Stories from Real Life

A baseball painting can hold more than a memorable play. It can hold a father’s favorite player, a vanished ballpark, or the face of someone history overlooked. On this episode of Stories from Real Life , Melvin E. Edwards welcomes artist Graig Kreindler, known as “The Painter of the National Pastime.” Through meticulously researched paintings, Graig brings baseball’s people and places into vivid...

Growing Up Ryan: Reid Ryan on Nolan, the Astros, and Finding His Own Way What do Nolan Ryan, Barney the purple dinosaur, and Texas A&M have in common? Reid Ryan has a story you’ll want to hear. The former Houston Astros president of business operations joins Melvin E. Edwards for a conversation filled with baseball memories, family humor, and a candid look at building a life in the game. Reid reme...

What happens when the person you love brings a different definition of marriage into the relationship? Pesa and Whitney Shayo, founders of Live Your Best Marriage, join Melvin E. Edwards on Stories from Real Life for a conversation about the expectations couples inherit—and the understanding they build together. With Kenyan and American backgrounds and more than two decades of marriage, the Shayos...

What happens when the political identity you inherited begins to collide with the faith that helped shape it? Melvin E. Edwards talks with educator and fellow John Brown University alum Lisa Heisner about faith, politics, race, and the difficult process of reconsidering long-held beliefs. Drawing on their shared evangelical backgrounds and years of Republican alignment, they discuss the experience...

Content note: This episode includes discussion of childhood abuse, sexual abuse, addiction, and trauma. What happens when the silence that helped you survive becomes difficult to leave behind? Author Rich Dunning joins Melvin E. Edwards on Stories from Real Life for a deeply personal conversation about memory, identity, survival, accountability, and the decision to finally tell his story. Through...

What happens when the life you’ve spent years building suddenly no longer fits the person you’ve become? For identity coach Sass Schaeffer , that question isn’t theoretical. Her own journey through major professional and personal upheaval forced her to confront something deeper than how to rebuild her circumstances: she had to reconsider who she was. In this episode of Stories from Real Life , Sas...

What would you do if you opened an old binder at an estate sale and realized you were holding a piece of World War II history? Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and military historian Patrick W. Naughton Jr. knew almost immediately that he had found something extraordinary. Inside the worn binder was a history created by the soldiers of Baker Battery, 881st Field Artillery Battalion, 69th Infan...

Andre Robertson on Texas, the Yankees, and the accident that changed everything Former Major League shortstop Andre Robertson joins Melvin E. Edwards to trace a career that moves from Orange, Texas to the University of Texas, the New York Yankees, and the 1981 World Series. He also reflects on the racial barriers he faced, the coaches and teammates who shaped him, and the car accident that reshape...

Margaret Eastman Smith grew up inside Moral Re-Armament (MRA), the international movement that emerged from the Oxford Group and sought to transform society through personal moral and spiritual change. For Margaret, however, MRA wasn’t simply a movement. It was family. In this episode of Stories from Real Life , Margaret joins host Melvin E. Edwards to discuss her memoir, A Spectacular Inheritance...

How do medicine, artistry, and psychology come together to transform lives? In this episode, award-winning journalist Melvin E. Edwards sits down with internationally recognized facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Michael Brandt for a thoughtful conversation about confidence, identity, aging, innovation, and the responsibility that comes with changing someone’s appearance. Dr. Brandt dis...

Long before Clint Hurdle became one of baseball’s most recognizable managers, he was the kid everyone expected to become a star. A first-round draft pick of the Kansas City Royals in 1975, Hurdle reached the major leagues at 20 and soon found himself on the cover of Sports Illustrated under enormous expectations. His playing career ultimately followed a different path — but the lessons that came w...

National bestselling novelist Diane Les Becquets joins Stories from Real Life for an unforgettable conversation about survival, faith, creativity, and the remarkable healing power of nature. Known for literary novels that immerse readers in America’s wild landscapes, Diane has earned acclaim for Breaking Wild , The Last Woman in the Forest , and her newest novel, Where the Water Meets the Sky . He...

Key Points Keywords storytelling, habits, identity, product management, entrepreneurship, AI, personal development, childhood influences, curiosity, leadership AI, storytelling, human connection, personal habits, failure, hope, kindness, technology, creativity, identity Summary In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards speaks with Connie Kwan, CEO of Product Maestro and sto...

