New Episodes of Stories from Real Life Every Tuesday

Episodes

Ep. 190 - Miles Spencer: What Happens When Curiosity Becomes a Career
Feb. 24, 2026

Ep. 190 - Miles Spencer: What Happens When Curiosity Becomes a Career

In this episode, Miles Spencer shares his incredible journey of curiosity-driven ventures, fearless risk-taking, and the power of storytelling to lead, inspire, and preserve legacy across generations. Discover how adventure a...

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Ep. 189 - Alison Gieschen: Sail On
Feb. 17, 2026

Ep. 189 - Alison Gieschen: Sail On

Show Notes (Bullet Points) 🔸 Key Topics Covered * Alison’s journey from running a horse farm and teaching to sailing around the world. * How her early passion for adventure propelled her toward blue-water sailing. * The creat...

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Ep. 188 - Lisa Rites: Death, Divorce, and the Grief Between Them
Feb. 10, 2026

Ep. 188 - Lisa Rites: Death, Divorce, and the Grief Between Them

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, grief educator Lisa Rites discusses the multifaceted nature of grief, emphasizing that it extends beyond death to include experiences like divorce and life transitions. She shares he...

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Ep. 187 - Kerry Damiano: Around the World in One Lifetime
Feb. 3, 2026

Ep. 187 - Kerry Damiano: Around the World in One Lifetime

In this episode of “Stories from Real Life,” host Melvin E. Edwards welcomes Kerry Damiano, known as Ms. World Traveler, who shares her incredible journey of exploration across more than 145 countries. Kerry discusses how her...

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Ep. 186 - Dr. Ben Long: The Quiet Cost of Exhaustion
Jan. 27, 2026

Ep. 186 - Dr. Ben Long: The Quiet Cost of Exhaustion

Sleep is often treated as negotiable — something we squeeze in after work, family, ambition, and obligation. But what if that assumption is costing us more than we realize? (Please excuse the audio problems on my end.) In thi...

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Ep. 185 - Kristan Swan: Learning to Listen to Your Own Life
Jan. 20, 2026

Ep. 185 - Kristan Swan: Learning to Listen to Your Own Life

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards engages with Kristen Swan, who shares her insights on personal growth, curiosity, and the importance of reflection during life transitions. They discuss the im...

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Ep. 184 - Dr. Nelva Lee: From the Classroom to the Campaign
Jan. 13, 2026

Ep. 184 - Dr. Nelva Lee: From the Classroom to the Campaign

FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Please support this sponsor of the podcast. In this episode of...

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Ep. 183 - Helton Pereira: Fire, Faith, Family, and the Fight for Purpose
Jan. 6, 2026

Ep. 183 - Helton Pereira: Fire, Faith, Family, and the Fight for Purp…

FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Please support this sponsor of the podcast. Episode Summary: T...

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Ep. 182 - Mark Burnett: The Healing That No Doctor Prescribed
Dec. 30, 2025

Ep. 182 - Mark Burnett: The Healing That No Doctor Prescribed

FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Please support this sponsor of the podcast. In this episode, w...

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Ep. 181 - Matthew Pridgen: Confronting America’s Hardest Truths
Dec. 26, 2025

Ep. 181 - Matthew Pridgen: Confronting America’s Hardest Truths

FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Please support this sponsor of the podcast. Episode Summary In...

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Ep. 180 - Scott Miller: Love, Loss, and a Sci-Fi Legacy
Dec. 23, 2025

Ep. 180 - Scott Miller: Love, Loss, and a Sci-Fi Legacy

Sponsored by: FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Episode Summary: In this episode, we sit down wi...

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Ep. 179 - Danny Johnson: Clean Comedy, Real Stories, and the Road
Dec. 19, 2025

Ep. 179 - Danny Johnson: Clean Comedy, Real Stories, and the Road

Guest: Danny Johnson — Comedian, Storyteller, “The Everyday Comic” FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generati...

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Ep. 178 - Russell Van Brocklen: The Truth About Dyslexia That Schools Don’t Teach
Dec. 15, 2025

Ep. 178 - Russell Van Brocklen: The Truth About Dyslexia That Schools…

FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Please support this sponsor of the podcast. Episode Summary: I...

