Amazing Americans

Linda Dezenski was born with Cerebral Palsy. She takes us on a rollercoaster ride through the ups and downs she experienced with a body that doesn't always cooperate and a society that often misunderstands, as well as how she's managed to triumph in the midst of it all. Book: Persistence: Living an Authentic Life with a Disability

This is Kathy Teyler Jarrett’s journey of taking care of a spouse with Lewy Body Dementia in hopes of helping others recognize the signs and get proper diagnosis and treatment. She shares the signs and symptoms, how her husband’s Lewy Body Dementia was finally diagnosed, how she and others treated and cared for him, and the mistakes and pitfalls they faced along the way. Definition: Lewy Body Deme...

Maureen Anne Meehan has written 23 books, including 19 in the Mary MacIntosh suspense thriller series. She's also climbed the legal ladder to become a judge and experienced a lot of tragedy in her life, including the murder of her assistant and the loss of her husband. Her subsequent dating stories are hilarious btw! Maureen Anne Meehan on Amazon Note: this episode originally aired on 6/7/25

After facing death more than a dozen times and enduring the deep scars of trauma, Miguel De La Rocha rose from the shadows with a calling—to become the guide he never had. Miguel's mission: to guide veterans, first responders, and trauma survivors battling PTS, invisible wounds, or thoughts of suicide—toward recovery, identity rebuilding, and emotional freedom. Website:  yourfate.life Book: F.A.T....

John Simon is a brilliant neuroscientist, inventor, writer, and former pole-vaulter who had the right side of his face rebuilt after a freak accident. In addition to all of his accomplishments in the medical field and elsewhere, John wrote a fascinating sci-fi novel about a revolutionary device that forces a killer to experience their victim's terrifying final moments through the help of AI. Book:...

Navy vet Randy Tisch sold his financial business to buy a boat and sail the world. He fought 30-foot waves on the Pacific Ocean as well as some serious storms of life, including cancer. Book: Crossing the Wild Pacific: Captain's Log of the Yacht Argo

Chris Benyo ran 65 marathons, but it wasn't until his wife was dianosed with ALS that he ran his most meaningful ones! Book: All In: Living, not Dying with ALS Note: this episode originally aired on 5/31/25

"My story starts in absolute despair, but I went on to have a life many can only dream about." This is the story of Dale Jones, a determined maverick who invented his own way of juggling one-handed. From clown school to winning jobs over talented two-handed jugglers, and eventually even being hired by The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, this is an entertaining an inspirational story...

When moving to NYC to pursue an acting career, Kelly Cervantes never could have imagined what life had in store for her or how much she would fundamentally change along the way. Kelly speaks candidly about her emotional journey through the pain of unrealized dreams, navigating her husband’s Broadway spotlight, fighting for her child’s life, finding purpose after loss, and rebuilding her life and m...

Vincent Tomeo is a poet and history teacher who's been all over the world. He has over 1000 published poems/essays. He even survived cancer and went blind for a year due to multiple sclerosis. He's humorous, cultured, and has won several awards for his writings. You'll enjoy hearing him talk about his experiences and what's important in life. Books: My Cemetery Friends: A Garden of Encounters at M...

Meet Deborah Gardner. She set the Guinness World Record for swimming the unpredictable 20+ mile open water Catalina Island Channel at the age of 66 1/2, and she did it with only one arm working for part of the swim! She'll tell you what it took to overcome her fears, as well as rough swimming conditions, to accomplish the unthinkable. Deborah is also an extraordinary keynote speaker, hospitality g...

Jim Agals has led an interesting life. He grew up poor, but becoming a paperboy at age 11 opened up a world of possibilities. He's also a military veteran who graduated from college at the ripe age of 75 and is taking care of his wife who has Parkinson's disease. Book: The Paperboy Chronicles

Linsey Willis' older sister Betsy was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1975 at age 21. This is the story of Betsy's life, illness, and destructive tendencies as shared by someone who saw it up close and personal. Through this interview, as well as her book, Linsey hopes to offer others the peace of mind and healing that come from understanding this devastating illness. Book: Be There: My Lived E...

