Check out this delightful scene from Divabetic’s Gypsies, Tramps, and Peas murder mystery podcast, available on Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, and BlogTalkRadio!
This isn’t just for the mystery enthusiasts; it’s a fun and engaging way to learn about diabetes and self-care. Between the vibrant characters, wild adventures, and intriguing settings, we sneak in health and wellness tips to help you take charge of your diabetes.
Next time you find yourself facing unexpected blood sugar changes, think like a detective! Look for clues, jot down your observations, chat with your support system, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare team for solutions.
A collaborative approach to managing diabetes can work wonders!
Synopsis: Meet Mr. Divabetic, a diabetes advocate turned amateur sleuth, as he takes a leap into his new role as a healthy caterer. With the help of his quirky co-workers and his nosy Italian mother, he heads to Coney Island to cater a party on a yacht for his old swim coach, Ted Rockow.
But things take a dark turn when the guest of honor turns up dead! Was it just an unfortunate accident, or is something more sinister at play?
Now, Mr. Divabetic is grilling a colorful cast of characters—a lively group of Burlesque dancers, a charming lifeguard, a mystical gypsy fortune teller, and even a few sparkling mermaids—each trying to keep their secrets hidden beneath the waves.
Can Mr. Divabetic conquer his fear of green peas and uncover the truth about his coach’s death: murder or mishap? Will he float to safety or sink into despair?
Tune in to see if he can crack the case with a bit of help from his loving Italian mother and his friends. Along the journey to unveil the murderer, he’ll share valuable diabetes self-care tips perfect for those sunny summer days!
Starring Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, best-selling authorTonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, MaryAnn Horst-Nicolay MEd, NDRT, Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Asha Brown of We Are Diabetes, Chef Robert Lewis aka The Happy Diabetic, Mama Rose Marie, and Seveda Williams.
Enjoy Divabetic’s animated 10th Annual Original Mystery podcast, “Murder Plain As Vanilla,” streaming on Spotify, iTunes, and BlogTalkRadio.
Our mystery podcast is not just for mystery lovers. It’s an engaging way to learn about diabetes and self-care. Amidst colorful characters, thrilling adventures, and delightful settings, we offer health and wellness tips to help you take charge of your diabetes self-care.
We also promote the idea of thinking like a detective when you experience unexpected blood sugar fluctuations. Look for clues, gather data, talk to witnesses (friends, co-workers, and family members ), and present your ideas to healthcare professionals for solutions.
A team approach to managing your diabetes is also a great idea.
Here is a summary of Divabetic’s 10th Annual Original Mystery podcast, “Murder Plan As Vanilla.” Mr. Divabetic, a baking enthusiast, is invited by his arch-nemesis, Renata Whisk, to participate in the Visions of Vanilla baking competition.
The competition will feature renowned culinary giants such as Best-Selling Cookbook Author Lily Frost, Green Thumb Gourmet, Hazel Honeywell, and the Cannoli Countess. Max, who owes his mother a debt, accepts the invitation.
However, before Max can start baking, he discovers the dead body of the Vanilla King of Madagascar. As luck would have it, Max was the last person to see the Vanilla King alive.
To prove his innocence, he seeks help from his team, USA Today’s best-selling author Tonya Kappes, health educator MaryAnn Nicolay MEd, NDTR, former FBI Agent Pauline, and his mother, Mama Rose Marie.
Things take a turn for the worse when another baker is found dead near Max’s station, raising suspicions about his involvement in the murders. Even Max’s mother is at risk.
Now, with only Renata Whisk’s Puffed Pastry recipe, a rolling pin, and his team’s expertise in solving murders and providing diabetes health information, Max must solve the mystery or die trying.
Divabetic Mysteries: “Murder Plain As Vanilla” features Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Dave Jones, Seveda Williams, Leisa Chester Weir, and Amparo Peterkin. Written by Max Szadek and Wendy Radford. Produced by Leisa Chester Weir. Animated by Max Szadek.
