October 3, 2025 • 42 mins
East coast author/former nun and end-of-life doula Gina Econompoulos talks about latest release “Shake The Dust Off Your Feet And Walk” as a stirring memoir tracing her path from despair to redemption grappling with loss, grief, and pursuit of self-discovery despite trials and tribulation of tumultuous relationship and alcoholism, and a testament to the power of the human spirit and finding healing, faith, time and self-discovery! Gina was born in Syosset, NY to a strong Italian/Greek-loving family, graduated from Eastern CT State Univ., served as a bartender before embarking on a 12-year convent journey after her mother’s passing, and shares the stories of triumph, joy and more! Check out the amazing Gina Econompoulos and her latest release on all major platforms and www.ginaecon.com today! #podmatch #ginaeconompoulos #nun #endoflifedoula #shakethedustoffyourfeetandwalk #eastcoast #syossetnewyork #italian #greek #easterconnecticutstateuniversity #bartender #selfdiscovery #alcoholism #convent #spreaker #iheartradio #spotify #applemusic #youtube #anchorfm #bitchute #rumble #mikewagner #themikewagnershow #mikewagnerginaeconompoulos #themikewagnershowginaeconompoulos
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We're here with a wonderful lady who's an author and
former nun and end of life. Doulah born in Siast,
New York to a strong Italian Greek loving family. Graduate
from Eastern Connecticut State University, bartend before em barking on
a twelve year convent journey after a mother's passing. Has
a new book out, which is a stirring memoir tracing
her path from despair to redemption, grappling loss, grief, pursuit
(01:50):
of self discovery despite the trials and tribulations of too
much less relationships and alcoholism, and testament to power of
the human spirit of finding a healing faith time and
also self discovery The book is called Shake the Dust
Off Your Feet and Walk Life Places and Gentlemen Plus Studio.
So we're in the beautiful Jersey shore the amazing author
Former Noun and End of Life Dula and the books
(02:13):
Shake the Dust Off Your Feet and Walk Multi time.
Gina Ichanopolos, Gina, good morning, Good afternoon, evening.
Speaker 6 (02:19):
Thanks for joining us today.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
By Mike, it's great to be here. I appreciate you
taking the time and for all your listeners to listen.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
It's great to be on You have it on board
as well too. Is here an author of Former Nun
and End of Life. Dulah born in Sausset, New York,
to a strong Italian and Greek loving family. You graduate
from Eastern Connecticut State University. Your bartender for embarked on
a twelve year convent journey after your mother's passing. You
have a new book, which is a stirring memoir tracing
your path from despair to redemption, grappling with loss and grief,
(02:51):
pursuit of self discovery. Just Bite the trials and tribulations
of tumultuous relationships and alcoholism. Your a testament to the
power of the human in spirit and finding healing and
faith time and self discovery. Book is called Shake the
Dust off your Feet and Walk Forward, getting oligina tell
us he first cut.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Start oh myself or the book it's yourself?
Speaker 4 (03:14):
How well?
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Yeah, how I way back, way way way back. It's
like the time machine, like a time machine.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Yeah, exactly exactly. I was born, as you said in Sas,
New York. I was is on Long Island's on Long Island,
from one of eight kids. I was the seventh child, great,
great childhood. Italian and Greek. Great food, you know, a
lot of fun.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
You're making me hungry already, geny making me hungry at
that Greek food, yeap.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
My mom being Italian, she was a housewife, a house
mother and a house cook. She cooked great and never starve.
And my dad was a hard working Greek, you know,
providing for all of us, providing you know, shelter cars,
you name it, as well as he also provided a
(04:06):
college education.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
He paid for all of our college education. So so
it was great I had.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
You know, there was no complaints in my childhood. If anything,
I just felt out of place. If anything, I you know,
I was born with a lot of problems, health problems,
so I yeah, I looked at myself, and I looked
at my siblings, and why can't I run?
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Why can't I do this? And so I kind of.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
I established a poor, low self esteem with myself. I
had a great smile, nobody knew. I never complained, and
but my parents loved us unconditionally. They truly carried us along,
and I'm so grateful for that. But yet here it was,
you know, it was raised in the eighties trying to belong.
You know, do I belong to this crowd? And I
(04:53):
didn't know who I was. I didn't really like myself.
I short, you know, I had all these and but
I always had a great smile, and everyone looked at
me as Gina Luller Bridget.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
I didn't know who she.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Was, but but that's who I was named after, Gina
Lollo bridgetor so everybody loved me. They loved little Gina,
but Gina did not like herself. But I figured that's
with every child, every kid grows up. I don't know,
but that was my path, that's where I went.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
And of course, you know, people had their differences and
everything else, which makes unique and everything. And of course
you had your journey as well. And of course you
know being an author and whatever else. And well also
you became a nun and also end of life doula,
and you know, tell us about your journey, you know,
graduating from high school, going to Eastern Connecticut State and
(05:46):
then you know, go on in your your care.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
After there's yeah, I after when I graduated from Connecticut,
my parents moved to Pennsylvania. Uh now, mind you, my
mom had her the young my youngest brother at the
age when she was forty eight years old for me,
so when I graduated, seven years younger than me. And
(06:09):
so when I graduated from college, they still had a
child in high school, in junior high. So they moved
to Pennsylvania. You know, they were at the retirement age,
but they couldn't go to Florida, so they went to Pennsylvania.
I had my oldest sister was there with her beginning
of her new family, and so I moved. I moved
to Pennsylvania, and that's where I got a bartending job.
(06:33):
I had a degree in social work and I was
a pool shark.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
So what's the best.
Speaker 6 (06:38):
That's a good combination.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Exactly. So here I'm bartending.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Of course, I'm looking for a real job and now
by now Mike. Before college, the reason why I went
to college was to find a husband or boyfriend. And
I didn't find because my siblings found there this spouses.
So I was like, okay, so I'll bartend. I will uh,
(07:05):
and then I'll look for a real job and social work.
But yet I was making a good money bartending. I
was social working because people would be telling me their
problems and then goodbye, you know, take them money, don't
have to deal with the government or anything.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
And plus I like that environment.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
I felt comfortable in that drinking bartending environment because I
had that in college.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
So it was like, okay, you know, this is what
I'm going to do.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
And and I thought I would be a professional bartender.
My kind of goal is since I didn't find my man,
I said, okay, I'm going to get in the car
and just travel and be a bartender at all the states.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
You know.
Speaker 6 (07:48):
That's a good part.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
I mean answers like you'll tell tell your problems, encourage them,
your tip would you I could drink as I could drink,
and of course, and I'm sure you get more drinks.
And my dad's a bartender and the band to get
people buy more drinks.
Speaker 6 (08:01):
Put a lot of.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
Salt in the piants and a lot of salt in
the pretzels. I'm sure you had your share of that.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Oh yes, yes, and also to know their drinks when
the customers come in, like, oh hi, Johnny, you want
your large whatever you want this, you want that.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
So everybody loved me, and uh so that was my dream,
that was my thought. My goal was.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
To be in the hospitality field. I thought I was
going to be on the cruise line of love Boat
cruise Line being Isaac b and Julie McCoy, whatever you want.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
To call it.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
But yet, during that time, my mom was diagnosed with
cancer back in nineteen ninety one, I was I was bartending,
thinking that I'm going to go off and do ABCD
in the bartending life. But yet, you know, when my
mom was diag you know, she was given four to
six months to live. She was diagnosed terminally ill bone cancer.
(08:53):
My dad was there. Now, my younger brother that was
telling you, who was seven years younger, he just started cough.
So like it just changed my parents' life and everything
because their plan was to go to Florida to retire.
But here behold, so I was home with my dad
taking care of my mom. And once again it's like
(09:15):
why me? Everybody else in my family? I like to compare.
I was like, look what they have and I, you know,
look what they have and I don't have. How come
I don't have this? And not that I wouldn't take
care of my mom. I loved her so much that
I did, my dad and I and she died. She
died in those five months. The doctors were right. I
tried everything I could to keep her alive, you know,
(09:38):
thinking that I'm God.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
And now at this point we would raise Catholic, received
all my sacraments. But yet going to.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
College, being away like I didn't need church and I
didn't need God.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
I didn't. And not that I didn't believe in him.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
I just I didn't have like a Christian belief or a
relationship with God.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
But yet with mom's diagnosed, what did I do? I
turned to God?
Speaker 7 (10:06):
Doesn't everybody, you know, unless you think that for like
most people and especially on social media these days, yourselves
and Satan whatever else, it's like, you know, they turned
to themselves.
Speaker 6 (10:19):
I mean that's been a big trend. Sadly.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Yeah, and so here I went back to church, talk
to a priest, pray God, you know, I pray three
hand marys, whatever may be. But like I said, my
mom died and I took it very hard. I was
twenty three years old. I didn't know what heaven was
all about, you know, what the afterlife was all about.
(10:41):
At the funeral, everyone says, your mom is with God.
I'm like, who the heck is this God person? So
I went on escapee of just looking, searching, searching for
the purpose of life. What is the meaning of life?
You know here I'm a part, you know, I'm just
I just didn't. I was very lost. I was so
lost without my mom because I didn't have I didn't
(11:03):
know where she went. I wanted her home, so I did.
