Real People. Real Stories.

Joshua Routh grew up in North St. Louis County, where creativity wasn’t part of the neighborhood curriculum. At 12, a clown class changed everything—turning a curious kid into someone who could bring laughter and connection to others. From performing in his community to touring across the U.S., Joshua learned how joy can be shared, one act at a time. Along the way, he discovered that creativity is...

Kenneth’s Story: From Strict Upbringing to 45 Countries Raised by a single mother in Louisville, one of seven kids, Kenneth learned discipline early—whether he liked it or not. At 18, the military wasn’t a question—it was expected. But instead of following the usual path, he chose the Marine Corps, aiming for the elite. That decision set everything in motion. From college football dreams to a glob...

From teaching underwater to teaching in a classroom, Lou Hirsch took a path that doesn’t fit the usual script—and that’s exactly what makes it work. Before academia, Lou was a dive master, instructor, and boat captain. He talks about the shift from the scuba world into academia, how one opportunity led to another, and how he ended up pursuing a master’s and PhD in plant science without a tradition...

A small town, a football scholarship, and a choice that didn’t make sense to most. Luke Mickelson grew up in a place where hard work was expected, problems were yours to solve, and showing up for others was just part of life. That mindset followed him into sports, into business, and into the way he sees value and competition. At one point, the path was clear—play at the next level. Instead, he ste...

Martin Palethorpe did everything right—career, promotions, success on paper. And still, it wasn’t enough. He shares what happens when achievement stops feeling like fulfillment. From a disciplined childhood shaped by expectations, to rising fast in the corporate world, to hitting a point where none of it made sense anymore. What followed wasn’t a small pivot. It was a complete shift—into coaching,...

A childhood between Idaho and New Jersey shaped a quiet sense of distance early on—never fully rooted in one place. Then, at twelve, a violent car accident left Dr. Dana Cowles feeling helpless in a world that seemed out of control. Instead of giving in, he learned how to face that helplessness and regain control. Wrestling, emergency response work in Queens, and even flying planes became ways to...

Born into an Indian family with roots in Vietnam, Vanita Prisha Daryanani grew up in Taiwan—learning Mandarin, celebrating Chinese New Year, and navigating what it meant to look different from everyone around her. Belonging was never simple, but those early years quietly built the adaptability that would shape the rest of her life. At 18, she left for Australia to study physiotherapy, following a...

A waitress at 16. Running federal tech projects with no formal training. Buying a $50M software company on instinct. Starting over after a 28-year marriage ended. Stacie Shifflett has built and rebuilt her life more than once. She talks about figuring things out without credentials, trusting the ability to learn instead of waiting to feel ready, and making bold decisions others wouldn’t attempt —...

What if life isn’t about finding yourself, but creating yourself? Katrina Purcell has tested that idea in every way — from taking an unexpected class that changed her career, to returning to school for an Executive MBA at Columbia, to signing up for a full Ironman despite not being a confident swimmer. Her story is about pushing limits, embracing challenges, and choosing the experiences that shape...

What can a horse teach you about trust, identity, and starting over? Dave “Letterfly” Knoderer didn’t just learn to train horses. He learned how to rebuild a life. From playing drums in the circus as a teenager to creating his own liberty act by twenty, horses became more than a craft, they became a language. One that demanded honesty, consistency, and humility, and gave him a way to navigate addi...

Julie Pham arrived in the United States as a refugee. But her story didn’t stop at survival. From navigating life between Vietnamese and American identities to earning a PhD, taking over her parents’ Vietnamese-language newspaper, building a career in academia, and later moving into the tech world, Julie kept reinventing what belonging and success could look like. Eventually, she took another leap...

David Shar thought he was learning about running a business. Instead, he began questioning what actually makes people show up, take responsibility, and grow at work From cleaning kennels to owning an ice cream shop to studying the psychology behind why people thrive, his path was anything but linear. Along the way, encounters with young employees facing real-life hardships reshaped his understandi...