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.
Half of the human population goes through a significant hormonal shift, yet few people are willing to talk about it, and many suffer alone.
I was walking through the airport when I spotted O Magazine’s Straight Talk About Menopause magazine. Instantly, I was reminded of Divabetic’s Menopause and Diabetes workshops, podcasts, and YouTube videos.
Both O Magazine and Divabetic offer expert advice on recognizing and treating symptoms and weathering mental and emotional storms.
Oprah has spoken about her own experiences with menopause, including having trouble concentrating, heart palpitations, and feeling muted. She also shared that she started taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and said, “I got my first click of estrogen, and I was like, the sky is bluer!”.
Oprah Daily launched a menopause guide with discussions, classes, tools, and expert advice on navigating menopause.
Menopausal symptoms include heavy bleeding, weight gain, joint pain, and mental health symptoms. But only 17% of OB-GYNs are trained to treat menopause.
However, Divabetic tackles the topic of menopause from a diabetes perspective. Our panel featured Dr. Julianne Arena and Donna Rice and was moderated by Catherine Schuller. 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.
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.
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.
After writing and producing ten mystery podcasts, I can say that our Suspect Boulevardpodcast is my favorite.
One reason is that the format loosely follows Billy Wilder’s iconic Sunset Boulevard film. Praised by many critics when first released, Sunset Boulevard was nominated for 11 Academy Awards.
I tell the story of mystery, diabetes, and intrigue from backward to forward, and the setting is a gilded mansion in Beverly Hills.
My main characters, two famous sisters, author Marjorie Melbourne Blaze and her actress sister Marjorie Melbourne, elude to Jackie and Joan Collins.
Diabetes alert dogs are one of the many diabetes health topics in this podcast. I interviewed my friend Debby Kay, a diabetes alert dog trainer, scent detection expert, and author, about them, their skills, and the training required.
Having a dog that reliably alerts to blood sugar levels can help individuals regain their independence in daily life. This degree of detection by your side gives many people with diabetes the confidence to return to activities they love.
Here’s a quick synopsis of Sunset Boulevard: On a bright sunny morning, our happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic, arrives at the resplendent Beverly Hills estate of NYT Best-Selling Author and Socialite Marjorie Melbourne Blaze. He’s here to deliver the keynote address at the Annual Heart of the Diva Gala on diabetes and women.
But he soon learns that a roomful of rich and famous faces is full of way more drama than he had ever expected . . . and now murder.
So, can Max and our team find the killer before this red-carpet event is covered in blood?
Divabetic’s story of diabetes mystery and intrigue stresses why it can be deadly to blame others for your heart’s misfortunes.
FEATURING Max “Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek, Lorraine Brooks, We Are Diabetes Founder Asha Brown, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP, Susan Weiner MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, Chef Robert Lewis aka ‘The Happy Diabetic,’ USA Today Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES and Mama Rose Marie. Produced by Leisa Chester-Weir.
One way to help prevent complications is to take a team approach to managing your diabetes and involve your friends, family, co-workers, and healthcare professionals in your self-care. Showing close friends where you keep your supplies and informing them of what you need when experiencing a low is a great way to safeguard against a health crisis. Remember, asking for help is not a sign of weakness.
Divabetic® (divabetic.org) is a national nonprofit diabetes outreach organization committed to changing attitudes in people at risk, affected by and living with diabetes.
We strive to encourage prevention, early action, and education. Check out our free monthly podcasts (available on iTunes and BlogTalkRadio) and our Zoom outreach programs.
Enjoy our fully animated Mystery podcast, Murder Plain As Vanilla, packed with excellent diabetes information, a fun whodunnit, and many crazy characters.
Our mystery podcast is not just for mystery lovers. It’s an engaging way to learn about diabetes and self-care. Amidst colorful characters, thrilling adventures, and delightful settings, we offer health and wellness tips to help you take charge of your diabetes self-care.
