Stories on Purpose

Paige Doughty has spent over 20 years performing for children across Colorado as one half of the beloved science and nature musical duo, Jeff and Paige. What began as small local performances has grown into a nonprofit dedicated to helping children fall in love with the natural world. Their latest endeavor, Rainbow Socks, is a live-action children's television series set to release this year....

In this solo episode, I share the experience of losing both parents to terminal illness at nearly the same time during the darkest time of my life. My father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and dementia, my mother with ALS. They were divorced, living in Montreal while I was in Colorado, and the losses unfolded slowly, in layers, over several years. What I came to understand is that death rarely...

Veronica Olalla Love was born in Argentina in 1976, just weeks after a military coup, to a family who had already fled another coup in Chile. Her mother shielded her children from gunfire in the streets. Her father became a pioneer in transformational coaching, giving Veronica a front-row seat to the power of story and human connection at the age of twelve. These experiences did not leave her brok...

What happens when a hyper-achiever tries to master meditation in ten days? For me, it ended with violently throwing up in front of a hundred silent meditators and carrying that trauma for years. But that embarrassing failure became the doorway to the practice that has transformed my life more than anything else. In this solo episode, I share my winding journey with meditation, from that disastrous...

At the age of 12, James Davis-Massey made one of the most difficult decisions of his life: he stood before a court and divorced his parents. It was a soulful decision, one that defied logic and wasn't driven by what his head or even his heart told him, but by a deeper knowing that he needed to move toward safety and love. Growing up in an environment marked by abuse, alcoholism, and neglect, J...

Aaron Simmons met his wife, Polly, in the Peace Corps, and together they built a life filled with art, literature, and deep partnership. They married, bought a house, and had three children. Then, three years ago, Polly died suddenly from a pulmonary embolism, leaving Aaron to navigate life as a solo father and to wrestle with unanswerable questions. In the midst of his grief, Aaron discovered Pol...

What happens when the life you've known is taken from you in an instant? For Tricia Downing, a competitive cyclist, that moment came on September 17, 2000, when she was hit head-on by a car and paralyzed from the chest down. But Tricia's story isn't just about a life-changing accident. It's about the resilience she built long before that day, as a biracial adoptee growing up in a w...

In this deeply personal solo episode, host Stan Ajemian shares his journey through what he calls an "addiction to adrenaline", a pattern of seeking dangerous experiences that masked deeper pain from loneliness and depression. From triggering avalanches in the Canadian Rockies to two catastrophic cycling accidents, Stan reveals how extreme sports became his way of feeling alive and connec...

In this heartfelt conversation, Lyssa deHart shares her journey from running away from love to becoming the person who could truly receive it. Through self-awareness, courage, and deep inner work, she learned to release old patterns that once kept her safe but isolated. Lyssa opens up about moving beyond the need to be liked, to genuinely liking others, and herself, in return. Together, Lyssa and...

Welcome to Stories on Purpose. I’m your host, Stan Ajemian. This is a podcast about the moments that change us—the stories of adversity, resilience, and transformation that shape who we are and why we do what we do. Every two to three weeks, I release a new episode, usually around 30 to 60 minutes long. Most of the time, you’ll hear me in conversation with remarkable guests who share their journey...

Most people view cancer as a devastating diagnosis. For Steve Staruch, it was something he met with curiosity and an unwavering belief that he would survive. He credits the steadfast support of the people around him as a vital part of his healing journey. In this episode, Steve, well known as a beloved classical music radio host, shares how he faced cancer while continuing to embrace life with joy...

Sebastian Merz grew up in Germany, where the people continue to carry the reality of a dark past that has never been fully reconciled. His search for peace within his family and culture eventually led him to Canada, where he now serves as a government negotiator on reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in British Columbia, while also guiding his coaching clients through their own transformations....

Eric Davis was a professional alpine skier, on track for the Olympics or the World Cup circuit. Then, at just 22, he was diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. The illnesses and the powerful medications prescribed to treat them pushed his body to the edge, and at one point, nearly took his life. That near-death moment became a profound awakening. Eric recalls feeling separate from his...

Elias Scultori began his career as a classical musician in the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and was later invited to perform in another musical capital, New York City, appearing on some of the world’s most iconic stages, including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Despite similarities between these two international cities, Elias shares the challenges he faced in adapting to the culture...

At age 17, Tony Latimer was the first on the scene of a major car crash and made a life-threatening decision that would shape the rest of his life. Earlier in his life, his uncle had given him the advice, “Help anyone, hurt no one,” and “You never want to get to the end, when it’s too late, and look back and say, if only I had…” He also observed the big and stable Catholic Church change its mind o...

Jonathan Reitz grew up hearing the message that he’s worthless and not likely to amount to much, even when he somehow knew he was capable. The message and the disconnect of it led to depression, which, when combined with his addictive personality, led to years of alcoholism. Through acceptance of himself and deep inner work, he overcame his depression, and he used his addictive personality to driv...

In this episode, Stan Ajemian interviewed Paul Boehnke, who spent 30 years as a classical musician, and through self-discovery, realized that his love of being an artist lay as much in the inner work as in his love of his instrument, and his desire to share his insights with his students and the world led him to a career in coaching. Learn more about Paul Boehnke ’s work:Website: https://paulboehn...

In this premiere episode, host Stan Ajemian shares his personal journey through trauma, loss, and reinvention. From a near-fatal accident to the collapse of his marriage and career, Stan reflects on how inner work led him to a develop radical acceptance and gratitude, which led to his new purpose in coaching. A story of transformation, growth, and discovering strength on the other side of struggle...