The Open Booth Podcast

In this episode 11 of The Open Booth, Matthew Brown sits down with Paul Hearn, a professional dog trainer, to talk about life with dogs, life with people, and how the two are more connected than we think. Paul shares stories from his childhood, moving from place to place, and the first dogs that really shaped how he sees loyalty, attachment, and home. He talks about years working in the security i...

Hypnotist/comedian Colin Chapman never pictured this life—until a Richmond crash and the look on his wife’s and son’s faces in the hospital changed everything. From photo-studio kid to press secretary to comedy hypnotist, Colin shares how trauma, grit, and laughter rewired his path. 📍 Cary & Meadow, Richmond — 37°32'53.3"N 77°27'58.9"W Guest: Colin Chapman Chapters 00:00 Welcome + new locatio...

Lost Boy. Found Hope. (One of the "Lost Boys of Sudan") Carlos’s journey began in war-torn South Sudan , where villages were burned and families torn apart. He fled on foot, survived life as a refugee in Kenya, and was later resettled in the United States as one of the Lost Boys of Sudan . In this episode, Carlos opens up about: Escaping violence and surviving in a refugee camp Life in f...

What does it take to turn a historic family home into a thriving bed and breakfast — and keep it running for decades? In this episode of The Open Booth , Matthew R. O. Brown sits down with Janice Clifton , owner of the Virginia Cliffe Inn in Glen Allen, Virginia. From growing up in the house her father restored from the ground up, to helping her parents transform it into Henrico County’s only full...

Episode 7 — From Crisis to AI Coach | One Man’s Journey Through Struggle, Family & Reinvention What happens when your world falls apart—job gone, debt mounting, and no clear way forward? In this raw and honest conversation, our guest opens up about hitting rock bottom and the long climb back. He shares what it felt like to be in crisis, the struggles of supporting his family, and the turning p...

Episode 6 – Like a River: A Journey Through Military Service, Creativity, and Fatherhood Life, like a river, twists and turns — sometimes calm, sometimes rushing, always moving forward. In this deeply personal episode of The Open Booth , host Matthew R. O. Brown sits down with a guest whose life flows through the defining chapters of military service, artistic creativity, and the joys and challeng...

Episode 5 – More Than a Coach: The Mentorship and Legacy of Robert N. Hoskins, Jr. Some mentors change lives for a season. Others shape them for a lifetime. In this inspiring episode of The Open Booth , host Matthew R. O. Brown sits down with Robert N. Hoskins, Jr. , a man whose decades of dedication as both a teacher and coach have left an indelible mark on the lives of his students, athletes, an...

Episode 4 – From the Ruins: Finding Strength in What Remains What do we do when life as we know it crumbles? In From the Ruins , host Matthew R. O. Brown takes The Open Booth to a location marked by history, loss, and resilience. It’s more than a backdrop — it’s a mirror to the story you’re about to hear: one of picking up the pieces after devastation, and learning to build again with what’s left....

Episode 3 – Hope for Homecoming: Youth, Education, and Faith in the Face of Adversity What does it take to rise above the circumstances you’re born into? In this heartfelt episode of The Open Booth , host Matthew R. O. Brown sets up outside Thomas Jefferson High School to capture a powerful story about overcoming challenges tied to youth, education, and faith. It’s a conversation about choices, re...

Episode 2 – From the Grave: A Death Doula’s Guide to Living Fully What if facing death could teach you how to truly live? In this powerful episode of The Open Booth , host Matthew R. O. Brown sets up his mobile interview booth inside Richmond’s historic Hollywood Cemetery — a location as thought-provoking as the story you’re about to hear. Surrounded by the skyline and the silence of weathered gra...

Episode 1 – The Way Home: A Soldier’s Story of Survival and Coming Back to Life One moment, life was normal. The next, a suicide bomber changed everything. In this gripping debut of The Open Booth , host Matthew R. O. Brown sits down with a close friend whose deployment to Afghanistan took a harrowing turn when his army unit was attacked. The blast from a suicide bomber left scars that went far be...