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Max Szadek Interviewed on Solar Radio’s Soul Life


I was thrilled to be interviewed by Richard Marzetti on his Soul Life show on the UK radio station Solar Radio. Richard’s show features an uplifting selection of the newest and contemporary soul releases, classics, and modern goodies.

I discussed my experience working for Luther Vandross. Thirty years ago, Luther changed my life when he relocated me from San Francisco to New York to become his full-time assistant. I was a big Luther fan before I started working for him, and I became an even bigger fan while working alongside him.

After Luther had a stroke due to mismanaged type 2 diabetes, I became his caregiver. During that time, I began my work as a diabetes advocate, which led to the creation of Divabetic, the national diabetes organization. Through live programs, videos, podcasts, and Zoom programs, I aim to empower women and their loved ones to stay upbeat about their diabetes care and create an ‘entourage of care’ of friends, family members, and healthcare collaborators to help them stay on track with their self-care management.

Luther Vandross was an incredible entertainer with an exceptional eye for detail. Luther invested in his live shows to create memorable experiences for his fans.

From his beautifully designed, crystal-encrusted costumes and Art Deco-style stages to evocative lighting and elegant choreography, Luther, his band, and his vocalists took audiences on an emotional journey with his music.

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I Won First Prize At West 69th Street’s Halloween Decorating Contest

To my surprise and delight, I won FIRST PRIZE in West 69th Street’s Halloween Decorating Contest for my “Princess Frogs” display.

Everything, except for the wigs and crowns, was made from recycled materials. I used water bottles, pizza boxes, FedEx boxes, damaged comic books, broken lampshades, paper towels, toilet paper rolls, New York Times newspapers, bubble wrap, coffee cans, lids, and packing foam.

As I collected single-use plastics—such as water bottles, take-out food containers, cups, straws, and food packages—for two months, I was truly opened to the staggering amount of trash I contribute to the environmental crisis.

I created a “Single-Use Swamp” using plastic bottles and cardboard packaging, which I painted to resemble foliage. The extent of single-use plastic consumption is frightening and overwhelming. Like most people, I’m horrified by the billions of plastic items choking our oceans, lakes, and rivers. Recently, I’ve been reading about the harmful effects of Bisphenol A (BPA) on our endocrine systems. I encourage others to research this topic thoroughly, as it requires more than just a quick Google search to understand fully.

Sitting atop my vision of a lily pond—crafted from old T-shirts, pillowcases, and towels—are Queen Elizabeth I and Wonder Woman.

Upon seeing my display, I was overjoyed when a young girl passing by exclaimed, “Princess Frogs!”. Her mother informed me that her daughter loves to dress up as a princess. It warms my heart to know that my target audience appreciates my work!

Janet and Rosetta Van der Voort, born in the 1800s, were two wealthy sisters whose father rarely let them leave the house unaccompanied. The one place they were allowed to visit was Central Park’s Wollman Rink, where they went ice skating in the winter.

The two sisters never married, were lifelong best friends, and died a few months apart. Since their death, their ghostly spirits have been seen periodically skating together on the Central Park Pond, wearing the same red and purple outfits they wore over 100 years ago.

Divabetic pays tribute to the sisters’ spirits, hoping to encourage you to indulge in the creativity associated with Halloween instead of candy. Halloween’s record-breaking sugar consumption and its detrimental effects on overall health are scarier than any ghost story. It’s been reported that consumers gobbled up a record $36.9 billion in candy, gum, mints, chocolate, and other confections in 2021.

High intakes of dietary sugars in the setting of a worldwide pandemic of obesity and cardiovascular disease have heightened concerns about the adverse effects of excessive consumption of sugars. The American Heart Association suggests limiting adding sugars to no more than 100 calories per day (about 6 teaspoons or 24 grams) for most adult women and no more than 150 calories per day (about 9 teaspoons or 36 grams of sugar) for most men.

Credits Producer: Max Szadek Writers: Max Szadek, Wendy Radford, Lorraine Brooks Voice Actors: Max Szadek, Verna Henry, Lauren Ricks Graphic Designer: Max Szadek

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Princess Frog Poems: Rapunzel

Finally, all four of my Princess Frog sculptures are displayed for Halloween at West 69th Street in New York City.

