The Unmuted Path: From Sibling Bonds to Published Memoir
Join a special conversation between Fill to Capacity podcast host Pat Benincasa and author/writing teacher Mick Cochrane about the story behind a remarkable posthumous memoir, "The Crystal Gavel: How I Put My Heart into the Body of the Law."

About the Session:
When Sue Cochrane passed away in 2021, she left behind a manuscript that her beloved younger brother Mick would steward into print. The Crystel Gavel tells the true story of how Sue Cochrane, a family court judge, wounded and nearly broken by childhood trauma, brought compassion and love, wholeness and healing, to those in her courtroom—and to herself. The conversation will touch on Sue's formative years, her pioneering initiatives in the legal world, her journey of navigating a stark cancer diagnosis, and the powerful role meditation, music, and nurturing moments of beauty and gratitude played in her life. It will also delve into Mick's personal experience of helping Sue's book find its way into the world  The 90-minute conversation on Zoom will include a Q&A with listeners before the close.

More on Mick...
Mick Cochrane is a teller of stories. He writes novels, short stories, essays, and poetry  which have  appeared in literary magazines such as The Sun, Kansas Quarterly, and The Cincinnati Review. He has written 4 novels and is Professor of English at Canisius College in Buffalo NY. His first book Flesh Wounds, published by Doubleday, was a finalist in Barnes & Noble Discover Great Writers Competition. His second novel, Sport, published by Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s and was selected for the annual New York Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age List. 

More about Pat...
Pat Benincasa, visual artist + podcaster   is a first-generation Italian-American and storytelling holds a compelling place in her DNA. Her work has received national + international recognition.  In her podcast: "Fill To Capacity," Pat paints life stories with eye-opening conversations that ignite a spontaneous alchemy of shared expreriences to reframe how we walk in uncertain times. Meet everyday people with extraordinary stories!