Category: Diva TalkRadio

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Murder Plain As Vanilla: Mystery Podcast Video Excerpt

Enjoy this excerpt from Divabetic’s 10th Annual Mystery podcast, Murder Plain As Vanilla, streaming on Spotify, iTunes, and BlogTalkRadio.

Our mystery podcast isn’t only for mystery lovers. It’s a fun way to learn about diabetes and self-care. In between colorful characters, crazy adventures, and mysterious surroundings, we pack health and wellness tips that can help you take charge of your diabetes. We also hope to encourage you to think like a detective the next time you experience unexpected blood sugar fluctuations. Search for clues, collect data, talk to witnesses, and bring your ideas to the authorities (healthcare collaborators) for solutions. A team approach to managing your diabetes isn’t a bad idea either.

Here’s a short synopsis: When Mr. Divabetic’s arch-nemesis baking sensation Renata Whisk calls, offering a chance to participate in the Visions of Vanilla baking competition, he can’t refuse. It’s an invitation to compete against culinary giants Best-Selling Cookbook Author Lily Frost, Green Thumb Gourment, Hazel Honeywell, and the Cannoli Countess and, most importantly, a chance to pay back his debt owed to his mother. 

But before Max’s hands touch flour, he discovers the dead body of the Vanilla King of Madagascar. As luck has it, Max is the last person to see the Vanilla King alive. To prove his innocence, he enlists his team, USA Today’s best-selling author Tonya Kappes, health educator MaryAnn Nicolay MEd, NDTR, and his mother, Mama Rose Marie.

But when another baker’s dead body is found near Max’s station, even his mother tastes a recipe for disaster. 

Now, armed with only Renata Whisk’s Puffed Pastry recipe, a rolling pin, and his team’s expertise in solving murders and dispersing diabetes health information, Max has no choice but to solve the mystery or at least die trying. 

Co-Starring Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Dave Jones, Seveda Williams, and Amparo Peterkin. Script Editor Wendy Radford. Producer, Leisa Chester Weir. Music from the Broadway Cast albums of Anything Goes courtesy of SONY Music.

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Mystery Podcast: A Christmas Peril

The Holidays are full of surprises— especially after Mr. Divabetic gets a new job as the pastry chef at the St. Nicholas Nursing Home nestled in a cozy Christmas Village. But adjusting to life in a Christmas Village is not all sugarplums and candy canes. Especially when a cantankerous resident, a real-life Ebenezer Scrooge,  named Mr. Pincher almost dies——shortly after eating one of Max’s peanut butter swirl brownies. Despite all of the ingredients for danger, Mr. Divabetic along with our team of amateur sleuths and his overly protective mother — set out to find the real culprit in the hopes that his name isn’t on a lethal naughty list.

Our story was inspired by Kevin Houdeshell’s tragic true-life story. Thanks to the Houdeshell family for their advocacy efforts on behalf of the Emergency Insulin Act of 2019 and the emergency prescription refill legislation. Known as Kevin’s or Howdy’s Law, it allows pharmacists to dispense an emergency supply of a chronic maintenance medication if the doctor cannot be reached – a common-sense act that could save a life.

Starring Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, USA Best Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Mama Rose Marie, Patricia Addie Gentle, Terri Seidman, MaryAnn Nicolay, Trisha Artman, Catherine Schuller, Chef Robert Lewis, Seveda Williams, and Wendy Radford. Special thanks to the Houdeshell family, and Pharmacist Mandy Reece. Original music by Ivan Hampden Jr., Celine Dion’s vocals courtesy of SONY Music. Produced by Leisa Chester Weir.

In the spirit of Scrooge’s awakening at the end of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, we encourage you to honor Christmas in your heart by living in the Past, The Present, and the Future. Try to embrace the Spirits of all Three and the lessons that they teach.

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Murder Plain As Vanilla Video Excerpt

Enjoy this excerpt from Divabetic’s 10 Annual Mystery podcast, “Murder Plain As Vanilla,” streaming on iTunes, Spotify, and BlogTalkRadio.

