New Episodes of Stories from Real Life Every Tuesday and Friday.

Personal Journals Episodes

Sept. 2, 2025

Ep. 148 - Living Room Startup to '20 Under 40'

Our guest today is Paden Squires, an entrepreneur, CPA, tax strategist, and host of the podcast Behind Their Success . From leaving corporate finance to building his own firm from his living room, Paden has made it his missio...

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Aug. 8, 2025

Ep. 141 - The Art of Science & The Science of Peace

Today’s guest is a world-renown scientist and an educator — and a fearless peacebuilder. Dr. Zafra Lerman has spent her life using science not just to understand the world, but to change it. From creating groundbreaking scien...

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Aug. 5, 2025

Ep. 140 - Misha Jones: Raw

In this episode of 'Stories from Real Life', host Melvin E. Edwards speaks with Misha Jones about her book 'About Damn Time'. Misha shares her journey of overcoming 15 years of silence and pain, motivated by the desire to giv...

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Aug. 1, 2025

Ep. 139 - Andrew-Ryan Walked Away from a Cult (Part 2/2)

Part 2 of 2: He was once “Father God” — the chosen partner of cult leader Amy Carlson. In this raw, powerful conversation, Andrew-Ryan Profaci shares how he got pulled into Love Has Won , what life inside the movement was rea...

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Aug. 1, 2025

Ep. 138 - He Walked Away from a Cult. Then He Told Me Everything. (Pa…

He was once “Father God” — the chosen partner of cult leader Amy Carlson. In this raw, powerful conversation, Andrew-Ryan Profaci shares how he got pulled into Love Has Won , what life inside the movement was really like, and...

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July 29, 2025

Ep. 137 - Smoke, Salt, and Southern Grit: The Story of Bill-E’s

In this episode of "Stories from Real Life," host Melvin E. Edwards sits down with Bill Stitt, the mastermind behind Bill-E's Small Batch Bacon and restaurant. Dive into Bill's journey from a backyard bacon enthusiast to a na...

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July 22, 2025

(Video) Adapt and Advancing: Dr. Oluwole Babatunde's Inspiring Journey

Episode Description: Join host Melvin E. Edwards as he sits down with Dr. Oluwole Babatunde, a physician, psychiatrist, researcher, and author, to explore his remarkable journey from personal loss to professional success. Dis...

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July 22, 2025

Ep. 135 - Adapting and Advancing: Dr. Oluwole Babatunde's Inspiring J…

Episode Description: Join host Melvin E. Edwards as he sits down with Dr. Oluwole Babatunde, a physician, psychiatrist, and author, to explore his remarkable journey from personal loss to professional success. Discover how Dr...

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July 11, 2025

Ep. 132 - Voices Carry: Lea Sakran’s Adventures in Storytelling

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards speaks with voice actor Lea Sakran about her journey in storytelling, voice acting, and the life lessons learned from her characters. Lea shares insights from ...

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July 4, 2025

Ep. 130 - Keeping Promises in Freefall: Lyubim Kogan’s Journey from O…

Today’s guest, Lyubim Kogan, is a five-time first-generation immigrant, Winter Olympian, NYU Stern grad, and 9/11 survivor. From Wall Street to war zones, Lyubim’s life has been anything but ordinary. He’s the founder of Wing...

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June 24, 2025

Ep. 127 - Breast Cancer Warrior: A Father's Perspective on His Daught…

Bob Furniss is a father who turned his grief into advocacy after losing his daughter Keesha to breast cancer. Bob discusses the mission of his organization, Warrior Princess, which focuses on early detection of breast cancer ...

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June 19, 2025

Ep. 126 - From Homeless Kid to Criminal Defense Attorney (Juneteenth …

Dante Wright’s story reads like a movie script, but every twist is real. Removed from his home at a young age and raised by various relatives until the age of 15, Dante faced instability, heartbreak, and the kind of challenge...

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June 10, 2025

Ep. 123 - Annie Korzen: From Seinfeld to Senior TikTok Star

Annie Korzen shares her unique journey in the entertainment industry, reflecting on her late start in acting, the challenges of ageism, and the impact of her looks on casting. She discusses her newfound fame on TikTok and the...

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June 6, 2025

Ep. 122 - That Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time...

In this engaging conversation, Andy Dietrich shares humorous and insightful stories from his life, including a wedding-crashing mishap, a cultural misunderstanding during fraternity rush, and the inspiration behind his book. ...

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June 3, 2025

Ep. 121 - Plot Twists and Life Lessons: Nick Peck on 'Only Way Out'

In this episode, author Nick Peck discusses his debut novel, Only Way Out, which draws on his own experiences growing up in a traumatic environment. Peck discusses the importance of sports in overcoming adversity, the role of...

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May 13, 2025

Ep. 115 - The Grampion's Journey of Family and Business

Jim Tracy, known as the Grampion, shares his journey from a family man to a successful businessman and philanthropist. Jim discusses the origin of his nickname, his passion for flying, and how he built his company from the gr...

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May 2, 2025

Ep. 112 - When Your Family Pet Becomes a Predator

Chelsea Millsaps, a dog-attack survivor, shares her harrowing experience and the journey of healing that followed. Chelsea discusses the attack by her own Great Dane, the extensive surgeries she has undergone, and the emotion...

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April 29, 2025

Ep. 111 - Death and Dying, Life and Living

Filmmaker and software developer Tony Stewart shares his journey through grief after the loss of his wife, Lynn, who battled cancer. Tony discusses the writing of his memoir, 'Carrying the Tiger', which chronicles their exper...

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April 22, 2025

Ep. 109 - Philly Native Makes Name for Himself in Costa Rica

Richard Blank shares his journey from growing up in Philadelphia to establishing a thriving call center in Costa Rica. He discusses the importance of following one's passion, the challenges of family expectations, and the sig...

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April 11, 2025

Ep. 106 - Former Trump Official Remembers Her Role in Sharpie-Gate

Communications executive Julie Roberts discusses her experiences during the Trump administration, particularly focusing on the infamous 'Sharpie Gate' incident. She shares insights into crisis communication, leadership challe...

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April 8, 2025

Ep. 105 - The Church's Betrayal: A Survivor's Story

Jennifer Michelle Greenberg, an author and advocate for childhood sexual abuse victims, discusses her journey from experiencing abuse in her childhood to becoming an advocate, the betrayal she felt from her church, and her in...

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April 4, 2025

Ep. 104 - The Dark Side of Family: A True Crime Story

Donna Hall, host of The Hall Closet podcast, shares her tumultuous upbringing with her mother's neglect and her stepfather's criminal activities as Philadelphia's most famous jailhouse snitch. Hang on because there’s no way y...

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March 28, 2025

Ep. 102 - Quadriplegic Lawyer Never Gave Up on His Dreams

Attorney Ken Kunken shares his inspiring journey from a tragic accident that left him quadriplegic to becoming a successful lawyer and author. Ken discusses the writing process of his memoir, his family life, the challenges h...

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March 21, 2025

Ep. 100 - Alex Sanfilippo Celebrates 100th Episode of My Podcast

Host Melvin E. Edwards celebrates his 100th episode with guest Alex Sanfilippo, founder of PodMatch. They discuss the significance of storytelling in podcasting and the importance of a mission-driven approach. In this convers...

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