I went back to the Catholic roots, to the church.
I go into the church and I'm like, you know, God,
they tell me that you're here, they tell me that
my mom's here, but I don't want to talk to you,
so get out.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
I just want to talk to my mom.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
So I was just very lost without my mother, and
in that doing a lot.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Of tears, searching, talk whatever it may be.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
I had one would say, like a Saint pol conversion,
like an aha moment, like I fell off the.
Speaker 7 (11:35):
Right Yeah, like that oh wham bam, you know, like
fell off the barstool.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
I said like, ah, there's a God, there's Jesus, there's
a resurrection. And it's like, oh, you know, I go
from one extreme living a side in gomore, you know,
like and then I'm like I'm a Jesus lover, you know,
like everybody's going to hell. This is you know, we
got to follow Jesus. And in that I decided or
I went to go join the convent. I was a
(12:04):
Catholic nun for twelve years in the South Bronx of
Franciscan nun thinking.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Okay, then this is it.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
I'm in my late twenties and I'm like, okay, then
this is my purpose. This is my purpose, which I
never ever, ever, I didn't know what a numb was,
you know, in a sense, never thought I would give
my whole life up to God and enter the community.
And because I thought that was it, but little behold,
I was there twelve years. I got kicked out at
(12:32):
the end just about or I was asked to leave.
I endured a lot of pain and suffering, rejection, you
name it, and I just endured.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Once again. It was like why me, why me? Why sister?
Speaker 6 (12:45):
And how can they kicked?
Speaker 4 (12:46):
Yell?
Speaker 6 (12:47):
What happened? I thought, you're there for life if you're
a nun.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Yes, I made final vows. So I married God. I
married the church.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
To be honest, in the long run, they were very dysfunctional.
I look back.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
In the long run, I was. I was emotionally abused
without realizing it. I didn't have anything in me to
say this is wrong. I mean, I was isolated, I
was sent away. I went to uh Well, I went
out into Michigan to what they would call.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
A rehab like.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
For sisters, for non sisters and priests. I did everything
I could. They said that there was a problem with me.
I think it's because they didn't really like me.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
I had I have the spirit of like, yeah, you
know like this, and and I don't.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
I wasn't gelling with them. So after and the community
was dysfunctional. Like you said, I did write my book,
and I wrote a lot about the pain and the
suffering what I endured from the community itself. And then
in the long run they said, well they at one
point the last two years before or I actually left,
(14:01):
they said that we needed a break from you. So
from in those two years, it was like, yeah, it
was horrific. It was so horrific. I do see on
how the superior she was dysfunctional, sick in herself, like
and I didn't have it in me to say, you know,
this is wrong what you're doing to me and so
(14:24):
and then then and after two years of going to
Michigan and here and there and doing it like trying
to fix myself because it's like a marriage.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
I was married to God.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
So when when people are married, if they're having problems,
they go see a counselor they work it out. They
do everything they can. I did everything I can on
my part, but I felt like they didn't do anything
on their part. And then they just said after the
twelve years, they said to me, oh, we don't think
you belong here anymore.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
I'm like what I said.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
So long?
Speaker 6 (14:57):
You know, this kind of this kind of came to mind.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
You need to exude a joy of happiness and everything
and everything else, exuding light and everything having got with you.
Do you think the the comment you were with was like,
you know, was it like a silent somber or what
they expect you to act like a monkey.
Speaker 6 (15:14):
Now monks walk around quiet and like that. It's like
a monk type of personality.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Well, yes, and no, they they wanted me to. It
was a cookie cutter like we.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Have to do this. You got to do this. It was.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Go by the rules. It wasn't interior, it was exterior.
I like, for instance, I couldn't. You couldn't as a sister,
they told us not to drink from a bottle of water,
and but meanwhile.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Yeah, so so I could.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
I mean, I remember there was a time where I'm,
you know, doing some service reaching out to young kids
in Brooklyn or whatever, Brooklyn, Queens with another sister. Very hot,
and we were with a friar because our community was
friars and sisters and priests.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
And so it was so hot that we didn't have
anything to drink.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
So the brother got us some waters, but one of
the sister wouldn't drink it because there was no cup
for that water. I'm like, I'm drinking it, and then
of course I get scolded for it like later on,
like it wasn't proper. So these are little things, and
there were so many other little things that I did,
you know, shared in my book and my journey that
(16:31):
was just oh my god. But I didn't realize it, Mike,
because I just kept going along.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
I'm a people pleaser. I didn't realize that.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
You know, I want everyone to be happy. I don't
want to hurt anyone. I don't want to be hurt.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
But I was. I was hurt big time.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
I suffered a lot, and then there was such in
the last two years. There was so much stuff going
on with me that they kept it hit it, nobody
know about it. You know, we can't let the the
other people know what's going on. I mean, granted I
was in hit or anything like that, that kind of abuse,
(17:07):
but it was an emotional abuse that I experienced.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
But I didn't realize that until after I left. I
was like, you know what, I was.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Emotionally abused and I'm okay with it now. Yes, that's
what it was. The community was dysfunctional at the time,
and God willing hopefully the functional now, but I don't know,
you know, they're all in God's hands. So that is
my journey of being there for twelve years, and once
again I'm just like, why me?
Speaker 3 (17:35):
You know, why me? At page of forty two.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
And you're in better spot as well too. You later
become an end of life duela as well too. We'll
talk more about that with Gina Iconopoulos and the books.
Shake the dust off your feet and walk, But first
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(19:46):
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Winners Show dot com. We're here the amazing author and
former none and end of life Doula Gina Econopol Lol
here on the Mike when your show, I shake the
dust off your feet and walk before you talk about
your book you later began as an end of life Duela,
(20:07):
and tell us about that journey going from being a
nun to an end of life Doula.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Well, it was it was during when I was a
nun that I was with a lot of people dying.
I was always They always called me, sister Regina, come
and visit. And at this point, because mind you, when
my mother died, I didn't have any faith, no hope,
no love, no God, nothing. And then I had that conversion,
(20:34):
like a Saint Paul coversion. It's like, wow, there is
a heaven, you know, there is life after here. And
with that I ran with it because then I was
with people who or sick, who may die or dying,
and I would pray, I pray with them, I would
talk to them, I would be with them or whatever
they want, and most of the time I would feel
(20:57):
the presdent of Heaven coming to take them, or presence
of peace whatever.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
It didn't. It didn't have to be Catholic. It wasn't,
you know. It was.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
It was just all anyone who is dying that God
put me by that I would help them transition from
this life to that. So that I did that as
a nun, and I loved it. It was sort of like
a Mother Teresa. If you heard of Mother Teresa, she
always loved to give the.
Speaker 6 (21:19):
Dying well the best in the business. I means, yes, and.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
I met her a few times, which was a blessing,
and and she would always say, we need to give
the dignity to those who are dying, whether you're in
a palace or on a park bench, they all, you know,
have that love to die. So that it just stirred
in my heart and it was a seed. So now
fast forward today, like a few years ago, because now
I'm in recovery and now I'm back in a relationship
(21:46):
with my God. Now I'd still taste that heaven or
the place afterwards. And then somebody said that I could
be certified as as an end of life duel, which
is being present to the dying. And I was like,
oh my god, I love that. That's my passion. I
don't mind it. And a few years ago I went
online got certified. I was I'm not afraid of it.
(22:09):
I knew most of the certification, the schooling. It's all
through experience, Mike. It's all through experience for me. It's
not like book learn or this is how you do it.
It's just from my experience that I've had in the
past and then I have today. And so I put
myself out there on my service, out there to be
present but most of all, I leave it in God's
(22:31):
hands and let him guide me and show me and
to people places whoever that may need some prayers or
comfort or And I'm also.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
There for those who are grieving for the family too.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
And because I I know grief, you know, grieving is
was my best friend.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Familiar with grief, no grief very well. I can't. I
can't teach it or you know, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
I didn't learn it from books, just learned from several
losses in my life. And I guess it's when I
when I experienced laws without God, which was hell, and
now experiencing loss with God, there's light and his joy
and I like to bring that to others if I can.
Speaker 4 (23:18):
And plus you talk about from darkness to light, you know,
finding hope, the struggles and everything else besides with the addiction,
go through alcoholics, anymous and being abusive you know, relationships
not with like you know, partners or friends or anything
like that, but with the convent as well too. And
what's what's some of the advice that you would give
(23:38):
to anybody at this point who's been through you know,
similar abuse or even worse abuse.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
You know, what I would say, don't give up, just
keep feeling, keep moving forward, searching. There's so many support
groups out there, there's so many other resources out there,
you know, follow.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
Your heart, go with your heart.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
I mean, I don't know how I did it, because
I was such on such a dark, dark place that
I just gave up on life. I wasn't going to
kill myself. As much as there was thoughts of not
wanting to live, you know, I had wish that God
would take me without me killing myself.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
But that didn't happen.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
And all I kept doing is just breathing one breath
at a time and just kept feeling, kept crying, kept tears,
and God put people in my life that I didn't
even notice, you know, and just and I just kept sharing.
