Life Stories Podcast

What does it look like to follow a calling that begins with a simple desire to help others? In this episode, Simone shares how a heart for children and a mission trip to Uganda eventually led her to found Simone's Kids while she was still in college. What started as one small act of faith has grown into a thriving nonprofit that provides education, nutrition, and holistic care for hundreds of...

What does it take to turn a dream into reality, especially when the odds seem stacked against you? In this episode, I sit down with award-winning children's author and writing coach Rosie J. Pova to talk about her incredible journey from immigrating from Bulgaria to becoming a traditionally published children's author. Rosie shares how a lifelong love of words, years of perseverance, and a...

Matthew Kenslow was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at six years old, but he never allowed a diagnosis to define his future. In this inspiring conversation, Matthew shares what life was like growing up with autism, the challenges he faced socially and academically, and the determination that helped him pursue his dream of becoming an educator. From speech therapy and special education class...

Twenty years ago, Liz Brewer turned one of the most difficult experiences of her life into a mission that continues to impact families today. After losing her father to Stage 4 lung cancer, she recognized a gap in support for families facing medical crises and created the Foundation Angel Program to connect them with practical help, financial assistance, and compassionate volunteers. During our co...

What happens when a former school counselor, juvenile probation officer, gang investigator, and private investigator spends more than 30 years on the front lines of the drug crisis? In this eye-opening conversation, Dave Kopeny shares what he's learned about teen substance abuse, addiction, and the critical role parents play in prevention. Drawing from both his professional experience and his pers...

In this episode, Carolyn shares the deeply personal story behind her memoir, My Personal Holocaust, and the years-long journey that led her from hidden trauma to healing and freedom. After experiencing severe symptoms of PTSD in adulthood, she began a counseling process that uncovered repressed childhood memories and helped her understand the ways trauma had shaped her life. Carolyn explains disso...

What if the life you're looking for is already here? In this thoughtful conversation, Ulrika Torquato shares her remarkable journey from medical doctor to opera singer, and ultimately to creating Joyering®, an app designed to help people notice the small moments of joy that are already present in everyday life. Born in Sweden, raised in Brazil, and now living in Switzerland, Ulrika's path...

Phebe Trotman is a multi-Hall of Fame athlete, award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, coach, and bestselling author of the Never Quit on a Bad Day book series. After spending decades competing at the highest levels of soccer, she discovered that some of life's greatest lessons come not from victories, but from setbacks, disappointments, and the courage to keep going. In this episode, Phebe share...

What happens when someone who thought their life was over discovers that accountability, support, and hope can lead to a completely different future? In this episode, Jesse Crosson shares his remarkable journey from addiction, arrest, and a lengthy prison sentence to becoming an author, advocate, and founder of the Second Chancer Foundation. Jesse opens up about the mentors, family members, and un...

What started as one hour of FaceTime a week between a mother and her son became something far bigger than either of them could have imagined. After a painful separation from her son Gabriel, Kate Markland turned storytelling into a lifeline, asking one simple question that changed everything: "Do you want to be the hero of your own story?" Together they created adventures in Coral Cove,...

When Alexa Denaburg was 28 years old, she was building a successful career in marketing, pursuing her MBA, and living what many would consider a dream life in New York City. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, her voice began to change. What started as occasional vocal interruptions quickly turned into a long and frustrating search for answers that ultimately led to a diagnosis of spasmodic dysphonia,...

**My love/hate relationship with Zoom shows up in this week's episodes as only audio recorded.** In this episode of Life Stories, I sit down with Quinn Harwood, also known as Coach Q, to talk about how some of life’s most painful moments can become the catalyst for growth and purpose. Quinn shares his journey from chasing NBA dreams and playing professional basketball to walking through devast...

In this episode, I sit down with Sue Corl: author, speaker, missionary, and founder of Crown of Beauty International, to talk about overcoming rejection, discovering identity in Christ, and helping women around the world find healing and freedom. Sue shares the incredible story of being born with a severe cleft palate and being sent home as a baby because doctors believed she would not survive. Sh...

In this episode of Life Stories, I sit down with Valerie Jones, a Christian life and leadership coach, podcast host, and founder of The Purpose Project. Valerie opens up about the season in her life when burnout, overthinking, grief, and pressure nearly caused her to walk away from leadership, ministry, and even her sense of purpose. What looked strong and successful on the outside was hiding exha...

For more than 50 years, Rick Hill has lived what many doctors once believed was impossible. Diagnosed at just 24 years old with Stage 3 Embryonal Cell Carcinoma and given little hope of survival, Rick made the controversial decision to walk away from chemotherapy and radiation and pursue an alternative path focused on nutrition, enzymes, B17, detoxification, and lifestyle changes. Today, at 75 yea...

What if your child is incredibly smart but still struggles to read? In this episode, I sit down with dyslexia expert Dr. Rebecca Troy to talk about the real challenges families face when children struggle with reading, spelling, and language processing. Rebecca shares how dyslexia has impacted her own life, from growing up in a dyslexic family to raising dyslexic children herself and explains why...

Today’s guest is wildland firefighter and SAFE SOSS® founder Nicholai Allen. After the 2018 Woolsey Fire impacted his own family, Nicholai became passionate about helping homeowners better protect their homes from wildfires—especially from the wind-driven embers that destroy most homes during wildfire events. In this episode, Nicholai shares what it’s really like on the fireline, the emotional imp...

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In this episode of Life Stories, I sit down with children’s author Steph Katzovi to talk about the long road from a childhood dream to a published book series. Steph shares how she knew at just eight years old that she wanted to be a writer and how that dream stayed with her, even through law school and a successful corporate career as a speechwriter. We talk about the leap of faith it took to wal...

In this episode of Life Stories, I sit down with Ralph Estep Jr., also known as The Content Creator’s Accountant, to talk about the business side of creativity and what so many creators are missing behind the scenes. Ralph shares why he started The Content Creator’s Accountant podcast and how his own journey led him to help creators move from confusion to clarity when it comes to their finances an...

In this episode of Life Stories, I sit down with Braxton Kilgo, founder of the “I Believe in You” (IBIY) movement. What started as a simple message on a sticker handed out to students in 2017 has grown into a global movement spreading kindness through bracelets and powerful personal connections. Braxton shares how a life shift, from pursuing football to discovering purpose, led him to speak to stu...

In this episode of Life Stories, I sit down with Ryan Riggins, a former house flipper who made a powerful decision to change direction. After years of buying homes, often from families in difficult situations, Ryan realized the financial gain often came at someone else’s loss. That realization led him to switch sides and dedicate his work to protecting families instead. Ryan now helps adult childr...

In this episode, I sit down with Eric Robinson, a retired FBI agent with a truly unique story. Eric didn’t follow a lifelong plan to join the Bureau. In fact, he applied on a whim. But that one decision led him into a career filled with intense investigations, SWAT operations, and moments that most of us only see in movies. Eric gives us a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s really like to work fo...

In this special Close to Home episode, we shine a light on something making a powerful impact right here in our own backyard: East Texas Giving Day. Kyle Penney, President of the East Texas Communities Foundation, joins us to explain how this one-day online event is transforming the way people give and how local nonprofits are supported. Kyle walks us through how East Texas Giving Day works, from...

In this episode, I sit down with Heather Stewart, author, speaker, coach, and podcast host, to talk about something so many of us feel but don’t always say out loud… the pressure to hold it all together. Heather shares her powerful personal journey, from a successful corporate career to a life-altering stroke that became a turning point. What she discovered during that time led her to create her T...