Marta on the Move Podcast - #115 Maria Vincenzia La Monica- Cancer Survivor and Bad Ass

#115 Maria Vincenzia La Monica- Cancer Survivor and Bad Ass

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09/09/18 • 78 min

Marta on the Move Podcast

#115 Maria Vincenzia La Monica- Cancer Survivor and Bad Ass The lead up to Halloween is always my favorite time of year. It gives me something to look forward to while I know in the back of my mind that the evenings are getting darker earlier, the sun isn’t as warm as the days go by, and the ever approaching winter will be here before you know it. BUT before I can get depressed about that, I gear up my soul with some awesome podcast ideas that I want to discover that all lead up to one of my favorite holidays. Fear, mysticism, magic, murder mysteries, true crime, psychics, ghosts, superstitions, ghouls. They all comes to play on my show this time of year. If you missed my past ones, head on back and hear my favorites. Horror director Steve Rudzinski, musicals about serial killers, fear facing slack liners, make up special effects artist Tom Savini, Scott Simmons of The Scarehouse. There are many to discover. I am kicking off the season with a girl that is near and dear to my heart, Mia La Monica. I met this amazing chica years ago and we fell in instant love. You just meet those people sometimes. You click instantly, you may have traveled across time and known them in another life. Whatever it is, you feel it. Why am I bringing Mia on the show? Well besides her being a ridiculously talented linguist, writer and all around amazing woman, she has looked fear right in the face and told it to FUCK OFF. Mia got diagnosed with a type of cancer called Hodgkin Lymphoma almost a year and a half ago, and I have never met anyone in my life that handled it with such grace, humor, and an all around determination to kick its ass. She faced one of humans greatest fears, fought it, and won. For a while it didn’t look like she was going to be the winner and it got dark. She saw it all, and survived. I want you to hear her story, because it is a powerful one that sheds light on the health industry we have to live with, what signs you should keep on your radar, health insurance, how to deal with disability costs, saving funds for treatments, and facing the greatest fear of all, death. This is a story everyone needs to hear, even though you may not want to. Head over to Mia’s Blog- The Hodgkin’s Lymphomo to read about her journey. You will cry, you will laugh, and you will walk away awaiting the next thing that Mia will be writing, because it will be genius. Don’t forget to grab your tickets to True Spooky Stories of Pgh LIVE Podcast on Oct 14th! Free Craft beer! Sponsored by Helicon Brewery and Barebones Productions!

Previous Episode

#114 Where to Eat and Drink in Barcelona, Spain

#114 Eating and Drinking in Barcelona

This summer Phil and I visited the famed city of Barcelona. We were not prepared with how this city hangs. We arrive late one evening, and decided to hit the town, staying out well past 2am. Little did we know, the city awakens around 11pm and stays up all night long.

Trying to keep pace with the locals, we quickly learn the customs. Tapas is the name of the game here and anywhere between 1 and 2pm you take your major meal of the day followed by a siesta, then back to work.

Happy hour around town starts at about 8pm and then continues until dinner which could range anywhere between 9:30 and midnight. We saw toddlers out to eat and wide awake at dinner around midnight. It was quite a sight, and we loved every minute of it.

We wanted to share with you some of our favorite spots (LORD KNOWS THERE ARE MANY) and believe me, we don't cover as many as we should, or COULD. It would take eons. We also share some places that are overhyped and overrated for the price on this episode *Cough.. Uma Cough*. Essentially we just wanted to point the newcomer in the right direction whether you were craving a hipster cocktail, a standard glass of wine, the best paella experience, or tapas, tapas, tapas.

Traditional tapas you will see on a menu that are staples- Papas Bravas (Never pay more than 3 euros for a serving), fried padrons, marcona almonds, bread smeared with fresh tomato and olive oil, chorizo, sardine, jambon, and my absolute favorite, blood sausage! They are all SO GOOD. Get them all. No really, eat all the tapas you can until you are sick of it, hopefully at a spot called El Taso De Oro (Surprising you will get sick of it after a while).