I just kept sharing my I hate this, I hate
that whatever whatever it may feel. And a little behold today,
(24:40):
I'm been sober for ten years. I am recovering, and
it's like, wow, what a difference. Because I want to
live today, Mike, I participate in life today. I'm not
this existing person back then that was just simply existing
because there was a time in my life that I
thought my purpose was to suffer, because I've been through
(25:00):
it all. Okay, I give up.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
I give up.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
I'll suffer for the resk. But then God had other
plans for me and brought me into the rooms of
AA and another aha moment, like, oh my god. You know,
alcohol the disease you know of alcoholism was so you know,
cunning backtling city as it was hidden throughout my life.
I couldn't find that peace within me because I didn't
know who I was. And then as time going in
(25:27):
the rooms and now I went in the rooms of
AA because you know, after the convent a few years later,
I met an alcoholic, which I didn't.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Realize he was an alcoholic.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
He was active, loved him, we were going to get married.
He was, you know, fighting his own demons, one would say,
and he did. But then yet he ended up dying
from the disease. So that was another grief point.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
So that's part of my story too in my book.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
And then when he died of this disease, here, you know,
I was still believing in God, and I was like,
you know what, God, I don't want to I don't
want nothing to do with you, you know, like and
and in that that's how I came into the rooms
of AA. So when I came into the rooms, to
be honest, nobody knew I was a nun and everybody
would you know, it's a spiritual program. They talk about
(26:15):
a higher power, they talk about a god whatever.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
You know. But I didn't want nothing to do with that.
I was like, no way, you know.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
I came in here to see why did Danny, who
was the alcoholic in my life that died from this disease?
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Why did he die? And you guys are living, you
know why?
Speaker 6 (26:33):
Why? Why?
Speaker 2 (26:34):
That was my It was gino y, he kind of
mop was growing up. You know, why why me?
Speaker 3 (26:39):
Why me?
Speaker 2 (26:39):
And that consumed me. The fear consumed me, the anger
consumed me, the why consumed me. And and then when
I came into the rooms really for Danny, why did
he died? I came my eyes opened up and said,
oh my god, I'm an alcoholic. And and even though
I was like it can't not me, not Gina, not
(27:01):
sister Regina, not the cute little Gina Lowa Bridgeta, And
I mean, I'm not like you. I'm not like that.
I never got a dui. You know, I was never
in jail. I visited jail as a sister. I had
many friends in jail, but so you know, I learned
once again, I couldn't compare. I identified, So I went
(27:22):
in and that's where my recovery program began.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
And then a new relationship with God with a higher
power began.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
And that's who I am today, and that's what my
book is all about. It's a message of hope and strength.
Speaker 4 (27:36):
And do you think being former none and do you
think being a former none had a stigma on recovery
or going to alcoholics anonymous or your past or anything
like that. Do you think being a former nun had
a stigma to what you had and how did you
manage to overcome it?
Speaker 3 (27:52):
Well? Yes, you know when I came in and nobody
knew I was a former nun, you know I was.
I was confused, how can I be? You know like this?
Speaker 2 (28:01):
And I was also so confused Mike when when I
got kicked out of the convent, like how could God
do this for me? You know why he called me?
He didn't call me, he kicked me out. What's going on?
And then and then Danny, this guy comes in. It's
like in my life he loves me for me? You know,
I did experience I love from him from me. It's like,
(28:24):
you know, I always compare it. I says, you know,
Danny loved me for me, and the and the sisters
loved me the wa way they love pizza, you know.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
So I mean that's how I looked at it, you know.
And but yet.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
Yeah, and and and and that's how I felt. And
then and then fast forward being in the rooms, I
didn't tell anyone I was a nun or a former sister.
And it was funny because I mean, people were kind enough.
You know, I'm coming in, they hear about my kind
of my story, and.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
And I say about you know, I don't talk about God.
I wouldn't say the our father like nobody, you know.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
And they would come up to me and would say, oh,
you know, God loves you.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
You're in the right.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
Place and you know that being kind And I'm thinking
to myself, no crap, God loves me.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
I was married to him. We're divorced now. I don't
want to talk to him.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
Like I know who God was, but I didn't want
nothing to do with him at the time.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
He was on the couch.
Speaker 6 (29:21):
You know.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
It's not that I didn't believe in him. I was like,
you know what, I I don't need that. But meanwhile
people are thinking, didn't know where I was. And I
then finalizedays, you.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
Know what, I married God, you know I was. I
know who he is. I've seen him do miracles in
people's lives. When I was a sister, why not?
Speaker 3 (29:38):
Why me? Why me? Why did I have to suffer
like that as a sister.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
And then you know, as time went on, I being,
I learned to acceptance. I had to accept I had
to be you know, I became grateful, like, Okay, I
can't change anything, Mike. What took place in the last
you know, my years of my life, the last few decades,
I can't change it. So I had to learned to
be reconciled. Okay, it happened. I didn't like it.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
I forgive.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
Forgiveness is a big part of my journey is to
let go and forgive. And plus then then I had
to embrace.
Speaker 3 (30:13):
Yeah, I was a nun.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
I didn't you know every I had to embrace everything slowly,
but surely wasn't. It didn't happen overnight. It was one
day at a time. And and it's just through the
program of AA in the twelve steps.
Speaker 4 (30:27):
You talked about, you know, being in the church having
so many rules and everything else, and you kind of
had a different version that you basically were just like,
you know, having a little spirit and everything else and
being a little different. What were some of the signs
that when you worked at the convent that you knew
you're going to get kicked out because you're you're reading
about these you know, hints that you're about to get
laid off whatever else, or saying you know, like you know,
(30:49):
hey don't don't don't buy a house here. You may
want to reconsider us, Like, you know, what were some
of the subtle signs that you're noticing that the ear
get right to force all the contents?
Speaker 3 (31:02):
Well?
Speaker 2 (31:03):
They it was just the way I was treated. I
was treated. I was I was treated very poorly, badly.
But yet I did not leave freely because I was
in final vows. I was married, and like you know,
sometimes if I knew now what I knew back then
before final vowels, I wouldn't have been there, you know
(31:24):
what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (31:25):
But I was in final vows.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
I was this insecure sister and I was treated very badly. Mischi,
I mean whatever you want to say it, and I
couldn't believe it. I really couldn't believe the way I
was treating because I'm saying, this is religious people, godly people,
and here there not only you know, not at first
they kicked me out, but they they had me. They
(31:47):
isolated me. I was isolated. I couldn't talk to anyone
I was with this other community. Nobody came to visit me.
Of my own sisters, they did not come to visit me.
I had a wait to go to this like I
shared earlier, to this rehab place, you know, and had
nothing to do with drink. And they all thought that
there was something wrong with me that I couldn't fit in.
(32:07):
I didn't fit into their cookie cutter image. And meanwhile
I was a very popular nun. People loved me. The community,
I mean not only the Friars.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
The sisters didn't like me.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
I mean they may say they did like I said,
but they know the way I was treated. They didn't
accept me. And also there was many other sisters before
me was treated the same way. That should have been
an eye opening for me saying okay.
Speaker 6 (32:36):
You mean no, I so no, you aren't the only one.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
I got treated about the sisters before that got treated
pretty badly.
Speaker 6 (32:44):
Is that right?
Speaker 3 (32:44):
Yes, that's right.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
But they were there for about a year or two years,
and I didn't I didn't think anything of it.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
I didn't.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
But ironically and recently I connected with a former sister
and we were talking. I was like, oh my god,
you know, we were talking and I said, I just
for some reason was there for twelve years. And during
all that, I mean, it was just it was horrific.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
It was so horrific. But at the same time today
I wouldn't change it. It is what it was. You know.
I learned a lot, I grew.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
I mean, I know now, I learned a lot now
that I did not know back then. And like you know,
as we you know, I cannot say could have, would have,
should have?
Speaker 3 (33:24):
It didn't happen. God had a plan. And now today I.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Do share my experience with people and just the encouragement
that God has a plan for all of us. He
does bring something good out of something very evil. He does,
don't know how, when, where, but he does. And that's
what happened in my life.
Speaker 4 (33:45):
Which ye And what do you want people to learn
from the book or learn from your.
Speaker 2 (33:50):
Journey well, that there is light in darkness, not to
give up.
Speaker 3 (33:56):
Do not be discouraged. That you're not alone. You are
not alone. I keep saying that.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
I yes, I felt I was alone, but I'm sharing
with people you are not alone, and that there is that.
Speaker 3 (34:10):
I do believe that our stories.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
Unfold, you know, every day we all have a story
to tell, whether it's God, a high power, universe, whatever
faith you have, whatever that is not.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
You, that is not Mike, is not Gina.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
You know, it's something greater. Soone greater that is guiding us.
That's something something I don't care what it is, but
just know.
Speaker 3 (34:32):
It's not you.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
And if you think it's you, then that's where more
pain and suffering comes. Because I thought it was me,
you know, playing God. I was trying to play God
with my mom and here and my life and even
sometimes today I try to play God, but it doesn't
feel good.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
So I'm like, Okay, what do I need to do? Pray?