We also promote the idea of thinking like a detective when you experience unexpected blood sugar fluctuations. Look for clues, gather data, talk to witnesses (friends, co-workers, and family members ), and present your ideas to healthcare professionals for solutions.
A team approach to managing your diabetes is also a great idea.
Here is a summary of Divabetic’s 10th Annual Original Mystery podcast, Murder Plan As Vanilla. Mr. Divabetic, a baking enthusiast, is invited by his arch-nemesis, Renata Whisk, to participate in the Visions of Vanilla baking competition.
The Visions of Vanilla competition will feature renowned culinary giants such as Lily Frost, Best-Selling Cookbook Author, Green Thumb Gourmet, Hazel Honeywell, and the Cannoli Countess. Max, who owes his mother a debt, accepts the invitation.
The competition will feature renowned culinary giants such as Lily Frost, Best-Selling Cookbook Author, Green Thumb Gourmet, Hazel Honeywell, and the Cannoli Countess. Max, who owes his mother a debt, accepts the invitation.
However, before Max can start baking, he discovers the dead body of the Vanilla King of Madagascar. As luck would have it, Max was the last person to see the Vanilla King alive.
To prove his innocence, he seeks help from his team, USA Today’s best-selling author Tonya Kappes, health educator MaryAnn Nicolay MEd, NDTR, former FBI Agent Pauline, and his mother, Mama Rose Marie.
Things take a turn for the worse when another baker is found dead near Max’s station, raising suspicions about his involvement in the murders. Even Max’s mother is at risk.
Now, with only Renata Whisk’s Puffed Pastry recipe, a rolling pin, and his team’s expertise in solving murders and providing diabetes health information, Max must solve the mystery or die trying.
Diabetic Mysteries: Murder Plain As Vanilla features Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Lorraine Brooks, Mama Rose Marie, MaryAnn Nicolay, Catherine Schuller, Dave Jones, Seveda Williams, Leisa Chester Weir, and Amparo Peterkin. Written by Max Szadek and Wendy Radford. Produced by Leisa Chester Weir. Animated by Max Szadek
Join me for the upcoming ImageNation’s SOUL TRAIN Tribute to Luther Vandross on Thursday, September 5, 2024, at 6 PM, in Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem, NY.
It’s going to be a sensational night celebrating Luther’s legacy. The night starts with DJ Stormin Norman and a Soul Train Dance Line. Several local performers will perform, including Chandlar and Karen J, Chris Rob, Heshima, Michael Pollydore, and our friend Keith Anthony Fluitt. Keith performed a few of Luther’s iconic hits at Divabetic’s Luther Vandross Music & Style Celebration in April.
After the outdoor screening of the Luther: Never Too Much documentary, Director Dawn Porter and singer and songwriter Fonzi Thornton participate in a Q&A session. The celebration continues with an AfterParty featuring live bands and a DJ interweaving Luther Tributes in their sets at Shrine World Music Venue, 2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd between 133rd & 134th Streets, New York, NY 10030.
Earlier this week, I spoke to one of the event organizers, Joy Enterprises’ Marko S. Nobles, owner of Rhythm and Soul Radio. Marko spent years learning, growing, and becoming an experienced PR, Marketing, Radio, Event Production, and Entertainment professional.
Marko’s Rhythm and Soul Radio played Ivan Hampden Jr. and Paulette McWilliams‘ song “Mama Kitchen Table” last summer. Paulette and I wrote the lyrics to this song, which topped the UK Soul Charts. Marko, a stroke survivor, said Joy Enterprises hosts a Soul Train Tribute every year to celebrate Don Cornelius‘s legacy of Don and the artists who appeared on Soul Train. Past honorees include superstars Stevie Wonder, Prince, Aretha Franklin, and James Brown.
