Divabetic’s Top 3 Podcasts of 2020

This year’s Top 3 Divabetic podcasts came together a little differently than before. Our top rated podcast from October featured an exclusive interview with singer, songwriter Angela Bofill. Angela’s fighting spirit after experiencing two strokes is truly inspirational. Additionally, it seems all the extra rehearsals and script revisions have paid off as our annual mystery podcast topped the Luther Vandross tribute for the first time in the ratings. We think you’ll enjoy these three shows no matter your situation in life right now.

#3: Divabetic’s Annual Luther Vandross Tribute Podcast

We’re celebrating the musical legacy of Luther Vandross and raising awareness for diabetes health-related complications (such as vision loss) on Divabetic’s Annual Luther Vandross Tribute podcast.

Diabetic eye disease, caused by diabetes, is a leading cause of blindness and vision loss. Because of the high risk for eye disease, all people with type 2 diabetes should receive an annual dilated eye exam.

A 2019 Vision Source study of 1,000 U.S. consumers found that more than 50% had issues with their vision in the past year, and 34% did not go for a professional eye exam. The major barriers to having an annual eye exam included not thinking they needed one (33%), unsure of where to go (25%), lack of insurance, (22%) and expense (22%).

Comprehensive eye exams are key to overall wellness and preserving a high quality of life. In addition to evaluating vision, annual eye exams can detect serious health issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, and even cancer.

Guests include Andre “Doctor Dre” Brown, Nat Adderley Jr.,  Dr. Khoshnevis, Danny Clay, and Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE.  Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from Luther Vandross’s album, ‘The Night I Fell In Love’ courtesy of SONY Music.

#2: Divabetic’s Mystery Podcast: Kill Me Madam

There’s a good indication that murder might be part of the recipe when Nantucket’s ten time reigning Baking Champion’s last name is ‘Coffin’. But resentment, greed and Britannia’s own bad dealings turn everyone into a suspect when she’s found dead in the parking lot just before the Annual Decadents on Deck! Bake Off competition is about to kick off.

Delusional baker and amateur sleuth Mr. Divabetic is even shocked to find himself being treated as a suspect in the case by the local police, after meeting her just once!

As if his life wasn’t crazy enough before, escaping a murderous mishap in New York and attempting a fresh start in Nantucket has turned into a complete and utter baking disaster, now Max, along with his friends and nosy mother, have to add tracking down a murderer to his To-Do list, as well.

Can our team hunt down the real murderer before they strike again? Will he become the next victim? Can Max ever manage to bake a cake that’s actually edible?

Divabetic’s Mystery podcast cast includes USA Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, MaryAnn Horst-Nicolay MEd, NDRT, Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Wendy Radford, Coach The Cure‘s Trisha Artman, Mama Rose Marie, Seveda Williams, and Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. Produced by Leisa Chester-Weir.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from the Broadway Cast Album of ‘Call Me Madam’ courtesy of SONY Music.

#1: Diabetes Late Nite Podcast Inspired by Angela Bofill

We’re talking about the symptoms, causes and prevention of stroke with musical inspiration from Angela Bofill.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the US. As many as 5 to 14 percent of stroke survivors have a second stroke within one year.

With her strong, distinctive alto, Angela Bofill carved a niche as an outstanding interpreter of soul ballads and became a mainstay on the Quiet Storm radio format.

Angela Bofill suffered two strokes but neither stroke could take away her positive, humorous personality and her fighter spirit. After she lost the ability to sing, she returned to the stage for “The Angela Bofill Experience” in which she skillfully narrated her life story, while her band and other singers .

Podcast guests include Angela Bofill, Catherine Schuller, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Neva White DNP, CRNP- BC, CDE, and Rose Hall from Tessie’s Teas.

Throughout the podcast we will feature music from Angela Bofill’s albums Angie and Angel of the Night courtesy of SONY Music.

Coming Up: Diabetes Late Nite Inspired by Aaliyah

We’re talking about a ‘New Year, New You‘ attitude about living with diabetes with musical inspiration from Aaliyah on Diabetes Late Nite scheduled for Tuesday, January 12, 2020.

Although Aaliyah died at the age of 22 and had a short music career due to her early passing, the singer’s music helped to redefine R&B, pop, and even hip-hop. And her legacy continues to live on. Her hard work ethic, creativity, and her sweet demeanor have inspired fans over the past two decades.

