GenX Journeys

Some acts of love are so profound that they stand the test of time. This is the story of Mr. Kuroki, a devoted husband in Japan who spent two years planting thousands of Shibazakura flowers—moss phlox—for his wife after she lost her sight due to diabetes. Struggling with depression, she withdrew from the world. But Mr. Kuroki had a plan. He created a breathtaking sea of pink blossoms, their sweet...

March Madness is back, and this time, we're putting the spotlight on the Queen of Pop herself: Madonna! 👑🎤 Back in 2020, while the world was on pause, Return to the '80s March Madness kept the spirit alive by diving into a head-to-head battle of Madonna's biggest hits. And to make things even more fun, I was joined by my very good friend Lizzie Newton , an 'elder Millennial' and massive Madonna...

In this episode of GenX Journeys , we're diving into one of the most iconic Brat Pack films of the '80s— St. Elmo's Fire ! This classic film perfectly captures the chaos, confusion, and camaraderie of life after college, and believe it or not, there are some powerful life lessons tucked inside all the drama. From shifting friendships to messy love, from defining success to stepping into the unknow...

In this week's Power Surge , we share the incredible story of Andre "Tre" Howard III , a 10-year-old boy who showed unbelievable bravery in the face of tragedy. After a devastating plane crash , Tre instinctively shielded his younger sister , suffering a severe head injury but ultimately saving her life. When Tre woke up after surgery, his first concern? Whether he had missed the Super Bowl. That'...

Hey there, '80s fans! Welcome back to Throwback Thursday – Return to the '80s edition! It's that time of year again— March Madness! But we're not talking about basketball here. Oh no, we're diving into our very own Return to the '80s March Madness music tournament! 🎶🏆 Now, if you've been with me for a while, you might remember that this all started back in the blog days when we kicked things off...

Hosts: Paul Stroessner, Suzanne Mattaboni, Del Roehling 📚 In this episode of GenX Book Club , we dive into Stephen King's chilling collection, Skeleton Crew ! Suzanne, Del, and I take a deep look at two standout stories: The Mist and The Monkey . From the eerie atmosphere of a small-town supermarket trapped in a supernatural fog to a haunted toy monkey with a deadly agenda, we explore what makes...

In this episode of Power Surge , we're honoring the late Gene Hackman , a true legend who proved that reinvention is possible at any stage of life. Hackman wasn't a Hollywood prodigy—he was told he would never make it. But instead of accepting defeat, he pushed forward, breaking into acting in his 30s and becoming one of the most respected actors of all time. Then, at age 74, he did something rema...

🚢 All aboard! With this year's '80s Cruise setting sail this weekend, we're throwing it back to one of our favorite episodes from 2023! In this episode, Del and I are joined by two of our absolute favorites— Claire Young and Caroline Connelly —who had just returned from that year's epic voyage. They gave us the full rundown on: 🎸 Incredible live performances – The music was nonstop, with legenda...

Guest: Craig Siegel, Founder of CLS and author of The Reinvention Formula Episode Highlights: 🔹 From Wall Street to CLS – Craig's bold leap from finance to building a purpose-driven personal development brand. 🔹 Going After Your Purpose – Why waiting for the "perfect moment" is a myth and how to take action now. 🔹 The Reinvention Formula – Insights from Craig's book on mindset shifts and overco...

In today's Power Surge , we're diving into the incredible true story of Dashrath Manjhi , a man who spent 22 years carving a path through a mountain—by hand! His story is one of determination, resilience, and the power of a single person to make a massive impact . Episode Highlights 🪨 A Promise and a Mission – How Dashrath's personal tragedy ignited an unbreakable resolve. ⛰ 22 Years, One Hammer,...

🎤 Originally Released: May 1, 2016 🎙 Episode 2 of Return to the '80s On April 21, 2016, the world lost a musical icon—Prince. Originally, my co-host Robert and I planned to cover Fast Times at Ridgemont High as our second episode. But with the shocking news of Prince's passing, we knew we had to dedicate this episode to celebrating his legendary career. In this special re-release, Robert and I re...

Welcome to GenX Journeys ! In this debut episode, I'm taking you through the journey that led to this moment. From my early days creating Return to the '80s to launching Journey of the Rhode Runner , and eventually rebranding into Inspiring Journeys , every step has led me to GenX Journeys —a place where passion, purpose, and the GenX experience collide. You'll hear how a single comment from the l...

