We recently had the chance to connect with Anthea Piscarik and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Anthea, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I love a good laugh, especially the kind that makes me double over! Recently, I enjoyed many delightful, serendipitous moments in Italy on a pilgrimage celebrating the 2025 Jubilee Year in the Catholic Christian faith tradition. Our group of 40 pilgrims shared a relaxed schedule with plenty of free time in Rome, Loreto, and San Giovanni Rotondo. Even so, travel can test patience and resilience when dealing with crowds and, in this instance, holy sites with long lines. But the humor always prevailed. On one occasion, four of us secured a table for lunch in a crowded café on a rainy day. I got advice from one of my travel mates about how to deal with judging glances that had three of us in stitches. Sometimes, the best laughs occur from unexpected remarks, like setting myself up for a punchline.
Another time a howling, gusty wind practically lifted two of us off our feet as we travailed up a winding road in a small town with quaint shops. Every time the gust whipped into a frenzy, we laughed at our struggle to keep pushing forward. Sometimes, all you can do is laugh, as long as there’s no imminent danger. I like the visual of a soaking wet Gene Kelly twirling an umbrella and stomping through puddles in the 1952 classic musical “Singing in the Rain.”
Here’s one of my favorites! While in the airport, awaiting our flight home, a new friend showed me a recording from her outside RING alarm. In the wee pre-dawn hours, a raccoon had scurried up to her door bell, rang it, and then lumbered away. I still chuckle picturing the extreme closeup of spikey whiskers and shiny eyes! The best part? How the raccoon retraced his steps as if defeated by no welcoming of an open door. Too funny! But I find something to smile, chuckle or laugh at most days, whether it’s one of my two cats racing through the house or, most recently, my face transformed to a talking strawberry thanks to AI options on a zoom call.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Let’s talk about brands because it may lead to an understanding of my organization and what interests me. My brand is in its nascent stages. As a creative, I’m a work in progress juggling different projects within Saint Martin Productions LLC. Branding is important, and I learned its value as a fundraiser/grant writer for a nonprofit organization, The Ministry of Caring Inc. with a mission of feeding, clothing, and sheltering the poor and homeless. The non-profit’s brand includes the logo of a pair of hands breaking bread over a bowl. The Executive Director, Brother Ronald Giannone, OFM Cap., had his own philosophy incorporated into the mission statement: the poor should not be treated poorly. The logo and tagline serve to define their work with low-income and homeless individuals and families in an instant.
Although I do have a business tagline, “Stories for a Better World,” I don’t have a logo because my ventures include films, as a screenwriter and producer, and historic novels as an author. I formed my company, Saint Martin Productions LLC over a decade ago to develop a documentary about a blind couple raising their own sighted twins. After a few detours with submitting the story as a reality TV project, I returned to my initial documentary concept in 2024. The short film, “Unseen American Dream” showed at a special screening with a Q&A follow-up and a film festival this year. With perseverance, I’d happily reached the finish line with Saint Martin Production’s first film venture! As a producer, I’d enjoy writing and producing more short documentaries with the time and resources.
In 2020, the publisher of my novel “Unearthing Christmas” merged with a larger publisher. The new publisher did not honor the contract for five novels in the series “The Miriam Chronicles” that I’d signed with the first publisher. But business decisions can lead to new paths. So, when releasing my second novel “The Years In Between” I utilized Saint Martin Productions LLC for publication. My current goal is to republish “Unearthing Christmas” even though used copies are still available by third-party sellers. My long-term plan is to finish the series!
The underlying rationale for starting an LLC, as a creative or entrepreneur, remains the practicality of having a separate revenue stream for tax and business purposes. Any of my book sales or expenses are deposited and/or paid out of Saint Martin Productions LLC. I also maintain a separate website for the company.
I think the next step may be creating a logo. Meanwhile, “stories for a better world” captures my intentions.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who taught you the most about work?
Fortunately, I’ve had significant mentors in my life, whether in high school, college, or the working world. I’ve learned to recognize and utilize my talents. A quote from St. Catherine of Siena, a 14th century mystic saint says it all: “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.” I believe in giving 110% of commitment to any endeavor. I know that sounds like overreaching but I don’t think humans use half the brain power we possess. So that’s where drive, commitment and passion create the balance.
My twenty-three years as a fundraiser for a nonprofit organization kept me on my toes. Raising money for affordable senior housing and other large capital projects is no easy task. A combination of bravado and brains is essential, and I discovered both in our Executive Director, Brother Ronald Giannone, OFM Cap. In 1977, he started the nonprofit, The Ministry of Caring Inc. and opened the first emergency shelter for women in the Delmarva Peninsula in his mid-twenties. And he’s still the leader of the organization approaching its fiftieth-year anniversary. I learned that the biggest payoff of working hard is knowing that you’ve done your best whether successful or not. As Brother Ronald would say, “Do your best and God will do the rest.” If something is meant to be, I believe it will happen.