Diabetes Late Nite podcast guests include Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, Pendulum Glucose Control‘s Colleen Cutcliffe, Ph. D., CEO and co-founder of Pendulum Therapeutics and Virginia Valentine, APRN, BC-ADM, CDE, FAADE, Dr. Darren Wayne from MealBetix and Yoga For Diabetes Author Rachel Zinman.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from Aaliyah’s Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number album courtesy of SONY Music.

Tune in over 140 Diva TalkRadio podcasts available for free on i-tunes (search ‘Divabetic’).

Divabetic Cozy Mystery: Kill Me Madam, Part 9

Looks like someone is coming but it’s too late to save Max. Millicent Merriweather turns around, intending to shoot our approaching team, but her numbed feet cause her to trip over a nail sticking out of the rotting deck. Peggy rushes forward and holds Millicent down as she tries to stand up. In the tussle, the stolen pearl handled pistol skids across the deck and Mama Rose Marie grabs it and points it at Millicent.  

Mama Rose Marie: Where is my son?

Millicent: Swimming with the fishes.

Peggy: That’s not possible. He can’t be dead. I put blanks in that pistol after I found it behind Millicent’s cash register. Millicent is always threatening to kill anyone who uses a Groupon. There’s no way she should have access to a loaded gun.

Tonya: Look, there he is!

Narrator:  Max’s head bobs up in the water. After climbing up the ladder, he is toweling off on deck.

Mama Rose Marie: Thank Goodness, you’re safe. Once you dry off, Bartholomew, you’ll be as good as new.

Max:  New? Never. Different? Maybe. I’m not going to pretend to be someone else to win a contest. From now on, I’m staying true to who I am no matter how the chips may fall.

Tonya: Don’t you mean no matter how the dead bodies may fall?

Peggy: I’ve got some good news. We have a new Decadent Desserts on Deck Champion.

Max: I …I won?

Tonya: What? Was everyone else disqualified?

Peggy: I’m sorry Max – you never finished making your pie, so you WERE disqualified. But I think this check just might make up for it. Does this lift your spirits?

Max: Wow, what’s this for?

Peggy: Think of it as an advance on future pie orders. Your vegan key lime pie made with cashews and a pecan pie crust is such an interesting twist on the traditional recipe that I want to offer it to my customers.

Patricia: My patients who switch to vegan diets see their blood pressure decrease as well as their risk for heart disease.

MaryAnn: Max, you did it! You finally sold a recipe! Let’s celebrate.

Tonya: Hold your horses. We still haven’t found the stolen whales’ teeth!

Peggy: Loretta told me she hasn’t had any luck finding them.

Max: Mom, why do you have a funny look on your face?

Mama Rose Marie: We need to go check the oven.

Max: In the prep kitchen? But I turned it off before we left this morning.

Mama Rose Marie: No, no, not that oven! C’mon. Follow me.

Narrator: Mama Rose Marie leads our team back to the fabled Hussey mansion overhanging the Nantucket Sound. 

SOUND EFFECT: Sea gulls

Mama Rose Marie: Peggy, didn’t you say Britannia won ten First Place ribbons with her winning pie crust? Is that right?

Peggy: Do you mean what I said about ‘blind baking’?

Max: Mom, what do her baking skills have to do with the whales’ teeth?

Mama Rose Marie: Tanya, open that oven door.

Tonya: Well, I’ll be. The stolen whales’ teeth are right here in Britannia’s pie crusts!

Peggy: Only Britannia would think to hide them there. Let me call Loretta.

Patricia: Max, please don’t get any ideas about adding whales’ teeth to your next gluten free recipe!

MaryAnn: By the look on his face. I think he’s seriously considering it.

Max: No! Look at Peggy’s check. It’s the exact amount of the entry fee for the baking contest in Martha’s Vineyard.

Mama Rose Marie: How can you think of entering another baking contest after what happened?

Max: We don’t have any choice. I gave Britannia all my cash for the food processor and I maxed out my credit cards on these pirate costumes.

Patricia: You mean we’re stuck here?

Tonya: Yippee! I’m ready to sink my teeth into another murder!

MaryAnn: Let’s just cash the check and go home.

Max: But I can make a lot more money winning the grand prize in Martha’s Vineyard with a new recipe! How about a rhubarb quinoa brownie?

Mama Rose Marie: Oh, no, here we go again!

Narrator: Another mystery solved by our crack team of amateur sleuths. We’ve all learned a few things from this story.  Running away from your diabetes-related problems can lead to bigger issues. Any warning signs that something’s not right concerning your diabetes health should not be ignored.

