Amazing Americans

When Louie Castriota's daughter was diagnosed with special needs, he started on a 13-year journey to create Leg Up Farm, which has now transformed the lives of over 1,500 children with special needs and their families. Website: LegUpFarm.org Book: Leg Up, The Courage to Dream Note: this episode originally aired on 1/24/26

Michael Steven Purles and his wife had four children. The oldest was born with congenital heart disease and lived to be 20. The second also had congenital heart disease but was able to be rescued by medical science. His wife suffered a stroke a few years ago, and he considers it an honor to be her caregiver. This is a story of family, faith, and finding strength in all circumstances. Michael Purle...

Rudy Knapp lost a brother when he was 12 and is now dealing with his mother going through the stages of dementia. He shares what he's learned about this terrible disease, the human memory, and what's truly important in life. Now a life coach, his goal is to help others build a thriving kingdom and leave a legacy by focusing on the 5 Pillars of Life: spiritual uplift and purpose, mental health grow...

Author George Russell tells the inspiring story of how writing helped saved him after a midlife crisis led to no job, living in a car, and a raging alcoholism problem. He's 36 years sober now. Book: Chasing the Hummingbird's Universe

Mitch Mueck tells the powerful story of the tragedies and triumphs he's experienced in his lifetime. He lost 2 wives to cancer, one of them when he was only 19 years old. He also struggled with a debilitating disease but overcome a doctor’s poor prognosis. He's learned a lot of lessons along the way and enjoys sharing them with anyone he can. Website: mitchellmueck.com

Abused, forced to sell drugs, and discarded by her prostitute mother, Soul Singh had to grow up fast and without much hope. She spent time in dozens of foster homes and endured even further abuse. This is the story of how she defied the odds and the stereotypes surrounding her life circumstances to not only get a college education but to give back to children in a meaningful way. Book: Thank you f...

After surviving a car accident that left him paralyzed, David Francisco's story was one of the most viewed auditions of the 2018 American Idol season. He joins the show to share his inspirational story about overcoming the odds and adapting to a new way of life, even while continuing his career as a singer, songwriter, producer, motivational speaker, and dad. Website: DavidFranciscoMusic.com

Dr. Glen Robison shares his breathtaking account of resilience, discovery, and the pursuit of purpose. Once told he would never succeed, he courageously stepped into the unknown and rose stronger to fulfill his calling as a surgeon and humanitarian. His story proves that the answers we seek, and the life we dream of, often emerge when we embrace uncertainty with faith and determination. Book: Show...

Ron Nelson's copper postcards were everywhere! Did you ever pick one up at the Statue of Liberty? He sold millions of the unique copper postcards. He also designed and manufactured CD covers for some very famous people, including Madonna. Ron tells us all about his interesting professional life as well as the slew of health problems that he's had to face. The guy has had 650 blood transfusions, ca...

Beth Watter's son Nick had heart surgery at less than a year old, his lungs collapsed, and he suffered brain damage due to loss of oxygen. Doctors told Beth to put her son in an institution, but she refused. This is a story of inspiration and resilience as Beth found the strength and support she needed and Nick continues to defy the odds and thrive despite his limitations. Books: Champions, We Are...

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...

Karen Kay Smith supressed her feelings and felt alone in helping her husband deal with Multiple Sclerosis for 15 years. This led to her developing an eating disorder. Plus, she was in charge of helping her daughter with Muscular Dystrophy. Hear how she overcame her eating disorder and feelings of deep lonliness and is now thriving while caring for her daughter and inspiring others as a certified h...

Ralph Myers' son was killed by a gangmember in a drive-by shooting. In this podcast, Ralph details the incident that took his son's life, the years he spent battling the court system thereafter, and the crisis response team he helped establish in order to help other parents going through similar tragedies. Books:  Beneath the Law: The Plight of Crime Victims in the American Criminal Justice System...

Tito Ortiz was a kid who came from nothing, but through hard work and dedication, he was able to achieve the American dream. In his freshman year of high school, he joined the wrestling team and discovered he had a gift that changed his life. He eventually found his way into mixed martial arts and the rest is history! Here’s the story of how Tito Ortiz overcame poverty, drugs, and a broken family...

Carol Jones Hasbrouck and her friend left home with $500 in their pocket and embarked on a journey volunteering with as many charities and service projects as possible. Almost 4 months and 10,000 miles later, they returned home transformed women.  Book: 10,000 Miles of Miracles: Dames Gone Wild Summer Service Adventure Helping People, Pets and Planets

Hal Eisner spent 43 of his 58-year broadcast news career in Los Angeles. He covered fires, eathquakes, school shootings, the OJ Simpson and Michael Jackson trials, and much more! He was even nearly killed by a drunk driver, while standing and covering a story in Hollywood. For his lifetime of work, Hal received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Radio and Television News Associati...

Jim Flaherty is 90 years old, but you'd never know if from listening to him. He's learned to love longevity and has lots of tips to help you do the same. He was a successful ad agency creative director, business owner, and was by his wife's side when she battled dementia. He's kept a positive attitude through it all and chooses to make the most of every day. He's now a writer, motivational speaker...

Jack Ratliff's quest for meaning and adventure took him from college in the 1950s to the edge of everything - enduring the punishing trials of UDT-SEAL training, commanding a destroyer under a mercurial captain, battling deadly forest fires in Yellowstone, and more! Book: Riding the White Bull: The Making of a Navy SEAL

Frank Atchley was an active police officer for 33 years, including 12 years as a homicide detective. He helped take down Gary Ridgeway, the Green River Killer, who was convicted of killing nearly 50 women. He also prevented a woman from being sacrificed by a satanic cult. Frank shares how a homicide investigator solves crimes and how women and others can protect themselves from being potential vic...

Henry Kusiak is trying to make it in the pro ranks after a very successful college baseball career. He just got back from playing baseball in China and has played a couple seasons with semi-pro teams in the US. He's had to take the long road toward reaching his dream, while overcoming doubts and struggles along the way. This is Henry's story of perseverance.

This is the powerful true story of Nick Morrison’s journey from the rodeo arena to rock bottom and back again. After multiple concussions and a career-ending injury, Nick lost not only his dream but also his ability to speak. Refusing to give up, he fought through pain, fear, and silence to rebuild his life through faith and resilience. Nick is now an inspiring keynote speaker and stand-up comedia...

SENSITIVE CONTENT DISCLAIMER: This episode contains sensitive subject matter related to sexual abuse. As a child, Christina Balzani was sexually abused by a relative. As an adult, she was a victim of domestic violence. After gaining the spiritual and emotional tools to overcome her trauma, Christina's lifelong mission has been to help others gain freedom and healing from past abuse. Website: Chris...

Greg Roth's mother died of cancer when he was just 11. This tragedy sent him on a lifelong mission that includes creating the award-winning documentary We Ride Why, a film about the power of love, community, and hope in the face of cancer. The documentary follows the stories of several women who have been impacted by cancer, as well as the friends and family who support them. Through their stories...

When Louie Castriota's daughter was diagnosed with special needs, he started on a 13-year journey to create Leg Up Farm, which has now transformed the lives of over 1,500 children with special needs and their families. Website: LegUpFarm.org Book: Leg Up, The Courage to Dream

This is the inspirational story of Geoffrey Bott. He a former rugby player and accomplished athlete from England and subsequently a scientist, business owner, and author. He's been through over a dozen knee surgeries, a raging house fire, divorce, and more. Not only has he bounced back from all of it, he's thrived and is here to share his story about never giving up. Books: Biological Deception Up...