OPEN MIKE
reflections
ARTICLES AND PERSONAL REFLECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPERS, AND ON BLOGS
Sunday Reflection, Thank You Nicole
It may appear as if I am two days late with this week’s entry, but I have a story about that. You see, I needed it to coincide with today’s episode of Uncorking a Story, which profiles an author named Aileen Weintraub who wrote a memoir about being on bedrest during...
Living in the Moment
Met fans will recount the 1986 season the way some people might recount the day they got married. We had waited so long for a World Series title (maybe not as long as the Red Sox) and this team of misfits (substance abuse was rampant on that roster) pulled it together...
Hold Me Close
When I was out for a run this morning I decided to listen to U2s Songs of Innocence album. On it, there’s a song called Iris (Hold me Close) in which Bono sings about missing his mother and his faith that, even after the “stars go out,” he will see her again. It’s a...
10 Insights from our biggest year
I learned many personal and professional lessons in 2021. I was truly blessed to interview so many amazing storytellers this past year and am forever grateful to all the publicists and producers who introduced me to all of my amazing guests. This was Uncorking a...
Not all gifts were under the tree
Traditionally, all of our Christmas gifts are placed underneath the tree in our family room. Even though our kids are nineteen years old, they insist that gifts not be placed under the tree until after we all retire for the night on Christmas Eve. While I appreciate...
Jay Jay French
This has been a hell of a week...and it’s only Tuesday. A little over three months ago, I set a personal goal to do a half-marathon by October. I spent 16 weeks training for it by completing 5 workouts per week, every week, over that time period. While I was nervous...
He made me an offer I couldn’t refuse
There are a few occasions in my life that are seared into my memory banks; my first kiss, the day I met the woman who would become my wife, the night my triplets were born, and the first time I had Wagyu beef. That was last night. Usually it’s Larry at LaRocca’s...
Using UX Research to Help Create New Products and Services
I first started conducting user experience (UX) research back in 1997 while working for Modem Media, a digital ad agency. At that time, we were building some of the world’s first consumer-facing websites (mobile was still far off) for clients such as AT&T, Delta...
Reflections on Vulnerability
In the course of my job, I'm honored to speak with consumers and business professionals about their wants, needs, experiences, and opinions and transform those observations into valuable insights our clients can use for decision making. Through the Uncorking a Story...