We are always grateful to Sony Music for allowing us to feature their music. Tonight’s music was from the original Broadway recording of ‘Call Me Madam’ starring Dinah Shore. 

 

Al Roker Reveals Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Al Roker told his Today show audience that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancerRoker, 66, mentioned that he will leave the show for a while to have surgery. “It’s a good news-bad news kind of thing,” he said. “Good news is we caught it early.”

He underwent a five-hour surgery by Dr. Vincent Laudone on November 9 at New York City’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center to remove his prostate and some surrounding tissue and lymph nodes.The surgery went well, and Al was already doing laps around the hospital hallways by that afternoon. He was home by the following day and bustling through his regular five-mile walk around the park just three days after the surgery.

“I feel good,” Al said. “The technology has gotten so good – they did it with a robot – that I felt much better after the surgery than I did with any of my joint replacements.

WATCH INTERVIEW

The 5 Warning Signs of Prostate Cancer
  • A painful or burning sensation during urination or ejaculation.
  • Frequent urination, particularly at night.
  • Difficulty stopping or starting urination.
  • Sudden erectile dysfunction.
  • Blood in urine or semen.

In addition, you may have pain around the base of the penis and behind the scrotum, pain in the lower back, and the feeling of a full rectum. As the prostate becomes more swollen, you may find it more difficult to urinate, and the urine stream may become weak.

 

We’re celebrating World Diabetes Day with musical inspiration from Aretha Franklin.

There are many reasons that Aretha Franklin is the legend of legends, a groundbreaking singer with the fortitude to transcend race and genre, using that tremulous voice as the bulldozer to break down every barrier set up in her way.

Aretha’s own health journey is sparking a discussion about the uncertain connection between pancreatic cancer and diabetes. Long-standing diabetes can be considered a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. It causes a modest increase in risk of 1.5- to two-fold. Some of the other risk factors for pancreatic cancer include smoking, chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), family history of pancreatic cancer, obesity and certain genetic syndromes.

Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport, Diabetes Strong’s owner Christel Oerum, Beautyphonics CEO and “Beneath The Makeup”Author Suzanne Perez, Jessica Clark, Trisha Artman, and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.

Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from Aretha Franklin’s Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics’ courtesy of SONY Music.

Diabetes Late Nite is a fast-paced, full-filled hour of diabetes education and wellness advice that encourages listeners to “laugh a little, learn a  lot.”

How To Blind Bake Pie Crust

There’s a good indication that murder might be part of the recipe when Nantucket’s ten time reigning Baking Champion’s last name is ‘Coffin’ in Divabetic’s Mystery Podcast, ‘Kill Me Madam’. The secret to her success is blind baking.

What is blind baking?

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

Blind baking a pie crust is pre-baking the crust, without filling, then adding the filling once the crust is baked according to the King Arthur Baking Company. The pie can then be placed back in the oven for the filling to bake; or the baked crust can be filled with cooked filling, the whole left to cool and set.

Why is it necessary to blind bake pie crust?

READ MORE

 

Divabetic’s Mystery podcast cast includes USA Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, MaryAnn Horst-Nicolay MEd, NDRT, Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Wendy Radford, Coach The Cure‘s Trisha Artman, Mama Rose Marie, Seveda Williams, and Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. Produced by Leisa Chester-Weir.

Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from the Broadway Cast Album of ‘Call Me Madam’ courtesy of SONY Music.

Are you interested in learning how to bake with sugar substitutes? Join the happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic for this free, fun Virtual Baking Party with special guest, Stacey Harris aka The Diabetic Pastry Chef on Thursday, December 10, 2020, 7 – 8 PM, EST on Zoom.

FREE REGISTER 

 

 

Divabetic’s 7th Annual Mystery Podcast: Kill Me Madam Premieres Tonight!

Divabetic’s 7th Annual Mystery Podcast: Kill Me Madam Premieres Tonight

Click HERE for LIVE BROADCAST starting at 6 PM, EST

There’s a good indication that murder might be part of the recipe when Nantucket’s ten time reigning Baking Champion’s last name is ‘Coffin’.

But resentment, greed and Britannia’s own bad dealings turn everyone into a suspect when she’s found dead in the parking lot just before the Annual Decadents on Deck! Bake Off competition is about to kick off. Delusional baker and amateur sleuth Mr. Divabetic is even shocked to find himself being treated as a suspect in the case by the local police, after meeting her just once! Can our team hunt down the real murderer before they strike again? Will Mr. Divabetic become the next victim? 