When Mr. Divabetic’s arch-nemesis baking sensation Renata Whisk calls, offering a chance to participate in the Visions of Vanilla baking competition, he can’t refuse. It’s an invitation to compete against culinary giants Best-Selling Cookbook Author Lily Frost, Green Thumb Gourment, Hazel Honeywell, and the Cannoli Countess and, most importantly, a chance to pay back his debt owed to his mother. 

But before Max’s hands touch flour, he discovers the dead body of the Vanilla King of Madagascar. As luck has it, Max is the last person to see the Vanilla King alive. To prove his innocence, he enlists his team, USA Today’s best-selling author Tonya Kappes, health educator MaryAnn Nicolay MEd, NDTR, and his mother, Mama Rose Marie.

But when another baker’s dead body is found near Max’s station, even his mother tastes a recipe for disaster. 

Now, armed with only Renata Whisk’s Puffed Pastry recipe, a rolling pin, and his team’s expertise in solving murders and dispersing diabetes health information, Max has no choice but to solve the mystery or at least die trying. 

Co-Starring Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Dave Jones, Seveda Williams, and Amparo Peterkin. Script Editor Wendy Radford. Producer, Leisa Chester Weir. Music from the Broadway Cast albums of Anything Goes courtesy of SONY Music.

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Video Highlights from Divabetic’s World Menopause Day Program

Enjoy highlights from Divabetic’s World Menopause Day program that was held on Wednesday, October 18, 2023.

Our panel was moderated by Divabetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller and featured Dr. Julianne Arena, Donna Rice, and Amparo.

Dr Julianne Arena is a double board-certified physician, a board-certified OBGYN who applies traditional, integrative methods and a multi-layered approach to helping women with sexual health and intimacy issues. She’s also a practitioner of Cliovana, the only treatment available that improves long-term clitoral stimulation with proven sound wave technology. Her goal is to help women create optimal and vibrant lives.

Catherine Schuller is the go-to person in the image industry for all things style and fashion for the plus-size woman. She began as a former Ford Model and became a spokesperson for the industry, a retail editor for Mode magazine, and wrote the highly acclaimed how-to guide The Ultimate Plus Size Modeling Guide, which has helped thousands of young women who want to enter the plus size modeling field. She is a frequently quoted media expert on the puls-size market and has appeared five times on The View, The Today Show, The Early Show, and eight times on Neal Cavuto’s Your World.

Donna Rice is a registered nurse and a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. She is a national and international thought leader and author of four books, including Divabetic’s ebook Sweet Romance: A Woman’s Guide To Love And Intimacy With Diabetes. She is a Past President of the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists and the Past President of the  Diabetes Health and Wellness Institute for Baylor Health Care Systems in Dallas, Texas.   Donna is the Chief Operating Officer for DiabetesSisters and The Chief  Evangelist for Call-ai, working on voice-driven AI for diabetes care and education. 

According to research, hormone levels (most notably estrogen and progesterone) fall dramatically during menopause. Changes to our hormones can affect our blood sugar levels and make managing diabetes more difficult.

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FANDROSS: The Joy Of A Luther Christmas

Enjoy the FANDROSS: The Joy of a Luther Christmas Special on YouTube. Luther’s friends and fans treat you to some of his most cherished Christmas songs, entertaining you through their beautiful interpretations.

This fantastic holiday special, available on-demand to see, features his former vocalists and collaborators, Lisa Fischer, Pat Lacy Aikens, Kevin Owens, and Terry Steele; his former assistant, Max Szadek; performances from friends and FAN greetings from around the globe, this will warm your heart, celebrate the season and remind you why Luther was a master singer and songwriter.

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Murder Plain As Vanilla: Mystery Podcast

This year’s Mystery podcast, Murder As Plain As Vanilla, is set in a real place – The Hedges Inn in East Hampton, NY. Our excellent narrator, the lovely Lorraine Brooks, explained how the Hedges Inn was named after one of the Hamptons’ founding families who settled there in 1644.