“I grew up on Soul Train,” says Marko. “It was a Saturday morning staple in our households.” When I asked Marko why he chose Luther as this year’s featured artist, he said, “Luther had strong ties to the Apollo, starting with ‘Listen My Brother.'” A teenage Luther Vandross was part of Apollo’s musical ensemble, Listen My Brother, which performed several times on Sesame Street during its early seasons.
Every year, there’s an independent film tied into the celebration, along with multiple mini-concerts featuring local independent artists performing songs by their legends.
“I’ve always been into radio,” adds Marko. His company, Rhythm, and Soul Radio was born from his weekly Tuesday night WHUR radio show on City College, which follows our friend Alyson Williams’ program.
Like the upcoming Luther Celebration in Harlem, Marko’s internet-based Rhythm and Soul Radio channel celebrates independent artists.
On this Divabetic podcast, writer Clarence Waldron talks about his stroke, recovery, working as Senior Editor and Writer of Jet Magazine, and his memories of Luther Vandross and Aretha Franklin.
In the documentary, I discuss the traumatic moment when I discovered Luther after he suffered a stroke related to mismanaged type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, Luther’s recovery was short-lived; he passed away in 2005.
Twenty years ago, Clarence interviewed Luther’s mother, Mrs. Mary Ida Vandross, for Jet Magazine after Luther suffered a stroke due to mismanaged type 2 diabetes. Clarence and Marko’s stories are excellent reminders of why it’s essential to ACT F.A.S.T. if you or a loved one is experiencing a stroke. The acronym FAST (Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties, and Time) has been used by the National Stroke Association, American Heart Association, and others to educate the public on detecting stroke symptoms.
I styled one of Luther’s outfits for the “I Know” album uncredited. At the time, Luther had gained considerable weight and was not interested in clothes or being photographed.
By this time in my tenure with Luther, I knew I had to bring some clothes (in his sizes) to supplement what the stylist had brought to shoots. I found a navy blue Polo Anorak jacket with a white stripe down the sides at Bloomingdale’s that camouflaged his size. Much to Luther’s dismay, the photographer shot Luther on the back of the set piece. It was a bare wood wall. I think I kept the jacket 🙂 George Corsillo, who designed Luther’s album covers starting with the Night I Fell In Love, was involved in the shoot. If I recall, Luther loved the cover design from the first minute he saw it.
On a hot Summer day, I picked up a can of Swoon Pink Lemonade at my neighborhood Bodega. I had never heard of Swoon before, but the bright colors and the big Zero Sugar caught my eye. I googled the product and found out that Swoon co-founder Jen was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at a young age. She was on the hunt for delicious, zero-sugar drinks with little success. Cristina and her co-founder created a sweet, fruity, tart, and deliciously flavored drink.
The only thing to note is that it does have a slight stevia aftertaste that tingles on your tongue. Apart from Pink Lemonade, Swoon offers exciting flavors like Lemonade, Ginger Lemonade, Half and Half, Peach Tea, Lemon Tea, Raspberry Tea, and Peach Tea.
What’s even cooler is that when you buy a case of Swoon online, they donate one can to a needy family through the nonprofit Wellfare and their first-of-its-kind Better Box program that’s improving access to convenient nutrition in low-income communities.
After a quick scan of the Swoon®. website, I stumbled upon this fun cocktail recipe! It’s easy-breezy, hot-pink, frosty, and delicious. You can add vodka or have it as a mocktail.
INGREDIENTS
2 pounds cubed watermelon (about 4 cups) 1 12-ounce can pink lemonade, such as Swoon® Pink Lemonade
Many people consume more sugar than they realize. Our bodies don’t need sugar to function properly. The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to no more than 6% of calories each day. For most American women, that’s no more than 100 calories per day, or about 6 teaspoons of sugar. For men, it’s no more than 150 calories per day, or about 9 teaspoons.
