Personal Journals Episodes

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...

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...

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...

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...

Author Lizbeth Meredith shares her journey of resilience and healing after experiencing childhood abduction and navigating complex family dynamics. Lizbeth discusses the challenges of writing her memoir, the impact of her sto...

Former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales discusses his journey from humble beginnings to high-ranking government positions, his experiences working with George W. Bush, and his reflections on significant legal and ethica...

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards speaks with Cathy Nesbitt, a worm wrangler and laughter yoga leader from Ontario, Canada. They discuss the current political climate in Canada, Cathy's journey...

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards speaks with former federal judge Mary Beth O'Connor about her remarkable journey from addiction to sobriety and her career in law. Mary Beth shares her early l...

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards interviews algorithmist Noah Healy, who shares his journey from studying nuclear engineering to developing algorithms with a focus on ethics and market design....

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards engages with Jim Marshall, the author of 'Septemics', a revolutionary work that combines social science and psychological philosophy. Marshall explains the con...

Summary In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards engages in a deep and insightful conversation with Dr. Shehzad Batliwala, an eye surgeon, comedian, and advocate for self-awareness. They explore Dr. B...

This week, Leigh-Anne (Edwards) Clabby takes the helm as our guest host, diving deep with none other than her dad, Melvin E. Edwards, host of "Stories from Real Life!" She’s on a mission to uncover juicy tales from his childh...

Houston attorney and former TV sportscaster Drew Shirley admits he voted for Donald Trump in this year's election, despite feeling embarrassed by his belief that Trump is a "clown." He's ready to share why he chose the eventu...

Kristen Adele Calhoun is a writer, actress, and college professor, who also happens to be a cousin of this podcast's host. They are here to discuss the daunting challenge of uncovering their family's history as the descendant...

Nate Belcik, a Texas high school history teacher, embodies a calm demeanor during the weekdays and transforms into a U2 superfan on weekends. Despite being in his 20s, Nate has attended their concerts 18 times, which includes...

Boston-area bartender-turned-salesman Neil Rogers has been owner and Vice President of Marketing & Sales at Rogers Marketing for nearly 26 years. He built his career and business leveraging both old-school and new-school mark...

Nate Bell is an outspoken Never Trump conservative and has been politically homeless since 2016. A lifelong Republican until 2015, Nate served in the Arkansas State House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017 where he chaired ...

Meredith Wills has a Ph.D. in solar astrophysics and is a sports data scientist. She's a physicist and a baseball analyst, who happens to also be a world-class knitter. Rumor has it, Lynda Carter wears a Meredith Wills costum...

Minnesota's very own Pat Kahnke is the Joey Chestnut of muskrat skinners, once taking the hides off hundreds of rodents in a single day. Though his sobering takes on Christianity and politics are serious, wondering if he once...

Rodney Smith Jr.’s simple act of assisting a neighbor with lawn care has blossomed into a nationwide movement centered on compassion and kindness. Born in Bermuda on the Fourth of July, Rodney Smith Jr. is the hero Americans ...

Find out what would happen if our guests Michael Freeman and Doc Hubbard took the wheel as President of the U.S. or Commissioner of Baseball for a day. Spoiler alert: courtesy runners might be running for cover! Tune in to un...

Today's guest, Heather Renee May, has a diverse background that gives her a unique perspective on life. Ballet was her first love, and she danced professionally until retirement. She's now an author, podcast host, musician, d...

Jonathan Janz is the pen name of Craig Shaeffer, an American horror author of 16 novels and one collection of short fiction. In 2011, Janz published his debut novel, The Sorrows. The book received praise from author Brian Kee...

Risa August was a triathlete until discovering she had a brain tumor that affected her motor skills. After surgery to remove the tumor, she dealt with her setbacks by riding her bike. Then she rode her bike from Canada to Mex...