Stories from Real Life

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards engages with Kristen Swan, who shares her insights on personal growth, curiosity, and the importance of reflection during life transitions. They discuss the impact of early life experiences on curiosity, the journey from landscape design to coaching, and the concept of spiritual autobiography. Kristen introduces her unique journalin...

FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Please support this sponsor of the podcast. In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards speaks with Dr. Nelva Lee, a candidate for Georgia Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Lee shares her journey from being a homeschoo...

FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Please support this sponsor of the podcast. Episode Summary: Today’s guest is Lt. Helton Pereira — born in Rio de Janeiro, immigrant at 15, pre-med student turned EMT, firefighter, paramedic, and now Lieutenant in the U.S. Fire Service....

FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Please support this sponsor of the podcast. In this episode, we speak with Mark Burnett, founder of My Brain Restore™ , about his personal battle with Parkinson’s and early Alzheimer’s — and the controversial path that followed. My Brain...

FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Please support this sponsor of the podcast. Episode Summary In this episode of Stories from Real Life , host Melvin E. Edwards speaks with filmmaker and author Matthew Pridgen, creator of the documentary The Sins of Our Fathers: Race, Re...

Sponsored by: FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Episode Summary: In this episode, we sit down with Scott Miller—broadcaster, storyteller, and creator of The Lost Sci-Fi Podcast , a show heard in more than 190 countries and ranked #1 in 33 of them. Scott opens up about hi...

Guest: Danny Johnson — Comedian, Storyteller, “The Everyday Comic” FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Please support this sponsor of the podcast. Episode Summary In this episode of Stories From Real Life , Melvin E. Edwards sits down with comedian Danny Johnson , a perfor...

FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Please support this sponsor of the podcast. Episode Summary: In this episode, New York State Senate–funded dyslexia researcher Russell Van Brocklen reveals how his groundbreaking “word-analysis-first” approach helped high school juniors...

FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Episode Summary: In today’s episode, we sit down with Tom Russo — a man whose journey spans countries, careers, and generations. Born in Ankara while his father served in the USAF, Tom grew up in the orbit of NASA’s missions and the disc...

FOREVER is the new sponsor of Stories from Real Life. Please visit their site here . Episode Summary: In this powerful conversation, “The Judas Effect” author Amy Hawk shares her deeply personal journey of faith, identity, and finding her voice in the conversation around Christian Nationalism. Amy opens up about the emotional and relational cost of confronting harmful ideologies within the church....

Episode Show Notes In this heartfelt episode of Stories from Real Life , we sit down with “Miss Karen” Bates, a Utah school bus driver who has spent 14 years shaping young lives from the driver’s seat. Miss Karen opens up about her childhood, her 34-year marriage, raising five children, and the meaningful path that led her to become a school bus driver. She shares stories filled with laughter, lov...

Guest: Scott Martin — Author, Coach, Advocate Episode Description In this deeply moving episode of Stories from Real Life , we sit down with Scott Martin — former elite soccer coach, author of Play From Your Heart , and living example of resilience in its rawest form. Scott shares the moment his life changed forever after being diagnosed with Group A Strep and Necrotizing Fasciitis — an illness th...

What does it truly mean to coach — not just athletes, but young men navigating life? In this powerful and reflective episode, we sit down with Boyd-Buchanan high school baseball coaches Matt Roberson and Gene Bowles for a conversation that goes far beyond wins and losses. Together, they share the defining moments that shaped their careers, the challenges that tested their resolve, and the unseen s...

Today on Stories from Real Life , we’re joined by Tami Gaines , author of Preemie Parents: 26 Ways to Grow With Your Premature Baby , resilience strategist, and speaker who has inspired audiences of hundreds of thousands. Tami knows firsthand the challenges of raising premature twins while balancing life, work, and personal growth. In this episode, she shares her story of courage, the lessons she...

🎙️ Episode Intro In today’s episode of Stories from Real Life , we’re stepping inside the clubhouse with hospitality leader Joe Carlucci — a man who’s spent his career turning golf clubs and restaurants into communities. From the kitchen to the course, Joe understands that great hospitality isn’t just about food or service — it’s about creating moments that make people feel seen, valued, and at ho...

🎧 Episode Intro: When firefighter and paramedic Jim Brown was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer, his life took a turn no training could prepare him for. Out of his struggle came something extraordinary — a nationwide guitar group that’s helping men find healing through music, honesty, and connection. 📝 Show Notes: In this heartfelt episode of Stories from Real Life , Melvin E. Edwards sits dow...

🎧 Stories from Real Life 🎙️ Episode Title: “Engineering a Meaningful Life” Episode Summary: Dr. Tomás Estrada doesn’t just teach engineering — he teaches perspective. In this conversation, the Elizabethtown College professor opens up about the stories that shaped him, the moments that challenged him, and the students who changed the way he sees his work. He talks about what it means to build some...

🎧 Stories from Real Life Episode: “The Other Side of the Gun – Susan Snow’s Journey Through Trauma, Grief, and Forgiveness” Summary: When Susan Snow was 17, her father — Los Angeles Police Detective Thomas C. Williams — was murdered in the line of duty. That single, devastating moment changed the course of her life forever. For decades, Susan lived with the unseen weight of trauma and unhealed gr...

Beware: This conversation includes a discussion of alcoholism and suicide. At 72, most people are slowing down. But for Rand Timmerman, life’s greatest challenge — and greatest healing — came on a 2,000-mile trek through the Appalachian Mountains. A Marine, lawyer, and recovering alcoholic, Rand set out with his 71-year-old brother to walk, reflect, and rediscover what really matters. This is a st...

Everyone carries a story about their father — the one we got, the one we needed, and maybe even the one we’ve become. In this episode of Stories from Real Life , I talk with Patton Dodd , writer, editor, and author of The Father You Get: And the Ones You Make, Believe In, and Become. Patton’s story explores what it means to inherit pain and still choose purpose, to face the past without being defi...

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards speaks with Dr. Justin Woods about his book, Crowns of Valor, and the concept of Five Crowns Outreach. They discuss the importance of leadership development in Christianity, the dangers of cozy Christianity, and the significance of suffering for the gospel. Dr. Woods emphasizes the need for biblical literacy and the role of the chur...

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, psychologist Dr. Alan Godwin discusses his new book, ‘Ties that Blind,’ which explores the deceptive narratives that shape our understanding of reality. He contrasts the reality-based community with the story-based fortress, emphasizing how collective narratives can blind individuals to the truth. Through personal anecdotes and psychological insights, God...

TRIGGER WARNING: Child trauma discussed in this episode. In this episode of Stories from Real Life , we sit down with Adriene Caldwell — author of Unbroken: Life Outside the Lines — to explore what it really means to survive, heal, and rise. Adriene’s story is one of resilience forged through unimaginable hardship, from childhood trauma to the long road of rebuilding identity and trust. She shares...

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards interviews Azgari Lipshy , an entrepreneur who shares her journey from starting her first business at 16 to navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship. Azgari discusses the influence of her family, the lessons learned from early failures, and her passion for helping others launch their own businesses. The conversation explores...

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards welcomes back music legend Norbert Putnam for a deep dive into his storied career. Norbert shares captivating anecdotes about his experiences with iconic artists such as Kris Kristofferson, Donna Summer, and Elvis Presley. He reflects on the collaborative nature of music production, the challenges faced by artists, and the profound...