I was overjoyed when a young girl pointed at each frog and said, “Ribbit, Ribbit, Ribbit, Ribbit.”

West 69th Street is one of New York City’s iconic Halloween Streets, where over 2,000 children trick-or-treat annually.

Rapunzel 

Once upon a time, there was a little frog,
Who lives in a pond, in a cozy little bog
One day, she meets a prince who is lost in the woods,
And she asks him kindly If she can do him any good.

 “Please help me find my way to the tower up ahead,
Where my dear Rapunzel lives with her long, luscious hair, unfed.”
The smart little frog knows the way, and she hops along the road,
Leading the prince until they reach the tower of cobblestone

But when they find Rapunzel l, She is no longer a maid,
But a slimy green frog, who has been cursed and betrayed.
The prince is surprised, But he takes the frog in his hands,
And kisses her on the cheek, Breaking the witch’s spell demands.

 And lo and behold, The frog turns into a princess fair,
With golden locks of hair and eyes like the sun’s glare.
Hand in hand, the happy couple go on their merry way, 

leaving the little frog to deal with the tower’s disarray.

On the floor, the frog sees Rapunzel‘s beautiful locks of hair

And decides to make a wig that she can wear
Next, she sees a big pile of pretty, lacy dresses
All of which seem fit for a Queen or Princess

Beautiful dresses covered with buttons and stripes, 

others with purple flowers in designs she likes 

The frog tries on a pink dress with long, pillowy sleeves
She looks in the mirror and decides it suits her to a tee
She hops to the bureau, where she finds a gold crown
She stares in the mirror, sees her reflection, and laughs out loud

Suddenly, she hears a creak when the couple opens the door
To find the little frog draped in velvet, pearls, and furs galore
Rapunzel and the Prince shriek at the frog in delight
Thrilled to see the frog beaming in jewels shining bright

Rapunzel runs to the little frog and gives her a squeeze
“You saved my life, little frog. Take whatever you please.”

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Princess Frog Poems: Croak-A-Hontas

Slowly, I am staging my upcoming Princess Frogs displays for Halloween. After quickly staging all the display elements – the four Princess Frogs, handpainted signs, lily ponds, and foliage—together in a temporary location, I am relocating them to their permanent location on West 69th Street.

I was overjoyed when a young girl passing by screamed, “Princess Frogs!” when she spotted my display. Her mother told me that her daughter loves to dress up as a princess. My target audience gets me!! My display will be on one of New York City’s iconic Halloween Streets, where over 2,000 children trick-or-treat annually.

Everything, except the wigs and crowns, is made from recycled materials – water bottles, pizza boxes, FedEx boxes, paper towels, toilet paper rolls, New York Times newspapers, bubble wrap, coffee cans, lids, and packing foam. 

Croak-A- Hontas

Once upon a time, in a far-off  tranquil stream

Lives a princess frog named Croak-A- Hontas, with high self-esteem

She is green and slimy but oh so regal, 

And her croak is sweet and pure, like a golden eagle. 

 Her father is the king of all the reptiles

that live near the stream for miles and miles

And Croak-A- Hontas is friends with one and all

if there is a fight, she is quick to break up the brawl

But one day, an evil stork comes to the pond, 

And snatches her up, leaving her father beyond. 

Croak-A- Hontas is scared, but she doesn’t give up, 

She knows she can escape without a hiccup. 

So she kicks, and she wriggles and finally breaks free, 

And lands with a splash in a nearby tree. 

There, she meets a nervous snake

with a rattle on his tail, he likes to shake

She comforts him as best she can

and promises to take him back to her land

Together, they begin to trek across the valley

making new friends and often stopping to dillydally

Croak-A- Hontas is fascinated by all that she sees

Her mind fills with a boundless curiosity

For every rock and tree and creature 

has a life, has a spirit, has a name that can teach her

My Princess Frogs display is a twist on the perennial tale Frog Prince. Instead of a woman kissing a frog to break the spell and turn it back into a prince, I wondered if a man would be willing to kiss a frog and turn it back into a princess.

If a man was willing to kiss a frog, would the frog want to be turned back into a Princess? Sarah Ferguson, Diana Spencer, and Meghan Markle‘s comments about a princess’s real life make it clear it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Life as a frog might be much easier than life as a princess.