Speaker 2 (34:51):
You know, I have my own routine, my whatever, I
need to go to a meeeting or talk about it
or just laughing, and God's smiling saying, I got this,
che I got this, you.
Speaker 4 (35:01):
Know, and you certainly do as well too, and a
bit more on the book with Gina Ichanopolos and shake
the dust off your feet and walk will get that
one minute you listen to The Mike Widners Show at
the Mike Weadnershow dot compowered by Softweb Studios, Brought to
you by official sponsor to The Mike Widner Show, internut
Warwing out the mea Mulims are missing.
Speaker 6 (35:18):
The Sweetsamist by Serena Wagner based on Life.
Speaker 4 (35:21):
Up davi including Serios, Quizz of Paintings and Ken David
Salms Amazon dot com keywords swee Samas, Serena Wagner, We'll
be back with you, Melt thetown, Gina Iconopolos, and shake
the dust off your feet and walk halfter this time.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
The Mike Wagner Show is powered by sonicwebs Studios. If
you're looking to start or upgrade your online presence, visit
www dot Sonicwebstudios dot com for all of your online needs.
Call one eight hundred three oh three three nine six
zero or visit us online at www dot sonicwebstudios dot
(35:52):
com to get started today, Mention The Mike Wagner Show
and get twenty percent off your project. Sonicweb Studios take
your image to the next level.
Speaker 8 (36:01):
Hey there, Dana Laksa here, American news anchor. Hey, let
me ask you something real quick. Why do you read
a book. You're buying a story, a thought, a message,
and a good book entertains and inspires. And that's exactly
what A Missing By Award winning author of Me on
the Zia does. I have his book right here, and
it's based on real events with relatable characters that hook
(36:24):
you from start to finish.
Speaker 3 (36:26):
I personally love this book.
Speaker 8 (36:27):
It's super powerful and meaningful through You can actually get
it on Amazon right now.
Speaker 4 (36:32):
The Mike Wagner Show is brought to you by Serena
Wagner's book The Sweet Sawmist, now a velve on Emsom.
This book includes thirty exquisite pintings by well known and
unknown painters and King David Soalms. The Sweet Sawmist gives
us a new perspective on his life in this book
through the songs he wrote. His time as a shepherd
in the field is where the book starts, and it
goes on to describe his complicated and turbulent relationship with
King Saul, as well as other events It's a story
(36:54):
of love, betrayal, repentance, and more. It also offers advice
and approaching God and living a life that pleases him.
Check out the book The Sweet Sawmist by Serena Wagner,
now available on Amazon keywords Sweet Sawmist Serena Wagner.
Speaker 6 (37:08):
Hey, Hey, this is Rape Howers and boy are you
in luck? Right place? Right time?
Speaker 4 (37:13):
Tuned into the Mike Wagner Show. You heard me, We're
back on author Gina Ichinopolos here on the Mike wehnerr.
Show is Shake the dust off your feet and Walk.
Lastly about the book, where can we find your buck
and now he works at Gina.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
Yes, you can find it on Amazon Shake the dost
off your feet and Walk, Or you can check out
my website called ginacon dot com. That's ginaecon dot com
where you can find the book. You can find more
information my blogging. There are others you know, my.
Speaker 3 (37:47):
Story, etcetera.
Speaker 2 (37:49):
And of course there's a contact and I always encourage
all listeners if they ever need anything a prayer or
an ear to listen to, or whatever it may be
is to you could reach out to me through my
website and I would respond. Of just being there whatever
the person needs, if they're going through a hard time grieving,
(38:10):
or maybe some one of their loved ones is dying.
I may not be there present, but just know I'll
be praying for all.
Speaker 4 (38:19):
And that's a really good source as well too. You've
been totally amazing, Gina. We definitely look out to reach
out to you as well. We're here with Gina. You
canno bolow us with the check the dust off your
feet and walk here on the Mike Winter Show, Jesus
a few of our things. What else can we expect
me at twenty twenty five and beyond?
Speaker 3 (38:38):
Oh, you know what, I leave it in God's hands.
Speaker 2 (38:41):
But what I do expase to continue to grow in
my sobriety as a faithful woman of God. And it's
been an end of life duel or just being that
instrument of God's peace to those who pass from this
life to the next.
Speaker 3 (38:52):
So it'd be I'm looking forward.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
To twenty twenty five to see what God has in
store for us all.
Speaker 4 (38:59):
We certainly do as well. And who do you consider
biggest influence in the career.
Speaker 3 (39:05):
Oh, that's a good question. I want to say my parents.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
I mean granted then not alive, but it was my
mother's death, you know, being in it as an end
of life, do learn and with my dad always being
with me through it all, like even as a sister,
he was always there supporting me, loving me. And granted
he's passed away, but I always feel their presence with me,
so I do continue. I continue to experience their love
(39:36):
and support each day.
Speaker 4 (39:38):
And certainly amazing as well, just amazing story, haw Gena.
And what's the best advice you can give the aim
by at this point?
Speaker 2 (39:45):
Like I keep saying, it's simple, do not give up,
do not lose hope, do not be discouraged.
Speaker 3 (39:50):
And if any if nobody told you that they love
you today, I do.
Speaker 6 (39:55):
And that's a great story as well.
Speaker 4 (39:57):
To a great reminder here author Gina, you cannot follows
of shake the dust off your Pete walk on the
Mic Winter Show.
Speaker 6 (40:03):
Gina, very big, thank you time.
Speaker 4 (40:05):
You've been absolutely fantastic, learned a lot looking forward, head soon,
keep us up today, keep in touch, lavvy back and
watch your website.
Speaker 6 (40:11):
How do people contact you? Bring people purchase or check
out your book.
Speaker 2 (40:17):
It's at ginaecon dot com and you can find my
book on Amazon as well.
Speaker 4 (40:22):
Ginacom dot com. We'll certainly check that out once again. Gina,
very big, thank you time. You've been absolutely amazing, looking
forward and soon keeps up today, keep in touch, Lavvy back,
we wish our best and Gina, you definitely have a
great picturehead yet.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
Thank you so much, Mike, and it's a joint of
pleasure and I appreciate being on with you and your listeners.
Speaker 1 (40:40):
The Mike Wagner Show is powered by Sonicweb Studios. If
you're looking to start or upgrade your online presence, visit
www dot sonicwebstudios dot com for all of your online needs.
Call one eight hundred three oh three three nine six
zero or visit us online at www dot sonicweb Studio
(41:00):
to get started today, mention The Mike Wagner Show and
get twenty percent off your project. Sonic Web Studios take
your image to the next level.
Speaker 8 (41:09):
Hey there, Dana Laksa here, American news anchor. Hey, let
me ask you something real quick. Why do you read
a book. You're buying a story, a thought, a message,
and a good book entertains and inspires. And that's exactly
what's a missing by award winning author me on the
Zia Does. I have his book right here, and it's
based on real events with relatable characters that hook you
(41:32):
from start to finish. I personally love this book. It's
super powerful and meaningful through You can actually get it
on Amazon right now.
Speaker 4 (41:40):
The Mike Wagner Show is brought to you by Serena
Wagner's book The Sweet Sawmist, now a velve on Emsom.
This book includes thirty exquisite pintings by well known and
unknown painters and King David Salms. The Sweet Sawmist gives
us a new perspective ans life in this book through
the songs he wrote. His time as a shepherd in
the field is will. The book starts, and it goes
on to describe his complicated and turbulent relationship with King Saul,
(42:00):
as well as other events. It's a story of love, betrayal, repentance,
and more. It also offers advice on approaching God and
living a life that pleases him. Check out the book
The Sweets Armers by Serena Wager, now available on Amazon.
Keywords Sweet Salmis Sorena Wager.
Speaker 5 (42:17):
Thanks for listening to The Mike Wagner Show powered by
Sonicweb Studios. Lisit online at Sonicwebstudios dot com for all
your needs. Mike Wagner Show can be heard on spreakers, Spotify, iHeartRadio, iTunes,
YouTube Anchor, FM Radio Public, and The Mike Wagner Show
dot com. Please post our program with your donations at
the Mike Wagnshow dot com. Join us again next time
(42:40):
for another great episode of The Mike Wagner Show
The Mike Wagner Show is powered by Sonicweb Studios.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Hi This is Morsons are also known as Mea No
Time for Love.
Speaker 3 (00:06):
Check out my latest book, Missing, available on Amazon.
Speaker 4 (00:10):
The Mike Wagner Show also brought to by The Sweet
So Much by Serena Wagner, Available on Amazon. Highlighted up
Boget David.
Speaker 5 (00:19):
It's now Time for The Mike Wagner Show. Powered by
Sonic Web Studios. Listit online at sonicqueb studios dot com
for all your needs. The Mike Wagner Show can be
heard on Spreaker, Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, iTunes, Anchor, FM Radio Public,
and The Mike Wagner Show dot Com. Mike brings you
great guests and interesting people from all across the globe.