An artist who studied politics, built a business around historical maps, walked away from convention, and now lives off-grid in the mountains. David Deigthon’s path moves across countries, disciplines, and expectations, refusing to stay in one lane for long. From unexpected career turns to life far from the noise, his story isn’t about arriving somewhere. It’s about what you discover when you keep...

Alan Lazaros lost his father at just two years old, and life became even more difficult at 14 when his stepfather left, taking financial security with him. A gamer who built his first computer at 12, he pushed through adversity, excelling in engineering school and corporate roles, and ultimately achieved the American Dream on his own terms. At 26, a serious car accident forced him to stop and reth...

It started with a kid inspired by a TV show — and a mentor who made a promise that changed everything. Chris Natzke’s path moves through martial arts , Taekwondo , college football, national competition, and the corporate world. Along the way came defining choices: when to push forward, when to step back, and how discipline evolves as life gets more complicated. Why does a U.S. National Taekwondo...

Tobi Ojekunle shares his life story, from growing up in Ibadan, Nigeria , to moving to Germany to study engineering. In this episode, Tobi talks about his family upbringing in Nigeria, the importance of education and faith, and how an early fascination with German engineering influenced his decision to study abroad. He explains why Germany appealed to him as a study destination and what the transi...

Rand Timmerman is a Vietnam War veteran, former military lawyer, and recovering alcoholic who reached a point in life where standing still was no longer an option. After the death of his sister-in-law, and as his brother struggled with overwhelming grief, Rand made a decision that would test him physically, mentally, and emotionally: to walk the Appalachian Trail at the age of 72. In this episode,...

Diane Phillips shares her life story, shaped by family experiences, relationships, and music. She talks about growing up in an unstable home marked by alcoholism, poor health, and loss, and how those early years influenced her self-perception and adult relationships. Diane describes how familiar patterns repeated later in life and the difficulty of recognizing them while living through them. Music...

At just 20 years old, Ken Kunken’s life changed forever. A catastrophic spinal cord injury during a college football game left him nearly paralyzed and facing a future doctors believed would be severely limited. In this powerful episode of Real People, Real Stories , Ken shares how he defied medical predictions, returned to Cornell University, rebuilt his education, and ultimately forged a 40-year...

Avonley Lightstone’s life is a testament to the strength of the human spirit. At just three years old, she survived a devastating house fire in India that claimed her mother’s life, and later faced the challenges of adoption, abuse, and isolation in rural Utah. Through faith, resilience, and determination, Avonley navigated trauma and found a path toward healing and hope. In this episode, we explo...

Barry Maughan’s journey from Australia to Africa is a story of curiosity, courage, and the unexpected opportunities that shape a life. Inspired by a childhood surrounded by broadcasting, Barry pursued journalism, eventually traveling across continents and navigating some of the world’s most fascinating and challenging environments. In this episode, Barry reflects on journalism in Africa , career-c...

What happens when you grow up being told you’re “good for nothing” — and one day decide that story ends? Steve Gallegos shares a raw and honest conversation about identity, self-worth, and the moments that quietly redirect a life. From escaping a damaging environment at a young age, to finding structure and confidence, to chasing success in music while navigating the reality of the entertainment i...

Karin’s story moves from professional squash courts to the high-pressure world of finance at the European Central Bank. Karin shares how nearly a decade of elite sports shaped her discipline, resilience, and mindset — and how those lessons carried over when an injury forced her to step away from competitive squash and refocus on her education and career. The conversation covers growing up in a nic...

Leticia R. Francis was pushed into survival mode at just 14 years old—and stayed there for decades. Grooming, domestic abuse, addiction, and repeated cycles of trauma shaped her early life and the relationships that followed. In this episode, Leticia shares how unresolved trauma can quietly dictate our choices, the identities we build just to survive, and the moment she realized something had to c...

Shaun enlisted in the Navy the day after September 11th and went on to serve for 20 years. What happened after retiring—and how he rebuilt his life—took him in a direction he never expected. Shaun talks about the challenges of coming home, what pushed him toward endurance sport, and how that path led him all the way to a 75K race on Mount Kilimanjaro and beyond. He also shares grounded advice for...