The Unstoppable Frankie Picasso, Talk Radio Guru and wonderful human, joins us to tell her story of dealing with chronic pain. We turn the tables on Frankie and ask her all the hard questions she is usually asking the guests on her programs. In return, she opens up and tells us the truth about what she does each day to be the fabulous person we all admire. You may find yourself holding your breath as Frankie shares her adventures with overcoming pain. How did her experience help her reconnect with an old passion? As always, she manages to weave in stories of other people she admires and, of course, the pets we all love!

What in the world do pets, pain, and Picasso have in common?

Chronic Pain, Pets, and Picasso. 

I first met Frankie Picasso because of Dynamic Women. I understand how Frankie got invited. Don’t ask me how a small town gal like me got on a program like Dynamic Women. It’s gotta be proof God has a sense of humor. In each episode, strong women prove that folks can still have civilized conversations without actually arguing.

Founder of The Good Radio Network, Frankie hosts a couple of shows herself. Frankie’s listeners would never guess that she’s in constant pain. She seldom mentions it on air. 

In fact, Frankie focuses her attention on every one else. Authors, musicians, all kinds of amazing people show up to talk to Frankie. Because of Frankie, I’ve gotten to chat with Rachel Dekkar, author of  the The Seer Book Series, Ben Sciacca, author of Meals from Mars: A Parable of Prejudice and Providence, and Ralph Williams, the singer/songwriter who gave us songs like the 2016 hit “He Cares.”

Just pinch me, I must be dreaming.

But, you know me. I like to get the personal, behind-the-scenes stories, too. So, when we decided to say yes to Fireside Talk Radio, I called Frankie and invited her to be on our show. With a prayer and my fingers crossed.

Frankie’s personal story includes a motorcycle accident, six months in the hospital, and living with chronic pain. It involves a complete change of life, a divorce, new training from her hospital bed, and a whole new career. There’s a reason we call Frankie unstoppable.

She shared many tips with us on air about how to live with chronic pain. One of my favorites, of course, involved art. Is it any wonder I’ve grown to love this friend so much? On our show, Frankie explains how getting our mind engaged creatively frees us from pain, at least momentarily. Shifting our focus also creates positive energy for helping others, especially in Frankie’s case, as it turns out.

In the midst of her pain, this determined soul had a brainstorm. Why not create paintings to help others?  

“Proceeds from the sale of her artwork and custom orders go directly to pay for Cleft Palate Surgery for children through Mercy Ships Canada, Saving Animals in Sanctuaries, Shelters, Climate Change Project and to other Humanitarian efforts in need at the time,” according to The Good Radio Network website.

Yep, that’s Frankie. The same intellectual gal who asks me tough questions on air in front of God and all humanity, also has a very soft side that passionately cares about the plight of abandoned pets, for instance. Her “Pawcasso” pet paintings capture the personality of her furry models in joyful exuberance.

If you or someone you love is in chronic pain, I hope you will listen in on our show via podcast. (I want to thank Home Instead for sponsoring these wonderful episodes with Frankie.) There’s plenty to encourage us all from a strong and joyful woman who gets it.