Food, Belonging, and Delicious Fun

Food, Belonging, and Delicious Fun

What if food were about so much more than what’s on the plate? In this deliciously wide-ranging episode of The Fun & Bliss Show, Monick and Moneeka sit down with David Page, two-time Emmy Award-winning executive producer, creator of the Food Network phenomenon Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, host of Culinary Characters Unlocked, and author of Food Americana. David shares his remarkable journey from covering major world events, including the opening of the Berlin Wall, to becoming one of the most influential storytellers in food television. He reveals how a spontaneous pitch became Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, why the show was never really just about food, and how curiosity, timing, and a little luck helped shape his extraordinary career. Together, they explore how food carries memory, culture, identity, comfort, and belonging. They talk about the importance of gathering around the dinner table, the immigrant and Indigenous influences that shaped American cuisine, and why even the most familiar dishes have fascinating stories behind them. David also shares the simple pleasures that bring him joy, from learning something new and experiencing art that moves his soul to classic rock, his wife of 33 years, and an Uncrustable straight from the freezer. This episode is a joyful reminder to stay curious, savor the stories behind what you eat, and find work and interests that make life feel like an adventure. And your Fun Spark for the week? Eat the cannoli.

How to Keep Love Fun: Blisciplines for Lasting Passion and Connection

What keeps love alive after 20, 30, or even 33 years together? In this candid and playful episode of The Fun & Bliss Show, Monick and Moneeka share the stories of how they met their husbands, what made dating more joyful, and the practices that continue to keep their marriages connected, passionate, and fun. They talk about appreciating the person in front of you, staying unattached to the outcome, setting loving boundaries, showing up authentically, and making your relationship a priority—even when life gets busy or difficult. From weekly date nights to daily intimacy, they reveal the personal “blisciplines” that have helped them move through rocky seasons and keep choosing one another. Whether you are dating, deeply in love, or trying to rediscover the spark in a long-term relationship, this conversation is an invitation to bring more playfulness, pleasure, honesty, and connection into your love life.

The Healing Power of Play

What if play wasn’t just something children do, but one of the most powerful ways we connect, heal, communicate, and come back to life? In this heart-opening episode of The Fun & Bliss Show, Monick and Moneeka sit down with DinaLyn Rosenbusch, speech-language pathologist, parent coach, consultant, speaker, and host of The Language of Play podcast. With more than 30 years of experience helping children and families navigate communication challenges, DinaLyn brings a warm, practical, and deeply human perspective to speech, parenting, and connection. She reminds us that communication is not just about words. It is about curiosity, safety, belonging, and helping the people we love feel seen and understood. DinaLyn also shares her powerful personal story of losing touch with laughter during hard seasons of life, including divorce, single motherhood, illness, and recovery. After a serious health collapse, she began to understand fun not as a luxury, but as nourishment, medicine, and a pathway back to joy. Together, we explore how play can transform parenting, deepen relationships, soften stress, and help us reconnect with the parts of ourselves that life may have buried under responsibility. In this episode, we talk about: * Why play is essential for communication and connection * How children’s behavior can be understood as communication * The power of curiosity in parenting and relationships * Why fun is not extra, especially during difficult seasons * How guilt can block joy, especially for mothers and caregivers * DinaLyn’s healing journey and how laughter became part of her recovery * How to bring more play, ease, and aliveness into everyday life This conversation is a beautiful reminder that fun is not frivolous. Play helps us listen better, love better, parent better, and live more fully. Fun is the practice. Bliss is the lifestyle.

The Joy of Letting Go

What if fun was more than entertainment? What if it was a pathway back to your confidence, authenticity, joy, and even healing? In this episode of The Fun & Bliss Show, Monick Halm and Moneeka Sawyer sit down with Kim Somers Egelsee, author, speaker, intuitive, life and business coach, and founder of Publishing Joy. Kim shares how her lifelong passion for helping people step into their authenticity grew into a powerful body of work centered around confidence, happiness, positive power, and joy. Together, they explore why women often need permission to have fun, how letting go reconnects us with our inner child, and why embracing imperfection can be one of the most freeing paths to confidence. Kim also opens up about her own healing journey, including breast implant illness, sobriety, and the life experiences that made her more compassionate, brave, and nonjudgmental. This conversation is warm, uplifting, and deeply human. It is an invitation to stop performing, start playing, and remember that your joy is not extra. It is part of who you are. In this episode, we explore: * Why fun helps us reconnect with our inner child * How joy can support healing during hard seasons * The difference between confidence and performance * Why authenticity feels lighter than ego * How women can rebuild confidence after shrinking or second-guessing * Why embracing imperfection helps us love ourselves more * Simple ways to bring more fun, bliss, and self-acceptance into everyday life

What if Money Was Fun?

What if money didn’t have to feel heavy, stressful, or intimidating? What if creating wealth, investing in women, and expanding your impact could actually feel fun? In this powerful and energizing episode of The Fun & Bliss Show, Monick Halm and Moneeka Sawyer sit down with Catherine Gray, executive producer of Show Her the Money, venture capitalist, author, keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, host of the Invest in Her podcast, founder and CEO of She Angels Investors, and co-founder of the She Angels Foundation. Catherine shares how her passion for film, storytelling, and women’s empowerment led her to create Show Her the Money, a documentary and movement revealing how dramatically underfunded women founders still are and why that needs to change. She breaks down venture capital in simple, accessible terms, explains why women often make powerful investors, and invites listeners to think differently about money, risk, wealth, and impact. This conversation is equal parts inspiring, educational, and fun. From making money while skiing, to investing in women-led companies, to changing culture through media, Catherine reminds us that money can be a tool for joy, freedom, power, and positive change. In this episode, we explore: * Why money gets to feel lighter, more joyful, and more expansive * What venture capital actually is and why women need to understand it * Why women founders are still underfunded * How investing in women creates both impact and profit * The cultural power of film, television, and storytelling * How women can become more confident, conscious investors * Why fun, wealth, and purpose can absolutely belong together If you’re ready to feel more empowered around money and more inspired about the role women can play in shaping the future, this episode is for you.