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Princess Frog Poems: Toad White


Without a drop of rain, I staged a few of my upcoming Princess Frogs displays for Halloween. It was my first time seeing all the display elements – Princess Frogs, signs, lily ponds, and foliage—together.

I was overjoyed when a young girl passing by screamed, “Princess Frogs!” when she spotted my display. Her mother told me that her daughter loves to dress up as a princess. My target audience gets me!! My display will be on one of New York City’s iconic Halloween Streets, where over 2,000 children trick-or-treat annually.

Everything, except the wigs and crowns, is made from recycled materials – water bottles, pizza boxes, FedEx boxes, paper towels, toilet paper rolls, New York Times newspapers, bubble wrap, coffee cans, lids, and packing foam. 

Toad White 

In the forest so green and wide, 

Lives a toad, Toad White, with seven dwarfs by her side. 

Her skin is bumpy, her voice so low, 

But she is kind and gentle to all she knows

She spends her days hopping and leaping

and her nights on a lily pad, quietly sleeping

The Seven Dwarfs work in a field

harvesting corn that they later peel

She often visits them during the day

and reads them stories to keep them entertained

With her quick wit and sense of humor 

she makes long days pass much sooner 

One day, a prince passes her way, 

And sees  Toad White, a toad so gray. 

He picks her up, kisses her head, 

And suddenly, she is no longer dead. 

Toad White transforms, to her surprise, 

A princess now, before her eyes. 

But she never forgets her humble start, 

As a toad with a kind and gentle heart.

so the couple settles in a castle near a pond

so she will never forget her bond

with seven dwarfs who are her friends

so they all live happily together in the end 

My Princess Frogs display is a twist on the perennial tale Frog Prince. Instead of a woman kissing a frog to break the spell and turn it back into a prince, I wondered if a man would be willing to kiss a frog and turn it back into a princess.

If a man was willing to kiss a frog, would the frog want to be turned back into a Princess? Sarah Ferguson, Diana Spencer, and Meghan Markle‘s comments about a princess’s real life make it clear it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. Life as a frog might be much easier than life as a princess.

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Celebrity Charcuterie at Halloween Dinner

Last night’s Annual Pumpkin Carving Party was an absolute blast, especially with the fun food game, Celebrity Charcuterie! I created different plates of foods to see if guests could guess the identities of several Halloween-themed famous figures: Big Foot, Bewitched, Angelica Huston, the Mummy, and Ichabod Crane.

Despite being busy catering and sprucing up my Princess Frogs and Mermaid outdoor Halloween displays, I still found time to vote.

Thank you, Carol Seitz, for the great photo capturing the creepy creativity of our tablescape. 

The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic stops by the Mermaid Parade in Coney Island to raise awareness for diabetes in a fun, new way.

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Halloween Extravaganza at the Cathedral Of St. John the Divine

Last night, I attended the Cathedral of St. John the Divine‘s beloved annual Halloween celebration, 

The night started with a ‘cello-ween’ performance by a scary skeleton musician. The haunting melodies filled the cathedral’s amber-hued walls, creating an eerie atmosphere.  Next, we enjoyed a screening of the silent film The Phantom of the Opera, from 1925, starring the incomparable Lon Chaney. I always thought Lon Chaney was a one-note performer best known for scary roles, but his performance as the Phantom was masterful. 

The film remains most famous for Lon Chaney’s ghastly, self-devised make-up, which was kept a studio secret until the film’s premiere.  The lighting design filled with shadows, the mythic Grand Opera House stage, cellar and river, the enormous cast, and the superb editing of this film make it a must-see movie.  


TV guide said, “One of the most famous horror movies of all time, The Phantom of the Opera, still manages to frighten after more than 60 years.”

Our screening featured a live organ accompaniment that heightened the horror and drama. After the film finished, we were treated to a parade of ghouls and goblins from the Mettawee River Theater Company. Performers emerged from the smile of a gigantic, grotesque clown to scare and delight us. 

The Mettawee River Theatre Company dramatizes myths, folk tales, and legends from diverse cultures. Their original theatre productions incorporate masks, puppets, and giant figures with music, movement, and text.  

Under the Artistic Direction of mask maker, designer, and director Ralph Lee, the Mettawee River Company experimented with means of presenting masks, puppetry, mythology, and theater in ways that led an audience to experience the powerful relationship between human beings, their ancestry, and the natural environment.

