Inspiration Episodes

Send us a text What happens when life suddenly changes course and everything you know disappears? Laura Bratton's world transformed between second and third grade when a routine eye appointment revealed she would lose her sight due to a degenerative eye disease. While the full impact didn't hit immediately, by age fourteen, Laura found herself staring at indecipherable black blobs on her classroom board instead of letters—a moment that launched her into a profound journey through grief, anxie...

Send us a text Ever wonder what happens when theatrical magic collides with punk rock energy? Sasha Mereu embodies this fascinating intersection as the self-styled "punk rock Willy Wonka" - and he's on a mission to transform how musicians earn a living. Sasha takes us on a captivating journey through his remarkable career spanning over 1,000 stages worldwide, including a Broadway run in 2016 with "The Illusionists: Turn of the Century" - which became Broadway's highest-grossing magic show. His ...

Send us a text Ever wondered what it's like to navigate the world without sight? Meet Jean Marckley, a 79-year-old blind comedian who's turning stereotypes upside down one punchline at a time. "What's it like to be blind?" people often ask Jean. Her response? "Well, everybody close your eyes. Yep, that's it." With disarming wit and wisdom gained from nearly seven decades of blindness, Jean takes us on an enlightening journey through her experiences—from strangers yelling at her (because apparen...

Send us a text What happens when you blend country, rock, Americana, folk, blues, and pop into one distinctive sound? You get what fans call "Pam Music" – the signature style of singer-songwriter Pam Ross. On this episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we're joined by the genre-defying Pam Ross, whose musical journey has taken her from Pittsburgh to Houston and now to North Carolina, with frequent creative pilgrimages to her favorite performance destination: Nashville. When asked to catego...

Send us a text From painfully shy child to prolific songwriter with over twenty albums, Eddy Mann's musical journey defies easy categorization. Growing up in Philadelphia with a bebop pianist father and a mother who valued cultural heritage created the perfect environment for creative growth, though Eddy initially struggled to find his voice. That all changed when he picked up a guitar as a teenager – suddenly, the boy who couldn't read in front of classmates found himself performing in clubs be...

Send us a text What happens when cultural identity, activism, and groundbreaking storytelling converge? Amber Afzali brings this powerful intersection to life as she joins us to discuss her starring role in "Rule Breakers," the inspiring Angel Studios film that chronicles Afghanistan's first all-girls robotics team. Born to Afghan immigrant parents and raised in America, Amber shares her unique journey of balancing dual identities while developing a deep passion for her cultural heritage. This ...

Send us a text Stories have power—especially when they challenge expectations and break barriers. This is exactly what novelist Nkrumah Mensah demonstrates through her fantasy series that starts with "Anne of Survivor," featuring a young woman who flees an arranged marriage in the 1500s and finds herself entangled in kingdom-wide intrigue. During our captivating conversation, Nkrumah reveals how her own background shaped her storytelling journey. Despite facing dyslexia as a child, she comes fr...

Send us a text The kitchen transforms from a place of anxiety to a hub of independence in this revealing conversation with Debra Erickson, founder of The Blind Kitchen. Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at 28, Debra shares her remarkable journey from someone who barely cooked to becoming the only blind student in culinary school, and ultimately, an innovative entrepreneur revolutionizing cooking for the visually impaired. What does adaptive cooking actually look like? Debra demystifies the pr...

Send us a text Joe Toler takes us on a fascinating journey through his career as an athletic director across six countries in 12 years, culminating in his current role at the International School of London in Qatar. What began as a teaching career in Houston transformed into an international adventure building comprehensive athletic and activity programs for students around the world. At the International School of London Qatar, Joe oversees three vital components of student life beyond academi...

Send us a text Disability advocacy transcends ramps and automatic doors—it's about creating a world where everyone belongs in every aspect of community life. Jenna Udenberg joins us to share her powerful journey from diagnosis with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at age seven to becoming an author, disability advocate, and accessibility educator. Diagnosed in the late 1980s and using a wheelchair since age eight, Jenna navigated a world before the Americans with Disabilities Act established basic...

Send us a text When Mark MacNicol stepped into a maximum security prison in 2016 to lead a theatre project with inmates serving life sentences, he couldn't have predicted how profoundly it would change his career trajectory. A writer, director, and producer by trade, MacNicol found himself captivated by the therapeutic potential of creative expression—particularly for those who would never identify as "creative types." This revelation birthed Anonymous Drama, a groundbreaking approach that has ...

Send us a text Chris Feistl takes us behind the scenes of one of the most dangerous DEA operations in history - the hunt for the Cali Cartel in Colombia during the 1990s. As a 26-year DEA veteran who stood on the frontlines against what was then "the biggest and most powerful crime syndicate in history," Feistl shares firsthand accounts that reveal the real story behind Netflix's Narcos season three. The Cali Cartel, led by four sophisticated "gentlemen" who preferred bribery over bullets, cont...