Neil Taylor’s father, Patrick, died in March 2021. Six days later, Neil’s son was born and given Patrick as his middle name. Caught between grief and new life, Neil realized that his son would never know his grandfather unless Neil found a way to carry Patrick’s voice and story forward. That realization became Me & My Old Man , a 12-week guided storytelling experience that helps families preserve...

Show Notes In this episode of Stories from Real Life , Melvin E. Edwards welcomes writer, historian, and author Scot Loyd for a thoughtful conversation about faith, race, historical memory, and personal transformation. Prompted in part by the national reckoning following the murder of George Floyd, Scot reflects on his late childhood friend Roy and the essay that emerged from those memories: “ A L...

Unmasking the Power of Stories with Jeff Gomez: From Franchises to AI Get ready to dive into a world where storytelling is not just an art, but a force for change. Jeff Gomez, the mastermind behind iconic universes like Halo, Avatar, and Spider-Man, shares his daring insights on building worlds that last, the future of AI as a storytelling medium, and how narratives can reshape our collective cons...

You won’t want to miss this inspiring episode with Gretchen Hertler, a woman whose life so beautifully exemplifies resilience, compassion, and unwavering dedication to helping others. From her journey through personal trauma to her lifelong mission of caring for newborns and her powerful stories on spiritual encounters, Gretchen’s voice is a beacon of hope and humanity. In this episode: * Gretchen...

Explore the insights of Kyle Sweetser, a recent U.S. Senate candidate from Alabama, as he shares lessons learned from talking to diverse communities, challenging stereotypes, and navigating political divides. Discover how genuine listening and honest conversations can impact community trust and political engagement. Main Topics Covered: * The importance of representing overlooked voices in politic...

Dive into the compelling story of Colin Owensby as he shares how a severe car accident, personal tragedies, and remarkable sports achievements shaped his outlook on life, resilience, and purpose. This episode explores athletic discipline, overcoming loss, and finding strength through adversity. Main Topics: * The impact of sports on mental resilience and discipline * Personal tragedy: surviving a...

Show Notes: Amy Hawk — Author, Bible Teacher, and Truth-Teller What happens when faithfulness to Jesus begins to put you at odds with the religious community that shaped you? In this episode of Stories from Real Life , I sit down with Amy Hawk , an author, Bible teacher, and writer whose work explores the uncomfortable intersection of Christianity, politics, conscience, and spiritual courage. Amy...

Irish singer, composer, storyteller, poet, teacher, and leadership guide Owen Ó Súilleabháin brings a rare blend of music, memory, spirituality, and cultural wisdom to the conversation. Raised in one of Ireland’s most respected artistic families, Owen inherited a deep relationship with song, story, poetry, and the ancient traditions of Ireland. His mother, Rev. Nóirín Ní Riain, Ph. D., is a renown...

Episode Summary Nancy Deyo is a former Silicon Valley CEO, Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute Fellow, and author of the forthcoming memoir Perilous Ascent . After a medical crisis on Mount Kilimanjaro, Nancy entered a fifteen-year journey through misdiagnosis, chronic pain, opioid dependence, and identity collapse. In this episode of Stories from Real Life , Nancy shares how the strategies t...

Discover the compelling journey of Dr. Craig Yorke, a Black neurosurgeon, author of Steep , as he reflects on his experiences growing up in Boston, navigating racial identity, and the nuances of success in a demanding profession. This episode offers insights into overcoming societal pressures, the importance of memory and history, and the lessons learned from decades in medicine. In this episode,...

Release Date: May 19, 2026 Episode: Number 203 Guest: Johnzelle Anderson, LPC, Author of Mixtape: A Memoir ## Episode Summary What if your memories weren’t just chapters in a book, but tracks on a mixtape? In this episode of Stories from Real Life , we sit down with Licensed Professional Counselor and author Johnzelle Anderson to discuss his powerful new memoir, Mixtape . Johnzelle opens up about...

Podcast: Stories from Real Life Host: Melvin E. Edwards Guest: Aaron Ryan Release Date: May 12, 2026 Episode Summary Award-winning and bestselling author Aaron Ryan joins Stories from Real Life to discuss the discipline, persistence, and creativity required to build a life around storytelling. With a career spanning science fiction, dystopian fiction, children’s books, nonfiction, and business wri...