(00:40):
So sit back, relax, and enjoy another great episode of
The Mike Wagner Show.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
Everybody, It's Mike for the Mike Widner Show, powered by
soncw Web Studios. Brought you by professional sponsor to The Mike
Waidner Show. International Worling Outh There Me and Mulson's are
Missing Available on Amazon Coming soon, Missing too, Double Spence
Double the Fund. Check it out on Amazon. Also barke
to by a Sweet Somist by Serena Wagner, based on
Life of David Queen thirty s quists of Pains and
Kydavid Songs. Check out The Journey Amazon dot com keywords
(01:13):
Sweet Sawma, Serena Wagner, and check out The Mike Wadner
Show Mike Wadner Show dot Com. Fifty podcast platforms her
No over one hundred countries. Check out on a Spotify,
s Breaker, iHeartRadio, YouTube, bit.
Speaker 6 (01:25):
Shoot, Rumble, Apple Music, and more.
Speaker 4 (01:27):
We're here with a wonderful lady who's an author and
former nun and end of life. Doulah born in Siast,
New York to a strong Italian Greek loving family. Graduate
from Eastern Connecticut State University, bartend before em barking on
a twelve year convent journey after a mother's passing. Has
a new book out, which is a stirring memoir tracing
her path from despair to redemption, grappling loss, grief, pursuit
(01:50):
of self discovery despite the trials and tribulations of too
much less relationships and alcoholism, and testament to power of
the human spirit of finding a healing faith time and
also self discovery The book is called Shake the Dust
Off Your Feet and Walk Life Places and Gentlemen Plus Studio.
So we're in the beautiful Jersey shore the amazing author
Former Noun and End of Life Dula and the books
(02:13):
Shake the Dust Off Your Feet and Walk Multi time.
Gina Ichanopolos, Gina, good morning, Good afternoon, evening.
Speaker 6 (02:19):
Thanks for joining us today.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
By Mike, it's great to be here. I appreciate you
taking the time and for all your listeners to listen.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
It's great to be on You have it on board
as well too. Is here an author of Former Nun
and End of Life. Dulah born in Sausset, New York,
to a strong Italian and Greek loving family. You graduate
from Eastern Connecticut State University. Your bartender for embarked on
a twelve year convent journey after your mother's passing. You
have a new book, which is a stirring memoir tracing
your path from despair to redemption, grappling with loss and grief,
(02:51):
pursuit of self discovery. Just Bite the trials and tribulations
of tumultuous relationships and alcoholism. Your a testament to the
power of the human in spirit and finding healing and
faith time and self discovery. Book is called Shake the
Dust off your Feet and Walk Forward, getting oligina tell
us he first cut.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Start oh myself or the book it's yourself?
Speaker 4 (03:14):
How well?
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Yeah, how I way back, way way way back. It's
like the time machine, like a time machine.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Yeah, exactly exactly. I was born, as you said in Sas,
New York. I was is on Long Island's on Long Island,
from one of eight kids. I was the seventh child, great,
great childhood. Italian and Greek. Great food, you know, a
lot of fun.
Speaker 4 (03:40):
You're making me hungry already, geny making me hungry at
that Greek food, yeap.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
My mom being Italian, she was a housewife, a house
mother and a house cook. She cooked great and never starve.
And my dad was a hard working Greek, you know,
providing for all of us, providing you know, shelter cars,
you name it, as well as he also provided a
(04:06):
college education.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
He paid for all of our college education. So so
it was great I had.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
You know, there was no complaints in my childhood. If anything,
I just felt out of place. If anything, I you know,
I was born with a lot of problems, health problems,
so I yeah, I looked at myself, and I looked
at my siblings, and why can't I run?
Speaker 3 (04:29):
Why can't I do this? And so I kind of.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
I established a poor, low self esteem with myself. I
had a great smile, nobody knew. I never complained, and
but my parents loved us unconditionally. They truly carried us along,
and I'm so grateful for that. But yet here it was,
you know, it was raised in the eighties trying to belong.
You know, do I belong to this crowd? And I
(04:53):
didn't know who I was. I didn't really like myself.
I short, you know, I had all these and but
I always had a great smile, and everyone looked at
me as Gina Luller Bridget.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
I didn't know who she.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
Was, but but that's who I was named after, Gina
Lollo bridgetor so everybody loved me. They loved little Gina,
but Gina did not like herself. But I figured that's
with every child, every kid grows up. I don't know,
but that was my path, that's where I went.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
And of course, you know, people had their differences and
everything else, which makes unique and everything. And of course
you had your journey as well. And of course you
know being an author and whatever else. And well also
you became a nun and also end of life doula,
and you know, tell us about your journey, you know,
graduating from high school, going to Eastern Connecticut State and
(05:46):
then you know, go on in your your care.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
After there's yeah, I after when I graduated from Connecticut,
my parents moved to Pennsylvania. Uh now, mind you, my
mom had her the young my youngest brother at the
age when she was forty eight years old for me,
so when I graduated, seven years younger than me. And
(06:09):
so when I graduated from college, they still had a
child in high school, in junior high. So they moved
to Pennsylvania. You know, they were at the retirement age,
but they couldn't go to Florida, so they went to Pennsylvania.
I had my oldest sister was there with her beginning
of her new family, and so I moved. I moved
to Pennsylvania, and that's where I got a bartending job.
(06:33):
I had a degree in social work and I was
a pool shark.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
So what's the best.
Speaker 6 (06:38):
That's a good combination.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Exactly. So here I'm bartending.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Of course, I'm looking for a real job and now
by now Mike. Before college, the reason why I went
to college was to find a husband or boyfriend. And
I didn't find because my siblings found there this spouses.
So I was like, okay, so I'll bartend. I will uh,
(07:05):
and then I'll look for a real job and social work.
But yet I was making a good money bartending. I
was social working because people would be telling me their
problems and then goodbye, you know, take them money, don't
have to deal with the government or anything.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
And plus I like that environment.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
I felt comfortable in that drinking bartending environment because I
had that in college.
Speaker 3 (07:30):
So it was like, okay, you know, this is what
I'm going to do.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
And and I thought I would be a professional bartender.
My kind of goal is since I didn't find my man,
I said, okay, I'm going to get in the car
and just travel and be a bartender at all the states.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
You know.
Speaker 6 (07:48):
That's a good part.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
I mean answers like you'll tell tell your problems, encourage them,
your tip would you I could drink as I could drink,
and of course, and I'm sure you get more drinks.
And my dad's a bartender and the band to get
people buy more drinks.
Speaker 6 (08:01):
Put a lot of.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
Salt in the piants and a lot of salt in
the pretzels. I'm sure you had your share of that.
Speaker 2 (08:06):
Oh yes, yes, and also to know their drinks when
the customers come in, like, oh hi, Johnny, you want
your large whatever you want this, you want that.
Speaker 3 (08:15):
So everybody loved me, and uh so that was my dream,
that was my thought. My goal was.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
To be in the hospitality field. I thought I was
going to be on the cruise line of love Boat
cruise Line being Isaac b and Julie McCoy, whatever you want.
Speaker 3 (08:32):
To call it.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
But yet, during that time, my mom was diagnosed with
cancer back in nineteen ninety one, I was I was bartending,
thinking that I'm going to go off and do ABCD
in the bartending life. But yet, you know, when my
mom was diag you know, she was given four to
six months to live. She was diagnosed terminally ill bone cancer.
(08:53):
My dad was there. Now, my younger brother that was
telling you, who was seven years younger, he just started cough.
So like it just changed my parents' life and everything
because their plan was to go to Florida to retire.
But here behold, so I was home with my dad
taking care of my mom. And once again it's like
(09:15):
why me? Everybody else in my family? I like to compare.
I was like, look what they have and I, you know,
look what they have and I don't have. How come
I don't have this? And not that I wouldn't take
care of my mom. I loved her so much that
I did, my dad and I and she died. She
died in those five months. The doctors were right. I
tried everything I could to keep her alive, you know,
(09:38):
thinking that I'm God.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
And now at this point we would raise Catholic, received
all my sacraments. But yet going to.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
College, being away like I didn't need church and I
didn't need God.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
I didn't. And not that I didn't believe in him.
Speaker 2 (09:55):
I just I didn't have like a Christian belief or a
relationship with God.
Speaker 3 (10:02):
But yet with mom's diagnosed, what did I do? I
turned to God?
Speaker 7 (10:06):
Doesn't everybody, you know, unless you think that for like
most people and especially on social media these days, yourselves
and Satan whatever else, it's like, you know, they turned
to themselves.
Speaker 6 (10:19):
I mean that's been a big trend. Sadly.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
Yeah, and so here I went back to church, talk
to a priest, pray God, you know, I pray three
hand marys, whatever may be. But like I said, my
mom died and I took it very hard. I was
twenty three years old. I didn't know what heaven was
all about, you know, what the afterlife was all about.
(10:41):
At the funeral, everyone says, your mom is with God.
I'm like, who the heck is this God person? So
I went on escapee of just looking, searching, searching for
the purpose of life. What is the meaning of life?
You know here I'm a part, you know, I'm just
I just didn't. I was very lost. I was so
lost without my mom because I didn't have I didn't
(11:03):
know where she went. I wanted her home, so I did.
I went back to the Catholic roots, to the church.