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Ep. 177 - Tom Russo: In a Blink of an Eye
Dec. 12, 2025

Ep. 177 - Tom Russo: In a Blink of an Eye

FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Episode Summary: In today’s episode, we sit down with Tom Russ...

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Ep. 176 - Amy Hawk: What Would Judas Do?
Dec. 9, 2025

Ep. 176 - Amy Hawk: What Would Judas Do?

Episode Summary: In this powerful conversation, “The Judas Effect” author Amy Hawk shares her deeply personal journey of faith, identity, and finding her voice in the conversation around Christian Nationalism. Amy opens up ab...

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Ep. 175 - Karen Bates: More Than a Bus Driver
Dec. 5, 2025

Ep. 175 - Karen Bates: More Than a Bus Driver

Episode Show Notes In this heartfelt episode of Stories from Real Life , we sit down with “Miss Karen” Bates, a Utah school bus driver who has spent 14 years shaping young lives from the driver’s seat. Miss Karen opens up abo...

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Ep. 174 - Scott Martin: How a Coach Lost His Identity -- and Found His Mission
Dec. 2, 2025

Ep. 174 - Scott Martin: How a Coach Lost His Identity -- and Found Hi…

Guest: Scott Martin — Author, Coach, Advocate Episode Description In this deeply moving episode of Stories from Real Life , we sit down with Scott Martin — former elite soccer coach, author of Play From Your Heart , and livin...

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Ep. 173 - Matt Roberson & Gene Bowles: Beyond The Dugout
Nov. 28, 2025

Ep. 173 - Matt Roberson & Gene Bowles: Beyond The Dugout

What does it truly mean to coach — not just athletes, but young men navigating life? In this powerful and reflective episode, we sit down with Boyd-Buchanan high school baseball coaches Matt Roberson and Gene Bowles for a con...

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Ep. 172 - Tami Gaines: The Story That Changed Everything
Nov. 25, 2025

Ep. 172 - Tami Gaines: The Story That Changed Everything

Today on Stories from Real Life , we’re joined by Tami Gaines , author of Preemie Parents: 26 Ways to Grow With Your Premature Baby , resilience strategist, and speaker who has inspired audiences of hundreds of thousands. Tam...

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Ep. 171 - Joe Carlucci: The Heart of Hospitality
Nov. 21, 2025

Ep. 171 - Joe Carlucci: The Heart of Hospitality

🎙️ Episode Intro In today’s episode of Stories from Real Life , we’re stepping inside the clubhouse with hospitality leader Joe Carlucci — a man who’s spent his career turning golf clubs and restaurants into communities. From...

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Ep. 170 - Jim Brown: How A Firefighter’s Guitar Group Helps Men Facing Cancer
Nov. 18, 2025

Ep. 170 - Jim Brown: How A Firefighter’s Guitar Group Helps Men Facin…

🎧 Episode Intro: When firefighter and paramedic Jim Brown was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer, his life took a turn no training could prepare him for. Out of his struggle came something extraordinary — a nationwide guitar...

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Ep. 169 - Dr. Tomás Estrada: Engineering a Meaningful Life
Nov. 14, 2025

Ep. 169 - Dr. Tomás Estrada: Engineering a Meaningful Life

🎧 Stories from Real Life 🎙️ Episode Title: “Engineering a Meaningful Life” Episode Summary: Dr. Tomás Estrada doesn’t just teach engineering — he teaches perspective. In this conversation, the Elizabethtown College professor ...

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Ep. 168 - Susan Snow: The Other Side of the Gun
Nov. 11, 2025

Ep. 168 - Susan Snow: The Other Side of the Gun

🎧 Stories from Real Life Episode: “The Other Side of the Gun – Susan Snow’s Journey Through Trauma, Grief, and Forgiveness” Summary: When Susan Snow was 17, her father — Los Angeles Police Detective Thomas C. Williams — was m...

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Ep. 167 - Rand Timmerman: Redemption on the Appalachian Trail
Nov. 7, 2025

Ep. 167 - Rand Timmerman: Redemption on the Appalachian Trail

Beware: This conversation includes a discussion of alcoholism and suicide. At 72, most people are slowing down. But for Rand Timmerman, life’s greatest challenge — and greatest healing — came on a 2,000-mile trek through the ...

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