Janet and Rosetta Van der Voort, born in the 1800s, were two wealthy sisters whose father rarely let them leave the house unaccompanied. The one place they were allowed to visit was Central Park’s Wollman Rink, where they went ice skating in the winter. The two sisters never married, were lifelong best friends, and died a few months apart. Since their death, their ghostly spirits have been seen periodically skating together on the Central Park Pond, wearing the same red and purple outfits they wore over 100 years ago.

Divabetic pays tribute to the sisters’ spirits, hoping to encourage you to indulge in the creativity associated with Halloween instead of candy. Halloween’s record-breaking sugar consumption and its detrimental effects on overall health are scarier than any ghost story.

It’s been reported that consumers gobbled up a record $36.9 billion in candy, gum, mints, chocolate, and other confections in 2021. High dietary sugar intakes in the context of a worldwide pandemic of obesity and cardiovascular disease have heightened concerns about the adverse effects of excessive sugar consumption.

The American Heart Association suggests limiting added sugars to less than 100 calories per day (about 6 teaspoons or 24 grams) for most adult women and no more than 150 calories per day (about 9 teaspoons or 36 grams of sugar) for most men.

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Don’t Miss Max Szadek On Solar Radio

Wow, Wow, Wow! I’m excited to be a guest on Richard Marzetti‘s upcoming Soul Life program on Solar Radio! I can’t wait to share my memories of working for Luther Vandross.

Growing up, I listened nonstop to Rochester, New York’s WDKX. Sometimes, I pinch myself when I realize I worked for one of R&B’s biggest stars. I owned every Luther album! To this day, it still seems unreal that a kid from Rochester would one day get the opportunity to work for Luther Vandross.

Amazingly, I started working on the Never Let Me Go tour thirty years ago.

Just so you know, I was a big Luther fan, just like the listeners of Solar Radio, before I began working for him. I’m really thankful to his fans for keeping Luther’s music legacy alive and for those new and old fans who strive to prevent mismanaged diabetes complications such as stroke from occurring by managing their diabetes daily to ‘keep their house a home.’

Being featured in the Luther: Never Too Much documentary is an honor, and I feel privileged to represent the hardworking, talented, caring, and supportive people who worked behind the scenes for Luther. Working on a tour in the wardrobe department for Luther was indeed the gold standard.

I’ve been hooked since my friend Mark Love introduced me to the UK’s Solar Radio a few years ago. Their fantastic mix of new and classic R&B, gospel, and dance music is incredible!

It’s been a joy to hear Richard Marzetti feature my music, Mama’s Kitchen Table by Ivan Hampden Jr. and Paulette McWilliams, and Standards by Crystal Penny on previous programs.

Sharing a new unreleased, hidden gem by Luther on this program (thanks to SONY Legacy) and a song by a good friend is just the cherry on top! I hope you can tune in on Friday!! I’ll post a link in the comments section.

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Wonder Woman Day


Today is Wonder Woman Day! It has been 83 years since her debut appearance in 1941. American writer William Moulton Marston and artist Harry G. Peter created this empowering global icon. She is always seen with her Lasso of Truth, indestructible bracelets, and iconic tiara.

Wonder Woman first appeared in All Star Comics #8 on October 21, 1941, in a back-up story meant to test her appeal. She became an instant favorite and soon started headlining her title less than a year later. Her popular 1970s television series introduced her to a new legion of fans, and she has since appeared in animated shows and movies.

The groundbreaking 2017 film “Wonder Woman,” directed by Patty Jenkins and starring Gal Gadot, was the highest-grossing live-action film ever for a female director at the time of its release. The sequel, “Wonder Woman 1984,” premiered on HBO Max and in theaters globally on December 25, 2020.

My Princess Frog version of this iconic character will soon make her debut on West 69th Street, one of New York City’s iconic Halloween streets.

Divavbetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller spotlighted her new jewelry line of heroic adornment, Power Pieces, created to help you shine your inner gifts. Catherine’s passion for sustainability is evident in her creation of power bracelets and trinkets using original comic book scraps and resin.