Linda Drattell has made it through a lot in her lifetime. She became deaf in her thirties, and she was caught in the middle of the Bastille Day terrorist attack in Nice, France in 2016. She's a poet, children's author, competitive horse trail rider, and an advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing. Her uplifting story is one of perseverance and overcoming your fear that you won't fit in. Website:...

From a massive brain tumor to a fibromyalgia diagnosis, Linda Plunkett had every reason to give up hope. How was she able to persevere through the pain, sleepless nights, and doctors telling her they couldn't help her? Linda shares her inspirational story about how faith, perseverance, and a constant quest for answers has kept her going. Website: lindasplunkett.com Books: Supernatural Rescue: From...

In March 2023, Bobby Dewbre was struck and killed by a drunk driver while crossing the highway after celebrating his 21st birthday. Ever since, his mother, Beth McBride, has been on a mission to turn heartbreak into change. She founded Montana Bar Fairies as a way to encourage responsible choices and to prevent other families from experiencing the same loss. She has also fought for stiffer penalti...

David Selley is an 87-year-old entrepreneur and author who never stops improving. He's on a mission to write 17 or 18 books this year, and he's here to share his wisdom and inspire others to break the chains that limit their creativity and potential for huge success in the business world and in family life. David Selley is also the founder and CEO of the International Entrepreneurs Association. We...

Imagine having a daughter fighting for her life in a coma. Then, just a few years later, your 4-year-old has a brain tumor. Sharon Wilson is a professional coach with 35 years of corporate leadership experience and 25 years as a step mom. Through professional coaching training as well as a variety of life trials, she has gained a lot of practical knowledge to pass along. Whether you're looking for...

Annie Zidarevich worked backstage on several popular shows in Hollywood, was one of the first female directors of the Directors Guild of America, AND she covered 15 Super Bowls in sports talk radio. Kick back and enjoy Annie's entertaining and motivational storytelling. She doesn't pull any punches while covering some of the best moments from her interesting life. Note: this episode originally air...

Pat Moffett's wife contracted Alzheimer's at the early age of 53. Pat tells the tragic story of how the devastating illness stole her mind and affected those around her. Also, hear how a typo saved Pat's life when he was in Vietnam. Learn about the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall as well as the Vietnam Virtual Wall. Pat shares the heartwarming story of his search for the family member of a fellow...

Meet Jim Stavis. Type I diabetes nearly took his life many years ago. His body required a new heart, kidney, and pancreas in order to survive. Hear Jim's inpirational story about overcoming tremendous odds and going on to live a life of purpose for two decades since the transplants. His message is sure to motivate anyone who listens. Website: jimstavis.com

Want to finally say goodbye to the foods that are holding you back from living your best life? Don't miss this episode with health educator and speaker, Mary Kay Matossian, B.S.N. After years of suffering from Metabolic Syndrome (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, fatty liver, and high blood glucose with weight gain), she discovered the whole food, plant-based diet that completely changed her...

Imagine giving 2 TEDx talks on success with over 10 million views! Dr. Emilio Justo has done just that. The Cuban immigrant became a doctor at the age of just 23, and he knows what it takes to realize your dreams. He’s also a bestselling author and globally renowned TEDx speaker and is here to teach us how to master delayed gratification in order to transform all the distractions of life into mass...

Susan Roberts served in the Navy as a critical care nurse and is now in charge of pioneering the VA's Crush 33 sepsis alert system, which could change the way hospitals operate across the country when it comes to treating sepsis. The Crush 33 system uses advanced analytics and real-time monitoring to identify sepsis risk factors to ensure that healthcare providers are alerted immediately when a pa...

Energetic voice actor Joshua Seth can be heard in over 100 TV shows and movies and is the voice of Tai in Digimon and The Prisoner in The Spongebob Squarepants Movie. You'll love hearing him share his stories about his time as a voice actor in Hollywood and later a comedy mindreader, as well as what he's up to these days as an engaging keynote speaker and mentalist. He also shares tips on how to b...