Featuring USA Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE, MaryAnn Horst-Nicolay MEd, NDRT, Lorraine Brooks, Catherine Schuller, Wendy Radford, Coach The Cure‘s Trisha Artman, Mama Rose Marie, Seveda Williams, and Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek. Produced by Leisa Chester-Weir. Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from the Broadway Cast Album of ‘Call Me Madam’ courtesy of SONY Music.

 

Encore Presentation of Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes Mystery Podcast

Enjoy this Encore Presentation of Divabetic’s 6th Annual Diabetes Mystery Podcast, Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes.

Our mystery is set in the fictitiously decadent world-renowned Gingerbread Men Cookie Baking Competition in New York’s Central Park Zoo. Mr. Divabetic’s healthy culinary misadventures continue in this year’s escapade as he enters the competition with headless cookies and pureed kale hot cocoa for the judges to sample. As if this dreadful combination wasn’t bad enough to land him at the bottom of the throwdown, his mother, Mama Rose Marie, is accused of poisoning one of the celebrity judges! Things go from bad to worse when the snake phobic Mr. Divabetic hears about the giant python’s escape.

Now, the happy healthcare host must decide to face his fear of snakes and recipe rejection or throw in his apron and risk getting caught up in another murder investigation. Can Mr. Divabetic and his team of amateur sleuths hunt down the real killer and get Mama Rose Marie out of jail? Will he be the next murder victim? Can he ever create an edible recipe?

 

The cast of Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes features Mama Rose Marie, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach (Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE and MaryAnn Nicolay BA, DTR), The Happy Diabetic Chef Robert Lewis, Seveda Williams, Coach The Cure’s Trisha Artman, Jillian Walsh, Wendy Radford, Dave Jones, Lorraine Brooks and Max Szadek.

Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from the original Broadway cast recording of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes courtesy of SONY MUSIC.

 

 

31 Days of Divabetic Podcasts, Day Thirty

Divabetic (Divabetic.org) presents a month-long showcase celebrating 10 years of diabetes podcasting. Each of the featured podcasts spotlights our favorite guests, topics, poems, games and/or musical inspiration. Enjoy!

On Day 30, we’re spotlighting Divabetic’s 6th Annual Mystery podcast, Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes, from September 2019.

“Our mystery podcast is the culmination of a year’s time spent creating characters, developing  storylines, choosing music and sound effects, and rehearsing with the full cast to educate people about diabetes in a fun, new way,” says Max ‘Mr. Divabetic’ Szadek.

The mystery is set in the fictitiously decadent world-renowned Gingerbread Men Cookie Baking Competition in New York’s Central Park Zoo. Mr. Divabetic’s healthy culinary misadventures continue in this year’s escapade as he enters the competition with headless cookies and pureed kale hot cocoa for the judges to sample. As if this dreadful combination wasn’t bad enough to land him at the bottom of the throwdown, his mother, Mama Rose Marie, is accused of poisoning one of the celebrity judges! Things go from bad to worse when the snake phobic Mr. Divabetic hears about the giant python’s escape.

Now, the happy healthcare host must decide to face his fear of snakes and recipe rejection or throw in his apron and risk getting caught up in another murder investigation. Can Mr. Divabetic and his team of amateur sleuths hunt down the real killer and get Mama Rose Marie out of jail? Will he be the next murder victim? Can he ever create an edible recipe?

The cast of Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes features Mama Rose Marie, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach (Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE and MaryAnn Nicolay BA, DTR), The Happy Diabetic Chef Robert Lewis, Seveda Williams, Coach The Cure‘s Trisha Artman, Jillian Walsh, Wendy Radford, Dave Jones, Lorraine Brooks and Max Szadek.

Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from the original Broadway cast recording of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes courtesy of SONY MUSIC.

 

 

Our 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 health care 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 the diabetes and its related complications. Since its inception, Divabetic has presented outreach programs in 15 major U.S. cities, reaching hundreds of thousands of women, their families and health care professionals.

Experience more of our GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS philosophy at divabetic.org

31 Days of Divabetic Podcasts, Twenty Eight

Divabetic (Divabetic.org) presents a month-long showcase celebrating 10 years of diabetes podcasting. Each of the featured podcasts spotlights our favorite guests, topics, poems, games and/or musical inspiration. Enjoy!

On Day 28, we’re spotlighting Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite Inspired by Aretha Franklin podcast from November 2018.

There are many reasons that Aretha Franklin is the legend of legends, a groundbreaking singer with the fortitude to transcend race and genre, using that tremulous voice as the bulldozer to break down every barrier set up in her way.