One of our favorite things while traveling is meeting new people and making connections that last a lifetime, and this episode has a special shout out to a wonderful family we met through a paella cooking class at their home. Paella is seen EVERYWHERE in Barcelona. Rule of thumb, if you see if on a picture outside the restaurant, don't eat it. Phil and I have been making paellas at home for the past year and will be hosting an Airbnb Experience in Pittsburgh for it soon!We are now friends for life and we knew it shortly after meeting each other! There are a lot of cooking classes boasted in town, but this one located just a short bus ride away is worth it for the cuisine, culture, conversation, and gorgeous grounds. Check it out if you are ever near the area and give our friends Miguel, Marta, Miguel Jr a huge hug from Phil and I. :) You can find it along with many others on Airbnb experiences.

Another spot we LOVED was an exquisite dining experience for Phil's birthday. It would be something memorable for your last night in Barcelona, Rudolf Plotz from Pirate Cooking. I found it on Eat With, which is one of my go to helpful websites to look for authentic meals cooked by locals and chefs alike. We visited his building and sat with all walks of life to enjoy one of the best gastro fueled meals we have ever had. It was so delicious.Eat With is also mentioned in my podcast episode How To Travel Alone Without Being Lonely. I love this app for traveling.

All and all we came back from Barcelona about 10 lbs heavier, and cannot wait to return to explore more of what Spain has to offer. It is just the tip of the iceberg!

Hope you enjoy and let us know about your travels!

finished Paella at Miguel's house! Phil's birthday dessert at Uma A local watering hole for tapas and beers. One of the crazy concoctions by Pirate Cooking. So good.

Next Episode

Gemma Hoskins Researcher From "The Keepers" on Netflix Discusses The Murder Of Cathy Cesnik

Gemma Hoskins From "The Keepers" on Netflix This is the lead up to Halloween in which I feature different themes revolving around this holiday. Stories about facing your fears, spooky stories, psychics, magic, murder, and more have been featured, and I could not wait to release this episode. There was once a suggestion on Netflix given to me by a friend, that suggestion was a documentary called “The Keepers”. I had no clue what the show was about, but trusted the source and one weekend while I was ill decided to binge it. I was instantly hooked. Where do I even start with this? How do I tell you to watch this show without giving too much away? The story is disturbing, but it is an important one to hear. It revolves around a cold case murder that took place 50 years ago in Baltimore, Maryland. It unfolds to reveal a parallel storyline about female students who are now grown up women that attended the Catholic school named Keough and triggered memories of their time at school. Secrets, murder, rape, and more come to light in this documentary. You won’t believe what you hear, and who was all involved. It is important especially when so many priests and the Arch Diocese are being currently investigated in many cities across the country, and I believe that "The Keepers" had a huge hand in triggering a lot of this. Remember, this was before Spotlight, and I can not imagine the guts it took for these women and men to come forward, face their pasts, and confront their abusers. It is truly horrifying, but it has prompted even some friends that have had similar experiences to speak openly about them, and that is important. I could not wait to release this for the lead up to Halloween especially because Sister Cathy Cesnick. IS a Pittsburgh native. She is buried in her hometown of Sharpsburg. Gemma Hoskins is one of the leading investigators who researched this story. I was honored she took the time to answer my questions about the case, and was very candid about where we are currently in this investigation. Her and friend Abbie Schaub were very brave historians and students of Cathy. They have even been featured on "The View" to talk about the show. Gemma and Abbie spring boarded this investigation, and hopefully with the help of others who have information we will have Justice for Sister Cathy and all the victims of abuse out in the world. Check out the Justice for Cathy Cesnik and Joyce Malecki Facebook page, and follow along in the events that are unfolding. Topics discussed- - How the investigation started and lead to Gemma and Abbie - How the Netflix show picked up the information and formulated the show. - Who is Brother Bob? Marta and Gemma discuss. - Why the police are finally now more involved in working to solve the case. - Where YOU can take your information if you have leads. - Does Gemma feel as though we are any closer to solving the case? - Were the other nuns involved? - Will there be a season 2 of The Keepers? Sister Cathy Cesnik. Father Maskell. Courtesy of Netflix Gemma and Abbie on The View

The lead up to Halloween ends with our live podcast in Pittsburgh. Don't forget to grab your tickets to True Spooky Stories of Pgh LIVE Podcast on Oct 14th! Free Craft beer! Sponsored by Helicon Brewery and Barebones Productions