Send us a text After losing her husband in her 30s, Melissa Darnay found herself seeking adventure and a fresh start. With just five words of Spanish and an adventurous spirit, she packed up her life in Dallas, loaded her furniture and two dogs, and moved to Panama in 2012. Thirteen years later, Melissa has built an extraordinary life at the mouth of the Panama Canal, where ships line up against a backdrop of blue ocean and lush green jungle. In this captivating conversation, she reveals how Pa...

Send us a text What happens when music meets muscle? Meet Trea, the "fit artist" whose mission bridges the gap between creative expression and physical wellbeing. Growing up in a small Mississippi Delta town where church choirs shaped his musical foundation, Trea's journey from writing emotional poems about his grandmother to founding Next World Fitness reflects the powerful intersection of artistic passion and physical discipline. Trea recognizes a critical truth most fitness professionals mis...

Send us a text Bee Smith joins us to share her inspiring music journey from a small town in England to rising stardom in country music. With her debut single "Little Girl's Heart," Bee explores her personal experiences and the challenges she overcame to pursue her passion. Discover how she transformed adversity into motivation, using her daughter as a driving force to embody resilience. You'll hear about how social media played a pivotal role in her discovery and what it means to create authenti...

Send us a text Embark on a transformative journey with Chris Perron, a former Navy veteran turned resilience coach who is passionate about empowering both veterans and youth. With an impressive career in the Navy Seabees, Chris brings firsthand experiences of service, leadership, and community building to the forefront. In this episode, he reflects on the significance of his military training and how it led him to help others navigate their paths after service. Chris sheds light on the unnotice...

Send us a text Ever felt like you've achieved your professional dreams only to find yourself yearning for something more meaningful? Join us on an inspiring journey with Ana Megrelishvili, founder of the Christian Professional Network Worldwide, as we explore her remarkable transformation. From a challenging upbringing in Georgia, Eastern Europe, to corporate success in the United States, Ana's story is one of resilience and rediscovery. Hear how a profound encounter with God led her to leave be...

Send us a text In this episode, we sit down with Vanessa Hicks Calloway, a retired veteran, author, and inspirational speaker. Vanessa shares her journey from humble beginnings to a distinguished military career, including her combat tours and the lessons learned along the way. She discusses her book, Decision Precision Vision, which merges her military decision-making experience with spiritual guidance. Tune in to discover how Vanessa helps veterans and others improve their decision-making ski...

Send us a text In this enlightening episode, we welcome Dr. Mark Hicks, an author, speaker, and relationship specialist, who shares his insights into the complexities of love and relationships. Join us as we explore the five essential components of love that can help anyone build healthy connections in all areas of life. Dr. Hicks discusses the importance of understanding grief, emotional connections, practicality, self-acceptance, and passion as foundational elements of love. Whether you're na...

Send us a text In this enlightening episode of the Living the Dream podcast, host Curveball sits down with Lane Igoudin, a passionate advocate for adoption and author of the memoir 'A Family, Maybe.' Lane shares his personal journey of adopting two children from foster care, discussing the challenges and triumphs he faced along the way. He reflects on the complexities of the adoption process, the importance of understanding the foster care system, and the impact it had on his relationship with ...

Send us a text In this episode of the Living the Dream podcast, host Curveball sits down with John Chanaca, a children's book author, educator, and founder of MJ Chanaka Publishing. John shares his inspiring journey from a long career in education to becoming a published author, focusing on family values and positive storytelling. He discusses the motivation behind starting his publishing company, the themes explored in his books, and the importance of nurturing young readers. Join us for an up...

Send us a text In this episode of Living the Dream, host Curveball sits down with Vic Lagina, a former porn industry producer and director turned author. Vic shares his journey from the suburbs of Philadelphia to the glitz and grind of Hollywood, revealing the realities of working in the adult film industry. He discusses his book, 'Filthy,' which chronicles his experiences, the lessons learned, and the darker aspects of the industry, including mental health struggles and substance use. Join us ...

Send us a text Join us on the Living the Dream podcast with Curveball as we explore the entrepreneurial journey of Seth Spears, a mission-driven entrepreneur who values purpose over profit. From his beginnings in collegiate admissions to building successful digital marketing and wellness companies, Seth shares his story of overcoming adversity and finding fulfillment through helping others. Discover insights into his ventures, including Spears Marketing, WellnessMama.com, and Rewild Gear, as we...

Send us a text Join us on the Living the Dream podcast with Curveball as we explore the captivating journey of Rodney carpentier, a seasoned law enforcement professional and self-published author. Discover how he weaves two decades of police experience into his debut novel, set against the mysterious backdrop of the Catskill Mountains. Rodney shares his passion for writing, his transition from law enforcement, and his love for hiking. Dive into the intriguing stories from his career and learn a...