Although the Queen of Soul didn’t talk much about her diabetes, she admitted to a local news station in 2014 that she was living with diabetes, but did not specify whether it was type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes.

Later on in another interview reprinted in BlackDoctor.org, she alluded to living with diabetes when she discussed maintaining her 85 pound weight loss.  Aretha Franklin said, “I have diabetes, really, from years ago when I was really badly and grossly overweight. Now, I’m back to my natural size and thrilled about it.”

Aretha’s own health journey is sparking a discussion about the uncertain connection between pancreatic cancer and diabetes. Long-standing diabetes can be considered a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. It causes a modest increase in risk of 1.5- to two-fold. Some of the other risk factors for pancreatic cancer include smoking, chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), family history of pancreatic cancer, obesity and certain genetic syndromes.

Guests include Poet Lorraine Brooks, Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport, Diabetes Strong‘s owner Christel Oerum, Beautyphonics CEO and “Beneath The Makeup” Author Suzanne Perez, Jessica Clark, Coach The Cure‘s Trisha Artman, and the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach.

Throughout the podcast we will be playing music from Aretha Franklin’s Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics’ courtesy of SONY Music.

 


Our 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 health care 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 the diabetes and its related complications. Since its inception, Divabetic has presented outreach programs in 15 major U.S. cities, reaching hundreds of thousands of women, their families and health care professionals.

Experience more of our GLAM MORE, FEAR LESS philosophy at divabetic.org

https://youtu.be/XHsnZT7Z2yQ

Divabetic’s Fouth Most Popular Podcast 2019

Our listeners really love Mr. Divabetic’s zany culinary misadventures!

Divabetic’s 6th Annual Diabetes Mystery podcast is our fourth highest rated podcast of 2019.

Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes  is set in the fictitiously decadent world-renowned Gingerbread Men Cookie Baking Competition in New York’s Central Park Zoo. Mr. Divabetic gets caught up in a murder after he enters the competition with headless cookies and pureed kale hot cocoa for the judges to sample. As if this dreadful combination wasn’t bad enough to land him at the bottom of the throwdown, his mother, Mama Rose Marie, is accused of poisoning one of the celebrity judges! Things go from bad to worse when the snake phobic Mr. Divabetic hears about the giant python’s escape.         

Now, the happy healthcare host must decide to face his fear of snakes and recipe rejection or throw in his apron and risk getting caught up in another murder investigation. Can Mr. Divabetic and his team of amateur sleuths hunt down the real killer and get Mama Rose Marie out of jail? Will he be the next murder victim? Can he ever create an edible recipe?

The cast features Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, Mama Rose Marie, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach (Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE and MaryAnn Nicolay BA, DTR), The Happy Diabetic Chef Robert Lewis, Seveda Williams, Coach The Cure’s Trisha Artman, Jillian Walsh, Wendy Radford, Dave Jones, Lorraine Brooks and Max Szadek.

Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from the original Broadway cast recording of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes courtesy of SONY MUSIC.

LISTEN

Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes – Scene 2

The Annual Gingerbread Man Cookie Jamboree benefiting the Central Park Zoo is in full swing. Dozens of revelers are even dressed up like Gingerbread Men watching the seals and sea lions feeding nearby.

Everyone’s declining Max’s kale hot cocoa. Admittedly the smell isn’t that appealing. Hopefully, our judges, who are approaching, will have a different opinion. 

Oh, my! What I thought was an over sized collar around Natasha’s neck is an actual python. Let’s hope Max is too busy pouring cocoa to notice the anaconda. Too late! ‘Diamonds’ hissed at Max and he jumped clear across the table

He just knocked over the ‘Queen of Cream’, Sweet Sally Buttercup as she was sipping his kale hot cocoa. Brave woman. Oh wait, she’s grabbing her throat – she’s convulsing on the ground. Sounds like she is moaning, ‘Diamonds’, Diamonds’. This is terrible. Oh, no! The blonde celebrity chef has stopped breathing.

Ambulance Wow! That was quick! The EMTs are lifting Sweet Sally Buttercup’s lifeless body onto a gurney, covering her with a sheet and rolling her to the waiting ambulance. But even this tragic event can’t prevent the Gingerbread Man Cookie Jamboree competition from continuing.

Tonya: Max, isn’t it ironic for a celebrity chef to drop dead at a cooking competition? I’ve got a hunch Sweet Sally’s death was meant to be humiliating.  Take off that silly spotted apron. You owe it to her, as one of her devoted fans, to solve this murder!