We’re talking about ‘THE SWEETEST TABOO’ aka ‘ADDED SUGAR’ with musical inspiration from Sade on this episode of Divabetic’s podcast. Podcast guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDCES, Tameka Milline, Catherine Schuller AICI, CIP. Kathy Dolgin aka ‘High Voltage’, and Stephanie MacKendree. Throughout the podcast, we play music from ‘The Essential Sade’ album courtesy of SONY Music.
Thank you for the kind comments about my appearance in the documentary. Initially, I was apprehensive about appearing in the film. But as many of you know, I dedicated my life to diabetes outreach after Luther’s debilitating stroke related to mismanaged type 2 diabetes. The need to raise awareness for preventing a stroke or diabetes-related complication from occurring far outweighed my doubts or insecurities. The trauma I experienced from Luther’s health crisis will always be heavy on my heart. I hope sharing my story will empower you and your loved one to make time to manage your health.
Outside the Tribeca Film Festival screening of “Never Too Much” with Fonzi Thornton, James Ervin (Luther Vandross‘s choreographer, me, Catherine Schuller (Divabetic Image and Style Advisor, and Seveda Williams (Luther Vandross‘s niece).
Until now, I have refrained from discussing the documentary out of consideration for friends and colleagues who were not featured. I am grateful to have been included, but seeing myself on screen shattered any illusions that I resemble Brad Pitt (LOL).
Watching myself relive the experience on screen was difficult, but knowing the path I chose in response to it made me feel proud.
Many people have told me that my scenes brought tears to their eyes. I was able to speak openly and honestly about Luther’s health crisis because of my ongoing work with Divabetic and the members of the Divabetic community.
If I had continued to work in entertainment instead of diving headfirst into diabetes outreach after Luther’s stroke, I don’t think I could have revisited my experience in such a candid and vulnerable way. More importantly, I feel I delivered a powerful message on why making time to take care of yourself and your health is essential.
I hosted a “Divabetic—Makeover Your Diabetes” mini-team reunion with my friends and colleagues, Makeup Artist Jeff Jones, and Style Advisor Catherine Schuller. We haven’t been together in quite a while.
It was such a rewarding experience to travel to different U.S. cities and empower women affected by, living with, and at risk of diabetes. The experience was life-changing for each of us, so within no time, we were walking down memory lane, sharing our favorite moments.
Our comprehensive educational approach, partnered with free makeover services, boosted their confidence and helped them manage their condition effectively. Participants could enjoy one-on-one education sessions on fitness, nutrition, appearance, intimacy, diabetes education, and goal setting. They were also treated to free makeovers, mini-massages, image advice and safe manicures. Our Diva photography studio, fashion show, fun workout demonstrations, stage games, and prize giveaways had people smiling all day.
Divabetic’s six one-on-one education stations were branded with nonclinical names: “Twist & Shout” (fitness), “Grab Green & Go” (nutrition), “Glam More Fear Less” (appearance), “Tunnel of Love” (intimacy), “Denial’s Not My Style “(A, B, C’s of diabetes), and “Sweet Inspirations” (goal setting. These stations were surrounded by a Makeover Maze (free makeup application, mini-massage, and safe manicure stations)so that participants could jump back and forth from education to self-pampering without losing a beat.
Catherine and Jeff discussed their initial meeting and shared hesitations about their roles in the makeover program in an elevator as we headed to our first team meeting in Atlanta, GA, in 2006. No one was more surprised at that meeting in Atlanta than my parents, who initially thought they were helping me at someone else’s program, not hosting my first national program. They were shocked to learn I had gained funding from Novo Nordisk to pilot an outreach program geared toward women in two major cities, Atlanta, GA, and Philadelphia, PA; even more surprising was that it became one of their most popular outreach programs ever. Our Novo Nordisk Presents Divabetic – Makeover Your Diabetes ran for three remarkable years, reaching thousands of women in eight major cities.
I found myself retelling the unbelievable origins story of the program and how I was in the right place at the right time to conceive and implement a program of this magnitude. My experience volunteering backstage at dLife TV tapings in New York played an instrumental role in making it all happen.