Two hundred years later, the restored family home became a boarding house. Word quickly spread nationwide about Mrs. Hedges’s delicious New England cooking. Her outstanding reputation turned her home into a place where the elite liked to meet and eat.

When Mr. Divabetic’s arch-nemesis baking sensation Renata Whisk calls, offering a chance to participate in the Visions of Vanilla baking competition, he can’t refuse. After all, it’s an invitation to compete against culinary giants Best-Selling Cookbook Author Lily Frost, Green Thumb Gourment, Hazel Honeywell, and the Cannoli Countess and, most importantly, a chance to pay back his debt owed to his mother. 

But before Max’s hands touch flour, he discovers the dead body of the Vanilla King of Madagascar lying in a bed of roses. As luck has it, Max is the last person to see the Vanilla King alive. Rumors start swirling about Max’s past involvement in legendary TV Chef Sweet Sally Buttercup’s untimely demise. To prove his innocence, he enlists his team, USA Today’s best-selling author Tonya Kappes, health educator MaryAnn Nicolay MEd, NDTR, and his mother, Mama Rose Marie.

But when another baker’s dead body is found near Max’s station, even his mother tastes a recipe for disaster. Could he be ladling out something lethal? 

Now, armed with only Renata Whisk’s Puffed Pastry recipe, a rolling pin, and his team’s expertise in solving murders and dispersing diabetes health information, Max has no choice but to solve the mystery or at least die trying. To win the Visions Of Vanilla grand prize, it will be a fight to the death.

Co-Starring Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Dave Jones, Seveda Williams, and Amparo Peterkin. Script Editor Wendy Radford. Producer, Leisa Chester Weir. Music from the Broadway Cast albums of Anything Goes courtesy of SONY Music.

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Luther Vandross Documentary Heads To Sundance Film Festival

We’re excited to announce Luther: Never Too Much, the feature-length documentary on Luther Vandross’s life and career, will premiere at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival. Award-winning filmmaker Dawn Porter follows the iconic artist as he charted his course in becoming one of the most influential pop artists of all time. 

“Like so many, I have always loved Luther’s music, but I had no idea of the breadth and scope of his artistry. I think people will be surprised at how much he accomplished in his tragically short life. It is a joy to be able to share his true story,” Dawn Porter told reporters at the time. 

The eight-time Grammy award winner and our Divabetic inspiration, started his career as a backup singer for artists like Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, and David Bowie. By the 1970s, Vandross had catapulted into stardom with his chart-topping album, Never Too Much, the title single becoming a No.1 hit on the Billboard R&B charts. 

Sadly, in 2003, at the age of 52, Luther Vandross suffered a stroke from mismanaged type 2 diabetes. Since that time, the nonprofit Divabetic has gone on to help thousands of people living with, at risk, and affected by diabetes stay on top of their self-care through podcasts, live events, and virtual programs.

For the first time, fans of the icon will gain access to never-before-seen footage that chronicles his rise to global stardom, his passion for the craft of music, and the personal struggles underlying it all.

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Divabetic Discount Coupon on Save My Sole Foot Rescue Cream

Our friend, Connie Elder, offers our Divabetic community members a special discount on her popular PEAK 10 SKIN Save My Sole Foot Rescue Cream.

Connie’s rescue cream is featured in this year’s Divabetic Gift Guide.

SAVE MY SOLE by PEAK 10 SKIN contains menthol and eucalyptus to relieve dryness, cracking, rough heels, and tension. Both of these ingredients emit a soothing aroma during application while providing a cooling and refreshing sensation on contact that immediately begins to ease irritation.

Pure, unrefined Shea Butter is infused into this healing formula due to its abundant nourishing benefits. The Shea Butter is packed with Vitamin E to lock in moisture and hydration for your depleted, dry skin and encourages the repair process. Coconut Oil is combined with Shea Butter to provide additional moisturizing and hydration. It helps to condition the thick bottom skin of the feet and produces more long-term results. Renew your distressed skin and reveal softer, smoother, happier feet!

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Murder Plain As Vanilla

Don’t miss Divabetic’s 10th Annual Mystery podcast, Murder Plain As Vanilla on Wednesday, December 13, 6 PM, EST.

