT coast, he is not a strong swimmer. People Rob would like to have over for dinner: Ben Franklin, Ulysses S. Grant, and Smoky Joe Wood.

 

We talked about basement smells, toenail clipping etiquette and empty nesting, and I really think you need to listen!

 

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It was a pretty raucous discussion at Caseus Fromagerie Bistro as we were joined by Owner (and Cooking Channel star) Jason Sobocinski who treated us to some great insights – and some incredible food and drink. (Mad props to Chuck from Chucklettes as well!)

 

No less insightful were our AMAZING group of guest editors; Susan Bailin, Janice Christopher, Elizabeth Larkin and Colin Caplan.

 

 

Susannah Bailin is so smart it scares me. She was also too humble to send me her bio, so we’ll leave it at that!

 

Janice Christopher is a professional life coach, public speaker, radio host and mother of two daughters. When her life is ideal, Janice is helping her clients discover and live their passions so they can fall in love with their own lives again. And speaking of falling in love ~ Janice has created proven techniques for attracting that perfect mate, too. Her whimsical motto “Be Who You Are, Do What You Love” inspires us to ask ourselves what we really want, as opposed to what we have always done. What’s Ideal for You? Have you thought about it lately?

 

Elizabeth Larkin is a communications consultant and writer.  She covers the productivity beat for About.com, and Connecticut Day Trips, a Connecticut travel blog that features pictures and day trip ideas in and around the Nutmeg state.

 

Colin M. Caplan is a New Haven born and raised architectural designer, historian, author, culinary tour guide operator and most recently began working with the brilliant Kent Bloomer designing and fabricating architectural ornaments that will be installed on buildings, bridges and public places. Colin runs Taste of New Haven food and drink tours that takes residents and visitors alike on culinary and cultural adventures through the City. He also runs Magrisso Forte which basically covers all of his other endeavors.

 

We started the conversation wondering if Don will cheat on Megan on Mad Men this season, and we were off and running. Enjoy!

 

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The great thing about co-hosting (and producing) your own radio show is that you have a great deal of the coveted control. The problem, at least in my case, is that this means that I control the errors as well, and you’ll hear a GLARING one about a minute into this week’s effort.

 

Fortunately, the parts of the show left to others (mainly Cindy, our intrepid producer, and the wonderful staff at IKEA New Haven), the rest of the show came off without a hitch.

 

And speaking of IKEA (Cindy’s idea, natch), I am still feeling the love. No one had made us a sign… until Dale (and the IKEA graphics department) came into our lives.

 

IKEA, you complete me.

 

Where was I? Oh, I’m pretty sure we’re talking about Episode 42 (you’ve really got to listen!), and we were jointed by an incredible group of guest editors; Suzi Craig, Brent Robertson, Paudi Barry, Harry Schwartz, and Doug Tenaglia.

 

 

Pádraig ’s Barry’s experience is in residential care and administration. For 19 years, he has worked with Hole in the Wall Camps (Paul Newman’s Camp for Children and Families dealing with LIFE-THREATENING and CHRONIC ILLNESSES), in various roles. Currently, as the Director of Camp Support Services, Pádraig works with 28 camps and programs worldwide ensuring quality of programming and starting new camps. He is also co-owner of O’Toole’s Irish pub with three other chaps from Ireland.

 

Harry Schwartz is practicing physician, and Duo promises that once he decides to actually go to a doctor, Harry will be his first choice.

 

Doug Tenaglia graduated from USC Film School. He was named Best Connecticut Filmmaker of 2008 for directing “Love and Class in Connecticut,” winner of Best Narrative Short Film at the New England Film and Video Festival and an Official Selection at the Berkshire International Film Festival. Doug’s first feature, “All Me, All the Time,” stars Keir Dullea (Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey”). Both films are available at amazon.com.

 

Doug started his career as an advertising copywriter in Manhattan, at Backer Spielvogel Bates. He’s created national television and radio campaigns He’s just released a novel on kindle titled “Free Vermont.”

 

Suzi Craig is brilliant, creative and a sheer delight, and Brent Robertson is an artist, designer, speaker, philanthropist, father, eternal optimist and entrepreneur. (Not necessarily in that order.)

 

The energy was really great with this dynamic group (in a dynamic setting) and we told tales about everything from spring cleaning to breaking bad habits and trying to decide whether to renovate or redecorate.

 

Oh, and did I mention… THE SIGN?!?

 

 

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For the 41st meeting of our (extremely) informal “editorial board”, we gathered, in the company of four *amazing* women, at Carmine’s Tuscan Grill in New Haven. (Duo and I providing the “junk DNA”.)