I go into the church and I'm like, you know, God,
they tell me that you're here, they tell me that
my mom's here, but I don't want to talk to you,
so get out.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
I just want to talk to my mom.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
So I was just very lost without my mother, and
in that doing a lot.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
Of tears, searching, talk whatever it may be.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
I had one would say, like a Saint pol conversion,
like an aha moment, like I fell off the.
Speaker 7 (11:35):
Right Yeah, like that oh wham bam, you know, like
fell off the barstool.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
I said like, ah, there's a God, there's Jesus, there's
a resurrection. And it's like, oh, you know, I go
from one extreme living a side in gomore, you know,
like and then I'm like I'm a Jesus lover, you know,
like everybody's going to hell. This is you know, we
got to follow Jesus. And in that I decided or
I went to go join the convent. I was a
(12:04):
Catholic nun for twelve years in the South Bronx of
Franciscan nun thinking.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
Okay, then this is it.
Speaker 2 (12:10):
I'm in my late twenties and I'm like, okay, then
this is my purpose. This is my purpose, which I
never ever, ever, I didn't know what a numb was,
you know, in a sense, never thought I would give
my whole life up to God and enter the community.
And because I thought that was it, but little behold,
I was there twelve years. I got kicked out at
(12:32):
the end just about or I was asked to leave.
I endured a lot of pain and suffering, rejection, you
name it, and I just endured.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Once again. It was like why me, why me? Why sister?
Speaker 6 (12:45):
And how can they kicked?
Speaker 4 (12:46):
Yell?
Speaker 6 (12:47):
What happened? I thought, you're there for life if you're
a nun.
Speaker 2 (12:50):
Yes, I made final vows. So I married God. I
married the church.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
To be honest, in the long run, they were very dysfunctional.
I look back.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
In the long run, I was. I was emotionally abused
without realizing it. I didn't have anything in me to
say this is wrong. I mean, I was isolated, I
was sent away. I went to uh Well, I went
out into Michigan to what they would call.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
A rehab like.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
For sisters, for non sisters and priests. I did everything
I could. They said that there was a problem with me.
I think it's because they didn't really like me.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
I had I have the spirit of like, yeah, you
know like this, and and I don't.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
I wasn't gelling with them. So after and the community
was dysfunctional. Like you said, I did write my book,
and I wrote a lot about the pain and the
suffering what I endured from the community itself. And then
in the long run they said, well they at one
point the last two years before or I actually left,
(14:01):
they said that we needed a break from you. So
from in those two years, it was like, yeah, it
was horrific. It was so horrific. I do see on
how the superior she was dysfunctional, sick in herself, like
and I didn't have it in me to say, you know,
this is wrong what you're doing to me and so
(14:24):
and then then and after two years of going to
Michigan and here and there and doing it like trying
to fix myself because it's like a marriage.
Speaker 3 (14:32):
I was married to God.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
So when when people are married, if they're having problems,
they go see a counselor they work it out. They
do everything they can. I did everything I can on
my part, but I felt like they didn't do anything
on their part. And then they just said after the
twelve years, they said to me, oh, we don't think
you belong here anymore.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
I'm like what I said.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
So long?
Speaker 6 (14:57):
You know, this kind of this kind of came to mind.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
You need to exude a joy of happiness and everything
and everything else, exuding light and everything having got with you.
Do you think the the comment you were with was like,
you know, was it like a silent somber or what
they expect you to act like a monkey.
Speaker 6 (15:14):
Now monks walk around quiet and like that. It's like
a monk type of personality.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Well, yes, and no, they they wanted me to. It
was a cookie cutter like we.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Have to do this. You got to do this. It was.
Speaker 2 (15:32):
Go by the rules. It wasn't interior, it was exterior.
I like, for instance, I couldn't. You couldn't as a sister,
they told us not to drink from a bottle of water,
and but meanwhile.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
Yeah, so so I could.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
I mean, I remember there was a time where I'm,
you know, doing some service reaching out to young kids
in Brooklyn or whatever, Brooklyn, Queens with another sister. Very hot,
and we were with a friar because our community was
friars and sisters and priests.
Speaker 3 (16:07):
And so it was so hot that we didn't have
anything to drink.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
So the brother got us some waters, but one of
the sister wouldn't drink it because there was no cup
for that water. I'm like, I'm drinking it, and then
of course I get scolded for it like later on,
like it wasn't proper. So these are little things, and
there were so many other little things that I did,
you know, shared in my book and my journey that
(16:31):
was just oh my god. But I didn't realize it, Mike,
because I just kept going along.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
I'm a people pleaser. I didn't realize that.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
You know, I want everyone to be happy. I don't
want to hurt anyone. I don't want to be hurt.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
But I was. I was hurt big time.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
I suffered a lot, and then there was such in
the last two years. There was so much stuff going
on with me that they kept it hit it, nobody
know about it. You know, we can't let the the
other people know what's going on. I mean, granted I
was in hit or anything like that, that kind of abuse,
(17:07):
but it was an emotional abuse that I experienced.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
But I didn't realize that until after I left. I
was like, you know what, I was.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Emotionally abused and I'm okay with it now. Yes, that's
what it was. The community was dysfunctional at the time,
and God willing hopefully the functional now, but I don't know,
you know, they're all in God's hands. So that is
my journey of being there for twelve years, and once
again I'm just like, why me?
Speaker 3 (17:35):
You know, why me? At page of forty two.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
And you're in better spot as well too. You later
become an end of life duela as well too. We'll
talk more about that with Gina Iconopoulos and the books.
Shake the dust off your feet and walk, But first
listen to the Mike Wedners Show at the Mic Waders
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Make sure you check it out today.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
Also check out the Mike Wadners Show at the Mike
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(19:46):
and for Mark rick At Ideas, good to Amazon dot com,
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Mike Wadners Show on Anchor FM, PayPal, and The Mic
Winners Show dot com. We're here the amazing author and
former none and end of life Doula Gina Econopol Lol
here on the Mike when your show, I shake the
dust off your feet and walk before you talk about
your book you later began as an end of life Duela,
(20:07):
and tell us about that journey going from being a
nun to an end of life Doula.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
Well, it was it was during when I was a
nun that I was with a lot of people dying.
I was always They always called me, sister Regina, come
and visit. And at this point, because mind you, when
my mother died, I didn't have any faith, no hope,
no love, no God, nothing. And then I had that conversion,
(20:34):
like a Saint Paul coversion. It's like, wow, there is
a heaven, you know, there is life after here. And
with that I ran with it because then I was
with people who or sick, who may die or dying,
and I would pray, I pray with them, I would
talk to them, I would be with them or whatever
they want, and most of the time I would feel
(20:57):
the presdent of Heaven coming to take them, or presence
of peace whatever.
Speaker 3 (21:00):
It didn't. It didn't have to be Catholic. It wasn't,
you know. It was.
Speaker 2 (21:03):
It was just all anyone who is dying that God
put me by that I would help them transition from
this life to that. So that I did that as
a nun, and I loved it. It was sort of like
a Mother Teresa. If you heard of Mother Teresa, she
always loved to give the.
Speaker 6 (21:19):
Dying well the best in the business. I means, yes, and.
Speaker 2 (21:24):
I met her a few times, which was a blessing,
and and she would always say, we need to give
the dignity to those who are dying, whether you're in
a palace or on a park bench, they all, you know,
have that love to die. So that it just stirred
in my heart and it was a seed. So now
fast forward today, like a few years ago, because now
I'm in recovery and now I'm back in a relationship
(21:46):
with my God. Now I'd still taste that heaven or
the place afterwards. And then somebody said that I could
be certified as as an end of life duel, which
is being present to the dying. And I was like,
oh my god, I love that. That's my passion. I
don't mind it. And a few years ago I went
online got certified. I was I'm not afraid of it.
(22:09):
I knew most of the certification, the schooling. It's all
through experience, Mike. It's all through experience for me. It's
not like book learn or this is how you do it.
It's just from my experience that I've had in the
past and then I have today. And so I put
myself out there on my service, out there to be
present but most of all, I leave it in God's
(22:31):
hands and let him guide me and show me and
to people places whoever that may need some prayers or
comfort or And I'm also.
Speaker 3 (22:41):
There for those who are grieving for the family too.
Speaker 2 (22:45):
And because I I know grief, you know, grieving is
was my best friend.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
Familiar with grief, no grief very well. I can't. I
can't teach it or you know, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
I didn't learn it from books, just learned from several
losses in my life. And I guess it's when I
when I experienced laws without God, which was hell, and
now experiencing loss with God, there's light and his joy
and I like to bring that to others if I can.
Speaker 4 (23:18):
And plus you talk about from darkness to light, you know,
finding hope, the struggles and everything else besides with the addiction,
go through alcoholics, anymous and being abusive you know, relationships
not with like you know, partners or friends or anything
like that, but with the convent as well too. And
what's what's some of the advice that you would give
(23:38):
to anybody at this point who's been through you know,
similar abuse or even worse abuse.
Speaker 2 (23:46):
You know, what I would say, don't give up, just
keep feeling, keep moving forward, searching. There's so many support
groups out there, there's so many other resources out there,
you know, follow.
Speaker 3 (23:57):
Your heart, go with your heart.