When Mr. Divabetic’s arch-nemesis Renata Whisk invites him to enter the Visions of Vanilla baking competition, it’s an offer he can’t refuse. After all, he’ll compete against the culinary world’s giants, Best-Selling Cookbook Author Lily Frost, the Green Thumb Gourment, Hazel Honeywell, and the vivacious Cannoli Countess. But most importantly, if he wins the grand prize, he can finally be able to repay his mother.

It seems like he has nothing to lose whipping up one of Renata’s recipes until he discovers the dead body of Conrad Rivera, the Vanilla King of Madagascar, lying in the Hedges Inn’s bed of roses. Soon, rumors swirl about Max’s past involvement in legendary TV chef Sweet Sally Buttercup’s untimely demise at Central Park’s Gingerbread Man competition. To prove his innocence, he will need the help of USA Today’s best-selling author Tonya Kappes, health educator MaryAnn Nicolay MEd, NDTR, and his mother, Mama Rose Marie. 

But when Hazel Honeywell’s dead body is found near Max’s station, even his mother defers tasting his newest recipe. Could it be as lethal as a cup of kale hot cocoa? 

Now, armed with only Renata Whisk’s Puffed Pastry recipe, a rolling pin, and his team’s expertise in solving murders and dispersing diabetes health information, Max has no choice but to solve the mystery or at least die trying. To win the Visions Of Vanilla grand prize, it will be a fight to the death.

Listen on demand on Blog Talk Radio, iTunes, and Spotify. 

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The Diabetic Pastry Chef’s Sugar-Free Gingerbread Cake Recipe

Last night, our friend, Stacey Harris, the Diabetic Pastry Chef, demonstrated how to make her favorite recipe for Sugar-Free Gingerbread Cakes at Divabetic’s Holiday Sugarfree Baking Party on Zoom.

The Diabetic Pastry Chef’s Sugar-Free Gingerbread Cake Recipe

Ingredients

2 eggs

3/4 cup sugar substitute of your choice

3/4 cup molasses

3/4 cup butter, melted

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsps baking powder

2 tsps ground ginger

1 1/2 tsps cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 cup boiling water

Directions 

Grease an 8×8 inch pan, or grease a pan with 12 square cavities; set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  

In a bowl of an electric mixer, beat eggs until well combined. Add sugar substitute, molasses, and melted butter. Beat well.

In a separate bowl, sift together all dry ingredients.

Alternate adding the dry ingredients and boiling water into the batter, beating until each addition is combined and smooth and no large lumps remain. Pour into pan and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool.  

You may want to sprinkle sugar-free confectioner’s erythritol on top of the cooled cake for decoration. Serve each slice of gingerbread with a dollop of whipped cream.

Stacey’s Notes: I used White Lily All-Purpose flour to make the cake light in texture. Feel free to mix your flours to decrease the carbs, but your cake will not be as light in texture. I also used Splenda Magic Baker as my sugar substitute (white or brown sugar can be used) in this recipe.

At the start of our Holiday Sugarfree Baking Party, GUIDE Beauty Founder and  Makeup Artist Terri Bryant, who works with Selma Blair, shared how she found beauty in her health challenge. 

At the height of her makeup artist career, Terri Bryant started to experience a loss of hand dexterity, leading to challenges applying makeup.

Eventually, she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Empowered by knowledge and a life-long love of makeup, she created a new line of easy-to-use makeup applicators for mascara, eyeliner, and more for those of us who may be dealing with neuropathy in our hands. 

Divavbetic Image & Style Advisor Catherine Schuller spotlighted her new jewelry line of heroic adornment, Power Pieces, created to help you shine your inner gifts.  

At the end of our program, three of our favorite Divabetics, Arlene, Seveda, and Leola, won Raffle prizes (GUIDE Beauty products, Power Pieces, and a Divabetic Gift Box filled with our favorite gift ideas for 2023). 

Our next free Divabetic Zoom party will be in February to celebrate Valentine’s Day. 

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