 

Over delicious (and healthful!) appetizers, we  talked about embarrassing moments, guilty pleasures – and choosing activities for summer vacations – with Deborah Pan, Kathy Barkin, and Anne Garland and Binnie Klein.

 

 

Deborah grew up in suburban New Jersey and received her education at Harvard University and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She came to Connecticut for her general surgery and plastic surgery training at Yale-New Haven Hospital and since 2003, has practiced in New Haven, CT.

 

She currently is the owner and CEO of Esana Plastic Surgery Center & MedSpa, which has won multiple recognitions for their work in the aesthetic industry. Her practice encompasses cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, with a focus on breast cancer reconstruction.  She has also participated in several overseas medical missions helping children with facial deformities.

 

Kathy Barkin teaches pre-k at John C. Daniels Magnet School of International Communications. She loves teaching her three and four year olds! She is completing her MS in elementary education, and will recieve cerification in pre-k and special education as well.

 

As of last year Kathy was singing in a band named “Sizzle “, and hopes to regroup and begin “gigging” again. She resides in Woodbridge with her husband and son, and loves to work out, hike, read, play piano and dine out with friends.

 

Anne (pronounced Annie) Garland , is an author, speaker, and Founder of “The Idea Circle for Women “, which “produces enriching, entertaining experiences that provide extraordinary women an opportunity to grow together in meaningful ways”.

 

She has became known in the northeast for her not -to–be-missed, educational, fun and inspirational events.

 

Binnie Klein is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice in New Haven, CT. She grew up in Newark, New Jersey, where her father was a traveling candy salesman and her mother smoked Kents, but claimed she didn’t inhale. As a moody teenager, Binnie almost made it to Woodstock (got 2 miles from the festival site and turned around). She also hosts a weekly music and interview show on WPKN-FM. But she’s restless, so being a therapist and DJ-ing are not enough.

 

She went off and wrote a memoir, “Blows to the Head: How Boxing Changed My Mind” (SUNY Press, 2010). She’s working on a collection of essays about our collective fascination with all things small. (And yes, that’s her real first name.)

 

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Our friends at Sitar in New Haven were kind enough to keep their amazing buffet open a little later than usual on a recent Sunday afternoon, and the result was a rollicking editorial meeting for the RLSG!

 

We talked about April Fool’s Day (of course!), the changing nature of college admissions – and meatballs – with guest editors Joanne Kahan, Kim Garley-Erb, Erika Horne and David Bailin.

 

 

Joanne Kahan describes herself as a “sometimes bored suburban housewife, volunteer, and retired mother”. (Which, translated, means she’s an empty nester exploring new paths!)

 

Kim Garley-Erb is a “dreamer, doer, and entrepreneur from: kidHaven, schoolHaven, and now greenHaven“.

 

Erika Horne is a life-long Connecticut resident; she grew up in Guilford, but recently moved to Suffield. She is a Supervisor of a Client Service Department for a large medical laboratory, where she has been employed for over 25 years. She has been married for 15 years, and is a mother to one 12-year-old son, James.

 

David Bailin is a husband (to fellow guest editor Susannah) and father, and has been banned by Sitar for life. (I kid! David sampled reasonable portions – and left a generous tip…)

 

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We recorded Episode 39 at a lovely corner table at Carmen Anthony Steakhouse in New Haven - over their award-winning chopped salad and crab cakes – with our guest editors, Laura Campbell, Scott Feinberg, Jud Smith, and Gerry McGuire. We talked about correcting people, our infatuation with the rich, and navigating the DMV…

 

 

Gerry McGuire took his love of history, trivia, comedy, literature, music and film and turned himself into a pop culture quoting, chat machine. He is like Cliff Claven from Cheers if Cliff Claven was stunningly handsome, awesomely funny and unbelievably humble. He fancies himself what the French would describe as a raconteur or what Americans call, a loud mouth. Gerry writes for Milford Living Magazine, sings in the Celtic rock band The Butcher Boys and is a stay at home dad.

 

Laura Campbell is CEO and founder of The D Spot, which is is dedicated to helping women regroup, renew and reinvent themselves before, during and after divorce. She is a Divorce Expert and Life Reinvention Consultant, and the author of The Ultimate Divorce Organizer: The Complete, Interactive Guide to Achieving the Best Legal, Financial, and Personal Divorce.

 

Scott Feinberg, a lifelong resident of Woodbridge, is the lead awards analyst for The Hollywood Reporter, and has one of the world’s best track records at predicting the Oscars. He also operates his own website, ScottFeinberg.com, and Tweets at Twitter.com/ScottFeinberg.

 

Jud Smith is the Superintendent at Orange Hills Country Club in Orange, Connecticut, a public golf course that has been in the Smith family since 1949.