In college, I majored in English with a concentration in Film Theory and minored in Theatre. I learned from Dr. Harris Ross, a certified film historian, that the movie industry is a delicate balance of art and business. It’s essential to be innovative as a creative and savvy as a negotiator. Most importantly, Dr. Ross enkindled my passion for movies with his vast knowledge of cinema that legitimized my childhood obsession with movies. I now view the ever-changing industry trends with the added understanding of history and cultural references. And I still remember those film classes with immense gratitude!
Essentially, I consider all teachers as mentors, even the ones that didn’t inspire or instruct me successfully. I learn what to do and what not to do, and there’s merit in both. But I truly believe teaching is a vocation and doesn’t only happen in a classroom. It’s a way of approaching life, and we’re all called to be mentors and pass along what we’ve learned.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Let’s be clear. We all have wounds, whether self-inflicted or caused by others. But sometimes we have shocks or surprises that might initially mask themselves as wounds until we come to a better understanding.
In 2022, my twin sister and I sent in our DNA tests to Ancestry. We’d purchased kits a few years earlier to test Ancestry on accuracy, i.e. determining our twinhood. We figured if they were truly legit, we’d get the same DNA results. Well, the results were as the saying goes, “more than we bargained for” or ever anticipated! For me, the shock came in waves. Our dad, who raised us, isn’t our biological father as revealed by test results. I didn’t believe it at first. I thought maybe the results were from ancestors that migrated to our dad’s ethnic background. Both my parents are deceased, so there’s no reconciling a crucial followup question: Did my father know about us? The story unfolds and I won’t go into all the details, unless I decide to write a memoir. The wound occurred when the bio father and his family decided not to be in touch with us. My sister wrote a couple letters and didn’t receive replies. She finally wrote to the half-sister asking if her dad believed that my father who raised us knew we were not his biological children. The answer she received? Most likely no he didn’t. In my heart of hearts, I believe my mom spared the hurt to my dad. There was never any indication growing up that we were not his biological children. And yes, there’s much more to the story and the self-inflicted wounds and rejection were healed with a brave move on my part. While on a film shoot near his home address, I dropped in on my biological father. I figured I had nothing to lose, even if the door was slammed in my face. And to my surprise, he welcomed me in and told me about how much he’d loved my mom. They were friends, at first, in a platonic relationship. But my mom, already married with two children, would not have broken up her family. I sat there and soaked in these surreal moments hearing about a past far removed from the present. He said with a shrug, “We made a mistake.” My reply? “Yes, and I’m proof multiplied.” It was a good visit, even if it rekindled memories for him that may have caused deep sadness. I’m not sure, but I know that life’s surprises, big or small, can lead to greater faith and healing with time.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Good question, but the answer isn’t straightforward. People see what they want to see, even the closest friends. My dearest and oldest friends know that faith is the foundation of all my intentions and activities. And I have new friends that understand my commitment to the Catholic Christian traditions and beliefs. Both are precious to me–one because they are like my personal family and the other because they are my spiritual family. My biggest challenge is keeping a connection and making time with friends, old and new, in this busy, distracted world we live in.
The other thing my closest friends know about me is loyalty. They trust me and know they can count on my word. If I say I’m going to do something, I’m good for it unless a conflict arises or some other unforeseeable reason. And I don’t live in fear. If I’m wrong, I admit it. If I’m right, I defend it. And I respect conflicting decisions or opinions under the saying, “We agree to disagree.”
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
Peace is attainable, both personally and in society. But it must start within the person. You cannot extend peace unless you’ve acquired it and retained it within your own spirit.
My go to places to feel peace are manifold. They can begin with a simple walk on a wooded path in any season. I’m fortunate to have state parks in Delaware within five miles of my home. What a blessing.
But, for me, the most attainable peace happens when I receive the Holy Eucharist—the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in Holy Communion. It’s not automatic. I still need to work at retaining peace because free will is at work, and I don’t always choose wisely. I can receive the Eucharist and minutes later be disregarding God’s greatest gift with an unkind thought, word, or action. Even writing this statement convicts my soul to be what I receive, the Imitation of Christ. I also feel peace in silent prayer even after receiving bad or challenging news with great disappointment. I need to hit the pause button since I tend to react quickly in situations. I strive to slow down, call on the Holy Spirit, and pray to gain perspective and understanding.
Once again, my other source of peace is nature. My walks on wooded pathways restore me in ways that no other diversion can match. I’m in awe of God’s creatures and beauty. My favorite trail is the one with rabbits I greet before they hop away.
And then there’s peace in the early morning with a cup of coffee and the quiet of predawn before the daily distractions take hold.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://saintmartinproductions.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apiscarik/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthea-piscarik-0a38a116/
- Twitter: https://x.com/Atpflower
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anthea.piscarik/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=anthea+piscarik
- Other: https://www.antheatpiscarik.com/
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