To meet the growing demand, she collaborates with local artists and interns. Power Pieces honors Catherine”s late husband, Mark Gruenwald’s legacy. Mark was an American comic book writer, editor, and occasional penciler known for his long association with Marvel Comics. Mark wrote, drew, and/or edited many books featuring characters like Quasar, Spider-Woman, the Avengers, Hawkeye, Iron Man, and Captain America, which he wrote for ten years! He was also instrumental in creating “the Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe,” which is the ultimate guide to Marvel’s characters, including their story history, first appearances, and lists of their powers.

Without Mark, these handbooks wouldn’t exist because no one knew more about Marvel’s characters and their history than Mark. Mark eventually became Marvel’s Executive Editor in 1987 and held that position until his untimely death from a heart attack in 1996.

Mark’s legacy continues to live on through his work, the characters he created, and now, through this comic book creation challenge. Mark proved that big dreams can come true even if you’re from a small place. Catherine’s plans include designing power pieces for the cowboy community in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and inviting visiting artist Steven Carrero to contribute to her collection.

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The Palace and America’s Most Beautiful Historic Theaters

Throughout the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to visit several stunning historic theaters across the country. Some of my favorite theaters include the Carpenter Theater in Richmond, the Temple Theatre in Saginaw, the Granada Theater in Santa Barbara, and the Palace Theater in Waterbury. While many may not consider touring theaters when visiting cities, these venues offer a remarkable insight into entertainment history. Most of these theaters were constructed in the 1920s, initially serving as vaudeville houses before transitioning into movie theaters with Wurlitzer organs accompanying silent films and eventually returning to hosting live performances.

The Palace Theater, with its luxurious tomato-red velvet curtain, has hosted a myriad of iconic performers over the years, from Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Jackie Gleason to Fleetwood Mac, Bob Dylan, and the Grateful Dead.

In 1924, during a performance by magician Harry Houdini, a crew had to cut an 8-foot-wide hole in the stage floor for a trap door. The hole was later patched up. Unfortunately, when Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus visited, an elephant named Shirley fell through the patched hole from Houdini’s act several years earlier. Sadly, the management had to put the animal down as they could not rescue it. Shirley, the elephant, is now part of Palace Theater lore as one of the four friendly spirits that supposedly haunt the theater.

In contrast to today’s black box-style theaters designed to accommodate various stage productions, these historic theaters, with their gleaming neon marquees, elegant lobbies, gold detailing, crystal chandeliers, and Art Deco carvings, were solely intended to transport their audiences from the mundane of everyday life to a magical world. The sumptuous plushness of the velvet seats instantly makes you feel like you’re about to experience something extraordinary.

During the pandemic, people stopped attending live shows for health and financial reasons. Still, they continued to stream music, films, and TV in record numbers, proving that entertainment is a necessary commodity. Divabetic’s podcasts, virtual workshops, and YouTube videos also experienced an uptick. There was a prevailing notion that live theater was a luxury. If that notion still holds, creating elaborate, glamorous theater spaces that encourage people to dress up, celebrate, and experience the joys of life is truly invaluable.

Watching performances by Itzhak Perlman and Rohan De Silva in these beautiful settings is a treasure.

We’re talking about movie characters with diabetes, including Steel Magnolias, Soul Food, Mad Money, The Baby-Sitter Club, and Nothing In Common. How realistic are these portrayals? How accurate is information about diabetes and diabetes self-care?  And how do we feel after viewing them?  With all the emotional and physical complications comes drama, making characters with the condition a good plot point on the silver screen.

Guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Glucose SOS founder Pamela Heyward, Constance Brown-Riggs MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN, Kent Gash, Jessica Clark, and Muniq Gut Health Shakes Founder Marc Washington.  

Throughout this podcast, we will feature music from the album Score by 2Cellos, courtesy of SONY Music.

Divabetic’s monthly podcasts are dedicated to Music Lovers living with, at risk, and/or affected by diabetes. We aim to be the epicenter of the circle of care, a link between patients and their healthcare providers, a translator of clinical speak, and a bridge between denial and acceptance, fear and confidence.

Divabetic was inspired by the late music legend, Luther Vandross and created in 2005 by Max ‘Mr. Divabetic Szadek, who, as Vandross’ assistant of 14 years, witnessed his boss, mentor, and friend struggle in silence and solitude with diabetes and its related complications. 

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