Speaker 2 (24:00):
I mean, I don't know how I did it, because
I was such on such a dark, dark place that
I just gave up on life. I wasn't going to
kill myself. As much as there was thoughts of not
wanting to live, you know, I had wish that God
would take me without me killing myself.
Speaker 3 (24:18):
But that didn't happen.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
And all I kept doing is just breathing one breath
at a time and just kept feeling, kept crying, kept tears,
and God put people in my life that I didn't
even notice, you know, and just and I just kept sharing.
I just kept sharing my I hate this, I hate
that whatever whatever it may feel. And a little behold today,
(24:40):
I'm been sober for ten years. I am recovering, and
it's like, wow, what a difference. Because I want to
live today, Mike, I participate in life today. I'm not
this existing person back then that was just simply existing
because there was a time in my life that I
thought my purpose was to suffer, because I've been through
(25:00):
it all. Okay, I give up.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
I give up.
Speaker 2 (25:03):
I'll suffer for the resk. But then God had other
plans for me and brought me into the rooms of
AA and another aha moment, like, oh my god. You know,
alcohol the disease you know of alcoholism was so you know,
cunning backtling city as it was hidden throughout my life.
I couldn't find that peace within me because I didn't
know who I was. And then as time going in
(25:27):
the rooms and now I went in the rooms of
AA because you know, after the convent a few years later,
I met an alcoholic, which I didn't.
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Realize he was an alcoholic.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
He was active, loved him, we were going to get married.
He was, you know, fighting his own demons, one would say,
and he did. But then yet he ended up dying
from the disease. So that was another grief point.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
So that's part of my story too in my book.
Speaker 2 (25:54):
And then when he died of this disease, here, you know,
I was still believing in God, and I was like,
you know what, God, I don't want to I don't
want nothing to do with you, you know, like and
and in that that's how I came into the rooms
of AA. So when I came into the rooms, to
be honest, nobody knew I was a nun and everybody
would you know, it's a spiritual program. They talk about
(26:15):
a higher power, they talk about a god whatever.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
You know. But I didn't want nothing to do with that.
I was like, no way, you know.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
I came in here to see why did Danny, who
was the alcoholic in my life that died from this disease?
Speaker 3 (26:29):
Why did he die? And you guys are living, you
know why?
Speaker 6 (26:33):
Why? Why?
Speaker 2 (26:34):
That was my It was gino y, he kind of
mop was growing up. You know, why why me?
Speaker 3 (26:39):
Why me?
Speaker 2 (26:39):
And that consumed me. The fear consumed me, the anger
consumed me, the why consumed me. And and then when
I came into the rooms really for Danny, why did
he died? I came my eyes opened up and said,
oh my god, I'm an alcoholic. And and even though
I was like it can't not me, not Gina, not
(27:01):
sister Regina, not the cute little Gina Lowa Bridgeta, And
I mean, I'm not like you. I'm not like that.
I never got a dui. You know, I was never
in jail. I visited jail as a sister. I had
many friends in jail, but so you know, I learned
once again, I couldn't compare. I identified, So I went
(27:22):
in and that's where my recovery program began.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
And then a new relationship with God with a higher
power began.
Speaker 2 (27:29):
And that's who I am today, and that's what my
book is all about. It's a message of hope and strength.
Speaker 4 (27:36):
And do you think being former none and do you
think being a former none had a stigma on recovery
or going to alcoholics anonymous or your past or anything
like that. Do you think being a former nun had
a stigma to what you had and how did you
manage to overcome it?
Speaker 3 (27:52):
Well? Yes, you know when I came in and nobody
knew I was a former nun, you know I was.
I was confused, how can I be? You know like this?
Speaker 2 (28:01):
And I was also so confused Mike when when I
got kicked out of the convent, like how could God
do this for me? You know why he called me?
He didn't call me, he kicked me out. What's going on?
And then and then Danny, this guy comes in. It's
like in my life he loves me for me? You know,
I did experience I love from him from me. It's like,
(28:24):
you know, I always compare it. I says, you know,
Danny loved me for me, and the and the sisters
loved me the wa way they love pizza, you know.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
So I mean that's how I looked at it, you know.
And but yet.
Speaker 2 (28:38):
Yeah, and and and and that's how I felt. And
then and then fast forward being in the rooms, I
didn't tell anyone I was a nun or a former sister.
And it was funny because I mean, people were kind enough.
You know, I'm coming in, they hear about my kind
of my story, and.
Speaker 3 (28:55):
And I say about you know, I don't talk about God.
I wouldn't say the our father like nobody, you know.
Speaker 2 (29:00):
And they would come up to me and would say, oh,
you know, God loves you.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
You're in the right.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
Place and you know that being kind And I'm thinking
to myself, no crap, God loves me.
Speaker 3 (29:12):
I was married to him. We're divorced now. I don't
want to talk to him.
Speaker 2 (29:16):
Like I know who God was, but I didn't want
nothing to do with him at the time.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
He was on the couch.
Speaker 6 (29:21):
You know.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
It's not that I didn't believe in him. I was like,
you know what, I I don't need that. But meanwhile
people are thinking, didn't know where I was. And I
then finalizedays, you.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
Know what, I married God, you know I was. I
know who he is. I've seen him do miracles in
people's lives. When I was a sister, why not?
Speaker 3 (29:38):
Why me? Why me? Why did I have to suffer
like that as a sister.
Speaker 2 (29:42):
And then you know, as time went on, I being,
I learned to acceptance. I had to accept I had
to be you know, I became grateful, like, Okay, I
can't change anything, Mike. What took place in the last
you know, my years of my life, the last few decades,
I can't change it. So I had to learned to
be reconciled. Okay, it happened. I didn't like it.
Speaker 3 (30:04):
I forgive.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
Forgiveness is a big part of my journey is to
let go and forgive. And plus then then I had
to embrace.
Speaker 3 (30:13):
Yeah, I was a nun.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
I didn't you know every I had to embrace everything slowly,
but surely wasn't. It didn't happen overnight. It was one
day at a time. And and it's just through the
program of AA in the twelve steps.
Speaker 4 (30:27):
You talked about, you know, being in the church having
so many rules and everything else, and you kind of
had a different version that you basically were just like,
you know, having a little spirit and everything else and
being a little different. What were some of the signs
that when you worked at the convent that you knew
you're going to get kicked out because you're you're reading
about these you know, hints that you're about to get
laid off whatever else, or saying you know, like you know,
(30:49):
hey don't don't don't buy a house here. You may
want to reconsider us, Like, you know, what were some
of the subtle signs that you're noticing that the ear
get right to force all the contents?
Speaker 3 (31:02):
Well?
Speaker 2 (31:03):
They it was just the way I was treated. I
was treated. I was I was treated very poorly, badly.
But yet I did not leave freely because I was
in final vows. I was married, and like you know,
sometimes if I knew now what I knew back then
before final vowels, I wouldn't have been there, you know
(31:24):
what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (31:25):
But I was in final vows.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
I was this insecure sister and I was treated very badly. Mischi,
I mean whatever you want to say it, and I
couldn't believe it. I really couldn't believe the way I
was treating because I'm saying, this is religious people, godly people,
and here there not only you know, not at first
they kicked me out, but they they had me. They
(31:47):
isolated me. I was isolated. I couldn't talk to anyone
I was with this other community. Nobody came to visit me.
Of my own sisters, they did not come to visit me.
I had a wait to go to this like I
shared earlier, to this rehab place, you know, and had
nothing to do with drink. And they all thought that
there was something wrong with me that I couldn't fit in.
(32:07):
I didn't fit into their cookie cutter image. And meanwhile
I was a very popular nun. People loved me. The community,
I mean not only the Friars.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
The sisters didn't like me.
Speaker 2 (32:21):
I mean they may say they did like I said,
but they know the way I was treated. They didn't
accept me. And also there was many other sisters before
me was treated the same way. That should have been
an eye opening for me saying okay.
Speaker 6 (32:36):
You mean no, I so no, you aren't the only one.
Speaker 4 (32:39):
I got treated about the sisters before that got treated
pretty badly.
Speaker 6 (32:44):
Is that right?
Speaker 3 (32:44):
Yes, that's right.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
But they were there for about a year or two years,
and I didn't I didn't think anything of it.
Speaker 3 (32:50):
I didn't.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
But ironically and recently I connected with a former sister
and we were talking. I was like, oh my god,
you know, we were talking and I said, I just
for some reason was there for twelve years. And during
all that, I mean, it was just it was horrific.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
It was so horrific. But at the same time today
I wouldn't change it. It is what it was. You know.
I learned a lot, I grew.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
I mean, I know now, I learned a lot now
that I did not know back then. And like you know,
as we you know, I cannot say could have, would have,
should have?
Speaker 3 (33:24):
It didn't happen. God had a plan. And now today I.
Speaker 2 (33:29):
Do share my experience with people and just the encouragement
that God has a plan for all of us. He
does bring something good out of something very evil. He does,
don't know how, when, where, but he does. And that's
what happened in my life.
Speaker 4 (33:45):
Which ye And what do you want people to learn
from the book or learn from your.
Speaker 2 (33:50):
Journey well, that there is light in darkness, not to
give up.