Welcome to a new episode of Return to the '80s! This Valentine's Day week, the gang talks about their '80s crushes and '80s ballads. This is sort of a sequel to Episode 10 from 2017, which did not include ballads, and an #80sCrushes Crossover event from that same week. Please comment below with you're favorite crushes and ballads. In the meantime, enjoy this show! Round 1 Caroline Crush: Patrick S...

GenX Book Club: A Totally Excellent Evening with Diane Franklin! Get ready for an unforgettable GenX Book Club meeting featuring the one and only Diane Franklin! The iconic star of Better Off Dead , Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure , The Last American Virgin , and Amityville II: The Possession joins us for a lively discussion about her books, career, and the enduring magic of the '80s. Diane treat...

  Here's a set of show notes for your Sparks of Hope episode featuring Amber Glenn: 🎙  Episode Summary : In this episode of Sparks of Hope , we spotlight the incredible story of Amber Glenn, a U.S. figure skater who has faced and overcome immense challenges to make history. From battling a severe concussion to becoming the first U.S. female skater in 14 years to win the ISU Grand Prix Final, Amber...

Welcome to Sparks of Hope on the Inspiring Journeys podcast! In this episode, we highlight the incredible story of Taylor Schenker, a North Carolina woman who turned a devastating event into an opportunity to spread kindness. After Hurricane Helene struck North Carolina in late September 2024, Taylor discovered nearly 200 family photographs scattered far from home. Recognizing the deep personal va...

🎙️ Episode Summary Welcome to the debut episode of Sparks of Hope, a new feature of the Inspiring Journeys podcast dedicated to shining a light on the goodness and compassion in our world. These bite-sized episodes share uplifting stories that remind us of the powerful connections we share as humans. In this episode, we're exploring a heartwarming story of generosity that took place in Melbourne,...

🎄✨ GenX Journeys is back on Inspiring Journeys with another holiday classic! This time, we're diving into the iconic '80s film Scrooged starring Bill Murray. Originally released as an episode of Return to the '80s on December 18, 2023, this nostalgic deep dive is packed with laughs, memories, and sidebars that will make you feel like you're at your own '80s-style office Christmas party. In this...

🎄 Welcome back to GenX Journeys on Inspiring Journeys ! That's right—this is the second episode of the week! Are you surprised? Well, as Clark Griswold would say: "If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more surprised than I am right now!" This time, we're diving into the holiday classic Christmas Vacation ! Once again, I'm joined by the amazing Del Roehling, Claire...

🎥 "Welcome to the party, pals!" In this special holiday episode, originally recorded for Return to the '80s , we're celebrating the ultimate Christmas action movie: Die Hard ! Join me, Paul Stroessner, along with the amazing Del Roehling, Claire Young, and Caroline Connely as we dive into the iconic 1988 classic that redefined holiday entertainment. In this episode, we explore: 🔹 The great debat...

In this inspiring episode, we reconnect with Russ Rogers, who shared his journey with us back in Episode 12, and welcome Dan Scoca, as Russ and Dan are launching a brand new podcast next month. Dan shares his background as a physician's assistant and explains his passion for both physical and mental wellness. Russ and Dan dive into how they met and bonded over their shared commitment to empowering...

On this special episode of GenX Journeys , we revisit a fascinating conversation originally recorded for Return to the '80s on January 28, 2021. Paul and Del had the privilege of interviewing legendary rock photographer Mark "Weissguy" Weiss. Mark's story is not just a nostalgic trip through the 80s rock scene; it's an inspiring journey of passion, persistence, and seizing opportunities. Mark is t...

In this heartfelt solo episode of Inspiring Journeys , we honor 20 incredible veterans whose lives were lost to the battle with PTSD. Each of these heroes was honored during my Marine Corps Marathon run, dedicating a mile to their memory and legacy. The episode begins with gratitude and reflections on the transformative experiences of this year, including the rebranding of this podcast and the mar...

I'm thrilled to share a very special episode from the GenX Journeys branch of our feed. As part of bringing over some of the best moments from my former Return to the '80s podcast, I couldn't think of a better one to kick off the holiday season than this Thanksgiving classic! Originally released on November 23, 2021, this episode is all about the hilarious and heartwarming Planes, Trains, and Auto...

In this inspiring episode of Inspiring Journeys, Paul Stroessner sits down with Jackie Durnin, founder of Hinterland Health Retreat, to explore her journey from trauma to healing and her groundbreaking work in mental health. Jackie shares the experiences that led her to become a counselor and EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) practitioner, opening up about how her own challenges and traumas shaped...