 

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We chose O’Toole’s Irish Pub and Restaurant in New Haven as our venue for the 38th Real Life Survival Guide editorial board meeting, knowing that the show would air at the end of St. Patrick’s Day weekend. (What we didn’t know was the fact that the date would also mark the end of what the O’Toole’s staff refers to as “the silly season”.)

 

This week’s guest editors included Nanci Sklar, Suzanne Cahill-Manning, Rob Leonard, and Gary Choronzy, and we talked about political correctness, conversation ball-droppers, apologies and… a certain shillelagh.

 

 

Nanci Sklar, a Chicago native, has lived, worked, and raised her family in Connecticut. Athough she did not realize her long held dream of being a singer in a band and/or the next J. Walter Thompson, she has been employed in some form of media, marketing, and broadcast communication for all her working life. Nanci is a married mom of two twenty somethings and the owner of an adorable maltepoo. Her interests include reading, travel, theater, working out, friends, family, and weighing in/dispensing advice on all matters whether solicited or not.

 

Suzanne Cahill-Manning loves being a part of the Milford community with her children Todd and Maryalice. To echo her love for our city, Suzanne launched Milford Living Magazine seven years ago to provide a printed resource matching the lifestyle and interests of our Milford family. Throughout her career in publishing Suzanne has been responsible for the development and supervision of a number of successful publications, books, and Internet product launches through our company RED MAT MEDIA.

 

Rob Leonard was asked to help out on a bottling run at New Haven Brewing Company, a local micro brewery, in 1992. Not giving up hopes of the “real job” he had in mind, he gladly walked through the brewery doors and put empty bottles on a conveyer belt for 8 hours. That was 20 years ago and Rob is still in the industry. He has worked at breweries around New England, and acquired New England Brewing Co. in Norwalk, CT in 2001.

 

Today Rob owns and operates his successful craft brewery in Woodbridge, CT and is proud to produce New Haven’s local beer. Rob is the father of four children, ages 15 to 1 and enjoys playing live music out and about town – especially the bars that serve his beers.

 

Gary Choronzy is the Chief Web Guy at Connecticut Websites, and has built projects for folks like Ann Nyberg’s Network Connecticut, Ed Bartlett’s CT Out and About, and most recently, George Gombossy’s CT Watchdog.

 

 

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We were thinking about flowers budding way too early in this week’s editorial board meeting for The Real Life Survival Guide, featuring Julie Braun, Lee White, Ryan Duques and Fred Lyle. (Lee says she has “stopped wearing socks, thinking that might spur spring up a bit”. Fred was concerned about his crocuses and rose bushes, and there was a bit of a disagreement with Duo regarding when to prune. We were this close to a good old fashioned donnybrook.)

 

We met at Bar Bouchee in Madison, and absolutely phenomenal spot created by our friend Jean-Pierre Vuillermet and his exceptional staff.

 

 

Julie Braun is the co-founder and ½ of the Dynamic Duo of Super Interns. Super Interns teaches employers (both businesses and non-profits) how to grow successfully by utilizing interns. (They also teach Interns how to get the best internships!) After working with some of the largest brands in the world like Nike, MTV, Victoria’s Secret, and Carter’s Childrenswear, Julie met her business partner Michelle Demers, and combining Michelle’s brains with Julie’s brawn, Super Interns was born!

 

Lee White is a resident of Old Lyme in a section of town where she and her house are the oldest members. She has been writing about restaurants and cooking since 1976 and has been extensively published in the Worcester (Mass.) Magazine, The Day, Norwich Bulletin, and Hartford Courant. She currently writes Nibbles and a cooking column called A La Carte for the Times and Shore Publishing newspapers, and Elan, a quarterly magazine, all of which are now owned by The Day.

 

Ryan Duques is the proud father of two little girls who are the 5th generation of the family to live in Madison. He is the co- founder and managing partner of TutaPoint.com, an online education company that provides live tutoring and test preparation live and online. Previously Duques was co-founder and co-publisher of Shore Publishing Community Newspapers which published 16 weekly newspapers. You can Follow Ryan on Twitter: @RDuques

 

Fred Lyle is a financial advisor (and an excellent tennis player!) living in Madison Connecticut with his lovely wife Margaret. In an earlier life, Fred worked in television; first as location manager for The White Shadow and Hill Street Blues, and later as a producer (and music coordinator) for Miami Vice and Nash Bridges. You can read Fred’s “Filmography by year” at IMDb.com.

 

We talked about random acts of kindness, pet peeves, the new Facebook Timeline – and engaged in the aforementioned pruning dispute – and we hope you’ll listen in and vote on which topic you’d like to see crowdsourced in our weekly “Barber Poll”!