Speaker 3 (33:56):
Do not be discouraged. That you're not alone. You are
not alone. I keep saying that.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
I yes, I felt I was alone, but I'm sharing
with people you are not alone, and that there is that.
Speaker 3 (34:10):
I do believe that our stories.
Speaker 2 (34:12):
Unfold, you know, every day we all have a story
to tell, whether it's God, a high power, universe, whatever
faith you have, whatever that is not.
Speaker 3 (34:21):
You, that is not Mike, is not Gina.
Speaker 2 (34:24):
You know, it's something greater. Soone greater that is guiding us.
That's something something I don't care what it is, but
just know.
Speaker 3 (34:32):
It's not you.
Speaker 2 (34:34):
And if you think it's you, then that's where more
pain and suffering comes. Because I thought it was me,
you know, playing God. I was trying to play God
with my mom and here and my life and even
sometimes today I try to play God, but it doesn't
feel good.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
So I'm like, Okay, what do I need to do? Pray?
Speaker 2 (34:51):
You know, I have my own routine, my whatever, I
need to go to a meeeting or talk about it
or just laughing, and God's smiling saying, I got this,
che I got this, you.
Speaker 4 (35:01):
Know, and you certainly do as well too, and a
bit more on the book with Gina Ichanopolos and shake
the dust off your feet and walk will get that
one minute you listen to The Mike Widners Show at
the Mike Weadnershow dot compowered by Softweb Studios, Brought to
you by official sponsor to The Mike Widner Show, internut
Warwing out the mea Mulims are missing.
Speaker 6 (35:18):
The Sweetsamist by Serena Wagner based on Life.
Speaker 4 (35:21):
Up davi including Serios, Quizz of Paintings and Ken David
Salms Amazon dot com keywords swee Samas, Serena Wagner, We'll
be back with you, Melt thetown, Gina Iconopolos, and shake
the dust off your feet and walk halfter this time.
Speaker 1 (35:32):
The Mike Wagner Show is powered by sonicwebs Studios. If
you're looking to start or upgrade your online presence, visit
www dot Sonicwebstudios dot com for all of your online needs.
Call one eight hundred three oh three three nine six
zero or visit us online at www dot sonicwebstudios dot
(35:52):
com to get started today, Mention The Mike Wagner Show
and get twenty percent off your project. Sonicweb Studios take
your image to the next level.
Speaker 8 (36:01):
Hey there, Dana Laksa here, American news anchor. Hey, let
me ask you something real quick. Why do you read
a book. You're buying a story, a thought, a message,
and a good book entertains and inspires. And that's exactly
what A Missing By Award winning author of Me on
the Zia does. I have his book right here, and
it's based on real events with relatable characters that hook
(36:24):
you from start to finish.
Speaker 3 (36:26):
I personally love this book.
Speaker 8 (36:27):
It's super powerful and meaningful through You can actually get
it on Amazon right now.
Speaker 4 (36:32):
The Mike Wagner Show is brought to you by Serena
Wagner's book The Sweet Sawmist, now a velve on Emsom.
This book includes thirty exquisite pintings by well known and
unknown painters and King David Soalms. The Sweet Sawmist gives
us a new perspective on his life in this book
through the songs he wrote. His time as a shepherd
in the field is where the book starts, and it
goes on to describe his complicated and turbulent relationship with
King Saul, as well as other events It's a story
(36:54):
of love, betrayal, repentance, and more. It also offers advice
and approaching God and living a life that pleases him.
Check out the book The Sweet Sawmist by Serena Wagner,
now available on Amazon keywords Sweet Sawmist Serena Wagner.
Speaker 6 (37:08):
Hey, Hey, this is Rape Howers and boy are you
in luck? Right place? Right time?
Speaker 4 (37:13):
Tuned into the Mike Wagner Show. You heard me, We're
back on author Gina Ichinopolos here on the Mike wehnerr.
Show is Shake the dust off your feet and Walk.
Lastly about the book, where can we find your buck
and now he works at Gina.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
Yes, you can find it on Amazon Shake the dost
off your feet and Walk, Or you can check out
my website called ginacon dot com. That's ginaecon dot com
where you can find the book. You can find more
information my blogging. There are others you know, my.
Speaker 3 (37:47):
Story, etcetera.
Speaker 2 (37:49):
And of course there's a contact and I always encourage
all listeners if they ever need anything a prayer or
an ear to listen to, or whatever it may be
is to you could reach out to me through my
website and I would respond. Of just being there whatever
the person needs, if they're going through a hard time grieving,
(38:10):
or maybe some one of their loved ones is dying.
I may not be there present, but just know I'll
be praying for all.
Speaker 4 (38:19):
And that's a really good source as well too. You've
been totally amazing, Gina. We definitely look out to reach
out to you as well. We're here with Gina. You
canno bolow us with the check the dust off your
feet and walk here on the Mike Winter Show, Jesus
a few of our things. What else can we expect
me at twenty twenty five and beyond?
Speaker 3 (38:38):
Oh, you know what, I leave it in God's hands.
Speaker 2 (38:41):
But what I do expase to continue to grow in
my sobriety as a faithful woman of God. And it's
been an end of life duel or just being that
instrument of God's peace to those who pass from this
life to the next.
Speaker 3 (38:52):
So it'd be I'm looking forward.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
To twenty twenty five to see what God has in
store for us all.
Speaker 4 (38:59):
We certainly do as well. And who do you consider
biggest influence in the career.
Speaker 3 (39:05):
Oh, that's a good question. I want to say my parents.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
I mean granted then not alive, but it was my
mother's death, you know, being in it as an end
of life, do learn and with my dad always being
with me through it all, like even as a sister,
he was always there supporting me, loving me. And granted
he's passed away, but I always feel their presence with me,
so I do continue. I continue to experience their love
(39:36):
and support each day.
Speaker 4 (39:38):
And certainly amazing as well, just amazing story, haw Gena.
And what's the best advice you can give the aim
by at this point?
Speaker 2 (39:45):
Like I keep saying, it's simple, do not give up,
do not lose hope, do not be discouraged.
Speaker 3 (39:50):
And if any if nobody told you that they love
you today, I do.
Speaker 6 (39:55):
And that's a great story as well.
Speaker 4 (39:57):
To a great reminder here author Gina, you cannot follows
of shake the dust off your Pete walk on the
Mic Winter Show.
Speaker 6 (40:03):
Gina, very big, thank you time.
Speaker 4 (40:05):
You've been absolutely fantastic, learned a lot looking forward, head soon,
keep us up today, keep in touch, lavvy back and
watch your website.
Speaker 6 (40:11):
How do people contact you? Bring people purchase or check
out your book.
Speaker 2 (40:17):
It's at ginaecon dot com and you can find my
book on Amazon as well.
Speaker 4 (40:22):
Ginacom dot com. We'll certainly check that out once again. Gina,
very big, thank you time. You've been absolutely amazing, looking
forward and soon keeps up today, keep in touch, Lavvy back,
we wish our best and Gina, you definitely have a
great picturehead yet.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
Thank you so much, Mike, and it's a joint of
pleasure and I appreciate being on with you and your listeners.
Speaker 1 (40:40):
The Mike Wagner Show is powered by Sonicweb Studios. If
you're looking to start or upgrade your online presence, visit
www dot sonicwebstudios dot com for all of your online needs.
Call one eight hundred three oh three three nine six
zero or visit us online at www dot sonicweb Studio
(41:00):
to get started today, mention The Mike Wagner Show and
get twenty percent off your project. Sonic Web Studios take
your image to the next level.
Speaker 8 (41:09):
Hey there, Dana Laksa here, American news anchor. Hey, let
me ask you something real quick. Why do you read
a book. You're buying a story, a thought, a message,
and a good book entertains and inspires. And that's exactly
what's a missing by award winning author me on the
Zia Does. I have his book right here, and it's
based on real events with relatable characters that hook you
(41:32):
from start to finish. I personally love this book. It's
super powerful and meaningful through You can actually get it
on Amazon right now.
Speaker 4 (41:40):
The Mike Wagner Show is brought to you by Serena
Wagner's book The Sweet Sawmist, now a velve on Emsom.
This book includes thirty exquisite pintings by well known and
unknown painters and King David Salms. The Sweet Sawmist gives
us a new perspective ans life in this book through
the songs he wrote. His time as a shepherd in
the field is will. The book starts, and it goes
on to describe his complicated and turbulent relationship with King Saul,
(42:00):
as well as other events. It's a story of love, betrayal, repentance,
and more. It also offers advice on approaching God and
living a life that pleases him. Check out the book
The Sweets Armers by Serena Wager, now available on Amazon.
Keywords Sweet Salmis Sorena Wager.
Speaker 5 (42:17):
Thanks for listening to The Mike Wagner Show powered by
Sonicweb Studios. Lisit online at Sonicwebstudios dot com for all
your needs. Mike Wagner Show can be heard on spreakers, Spotify, iHeartRadio, iTunes,
YouTube Anchor, FM Radio Public, and The Mike Wagner Show
dot com. Please post our program with your donations at
the Mike Wagnshow dot com. Join us again next time
(42:40):
for another great episode of The Mike Wagner Show
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