Max:  No-no-no! I don’t have time to get mixed up in another one of your crazy investigations. I’ve got to focus on winning.

Tonya: The other competitors are the least of your worries. If you don’t stop tampering with the evidence. People are already blaming her death on your kale hot cocoa

Max: That slimy snake bit her! I’m as innocent — as my mother!

Natasha: There she is! Officer arrest that woman with the leopard purse. She killed my sister!

Sally’s twin sister, Natasha ‘Knock-Out’ Buchanan rushes forward with several police officers. She waves a stack of letters in Mama Rose Marie’s face. 

Natasha: See for yourselves, Officer! Here’s the proof! She’s  a cold blooded killer!

Mama Rose Marie: Me? Oh dear. 

A quick scan of the letters in Natasha’s hand confirms they contain deranged descriptions of what will happen to the star of Chew TV’s show, Triple Buttercream, Sweet Sally Buttercup, if she doesn’t comply with the demands to send money.

Natasha: You can drop the ‘sweet old lady’ act. Officers, she sent these letters to my sister. Her signature is right here at the bottom.

Mama Rose Marie: Oh dear, that is my signature. 

Natasha: Lock her up! 

Max: Officers, Officers this is a terrible mistake! She’s not a killer!  She’s my Mama!

Natasha: Save your tears for the courtroom. She’s going to prison!

The police take Mama Rose Marie off in their squad car. I can’t help to wonder ‘is this true’? Is our sweet Mama Rose Marie a modern-day Ma Barker? Could she pen dozens of vengeful threats in such gory detail? They seem to be the work of a sick, twisted, demented Wacko.

Max: I wrote those letters. But they’re funding requests, not death threats. Honest. I signed my mom’s name at the bottom, hoping Sweet Sally couldn’t say ‘no’ to a sweet little old lady. I have to confess to the police before my mother’s mug shot ends up in the Post Office.

Tonya: I’ve got a better idea, Max. Let’s just solve Sweet Sally’s murder. Now, what ingredients did you put in that lethally laced cocoa?

Max: My kale hot cocoa is NOT deadly. I drank several cups and I’m fine.

Tonya: After you added in the Almond Milk? I read somewhere that almonds are poisonous. 

Max: There’s only one thing poisonous around here. Natasha’s pet viper!

Patricia: Max, pythons aren’t venomous but wild almonds contain cyanide.

Tonya: Ah ha! That’s it!

MaryAnn: No, no, no you can’t buy poisonous almonds in the United States. And domesticated sweet almonds used to make Almond Milk don’t contain cyanide. It had to be something else! 

Tonya: Whoever did it, had to be very accurate with the dosage. The amount of poison you need for one particular person might not be enough for someone else. 

Max: And where did you get that little tidbit, Tonya?

Tonya: Research – my newest book – “Motorhomes, Maps and Murders”. 

Patricia: Of course! The same principle applies for managing blood sugars. I tell my patients all the time: what works for one person may not work for someone else. Everyone’s different.

MaryAnn: The best way is to know how different foods will affect you is to check your blood sugars before you eat and then again two hours after you eat

Tonya: Whoever killed Sweet Sally Buttercup had to be knowledgeable in both math and science. 

MaryAnn: Or have a culinary background. 

Max: Using that logic, everyone here competing is a suspect — including my mother!

Tonya: In my book, “Scene of the Grind”, Roxy Bloom faced your same situation, Max. The only way she could clear the name of her beloved Aunt was to prove who did do it! Now, who else was close enough to tamper with the cocoa?

MaryAnn: The other two judges were standing next to Sweet Sally. 

Patricia: Maybe Max is right – Natasha’s snake is at fault. Sweet Sally was moaning ‘Diamonds’ as she was gasping for air.

Max: And I wouldn’t be surprised if Renata Whisk was involved. 

Agnes: Max!  Max! Come quick! She’s disappeared!

Max: Who? Renata? 

Agnes: No, ‘Diamonds’ is on the loose!

Enjoy Divabetic’s 6th Annual Mystery podcast, Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes features Mama Rose Marie, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach (Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE and MaryAnn Nicolay BA, DTR), The Happy Diabetic Chef Robert Lewis, Seveda Williams, Coach The Cure’s Trisha Artman, Jillian Walsh, Wendy Radford, Dave Jones, Lorraine Brooks and Max Szadek.

Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from the original Broadway cast recording of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes courtesy of SONY MUSIC.

LISTEN NOW