Personal Journals Episodes

Bob LeMent is recognized as one of the first podcasters in the world. Now with over 1,500 episodes under his belt on his show, Static Radio, he joins "Real Life" to share his interesting and funny stories. He also discusses t...

Donna Leigh Scott has some great stories to tell. She was a brief beauty contestant winner, an actress, singer, and model, Donna also built a high-profile court reporting business that kept her busy for nearly 5 decades. She'...

Texas high school tennis coach Jason Edwards graces the mic for the show's 50th episode! Through the family's confectionary lineage, Coach Edwards honors his grandfather's memory, intertwining the sweetness of that legacy wi...

Contemporary Christian Music legend and Grammy winner Bryan Duncan's career has spanned 6 decades and he has accumulated 16 #1 CCM chart hits. With a singing voice like Simply Red's Mick Hucknell and a comedy edge like a late...

Dixon Monk is only an 11th grader, but he has already committed to play NCAA Division I baseball at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., one of the toughest academic schools in the country. I worked with Dixon's mother ...

Otto Gallaher is a master of reinventing himself. He became an attorney after leaving his previous career as a construction worker. He was a corporate businessman before that. In his daily life, he's a husband, father of thre...

This episode was inspired by Beyoncé's new Country album, called "Cowboy Carter." With three Black people in the discussion, this edition is part history lesson, part music appreciation, and part self-identification. My guest...

Filmmaker, writer, and director Melissa Jo Peltier ("My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and "The Dog Whisperer") joins the show to discuss some of her best-known projects, in addition to her recent documentary, "The Game is Up." Find ...

Dallas-area attorney Monica Haft is a first-generation American, born to a mother from Colombia and a father from Cuba. When she started school, she didn't speak English. She learned, grew, and flourished, so when she talks a...

Musician and writer Sean Dietrich, popularly known as "Sean of the South," talks about his invitation to the Grand Old Opry, his dad, being a BBQ judge, Southern fried chicken, and the new nickname, "Mark Twang," that I gave ...

Independent travel agent Rachel Taylor gives tips for booking the best trips for everyone, regardless of their budget. She also tells about her favorite vacations, her strongest advice, and her obsession with Disney theme par...

Known on social media as The Orchard Keeper, Dr. Lenny Wells is a University of Georgia Professor of Horticulture, a pecan farmer, and an author. He's also The Andy Griffith Show's biggest fan. Thankfully, with all of that kn...

Houston Astros broadcaster Robert Ford grew up in The Bronx, NY envisioning himself playing for the NY Mets. Instead, he became only the 4th Black play-by-play announcer in MLB history. In this episode, hear about his journey...

What do you get when a descendant of slaves meets a former Klansman? Well, as they say in Texas, we're fixing to find out. This is Part 2 of the two-part eye-opening interview. Listener discretion is advised. https://www.refu...

What do you get when a descendant of slaves meets a former Klansman? Well, as they say in Texas, we're fixing to find out. This is Part 1 of the two-part eye-opening interview. Listener discretion is advised. https://www.refu...

Melissa Quinn Amour's family has been in Pennsylvania since the time of William Penn, so she's deeply invested in the culture of the Keystone State and The City of Brotherly Love. She's also passionate about a few other thing...

Journalist Bob Cox's parents and grandparents left Texas and Arkansas to seek their fortunes in California. So, how did he end up leaving California to seek his fortune in Texas? In this episode, Cox examines his life as a lo...

GUEST: MARTY DUREN Writer and former podcaster Marty Duren joins the show to provide a unique perspective on thankfulness and hope. He and host, Melvin E. Edwards, discuss their favorite music, memories, and bucket list trave...

Anna R. Holloway, PhD, is a retired Professor of English, and is a writer and editor. During her 46 years at Fort Valley State University, she taught writing, literature, and journalism. When she left her White Midwestern roo...

GUEST: BILL CLABBY Bill Clabby is a multi-lingual educator and administrator, who has taught and lived in several different countries over the course of his life. He also happens to be the father-in-law of Melvin E. Edwards' ...

Guest: James Pence James Pence had a heart attack in 2021 and was without a heartbeat for 45 minutes. He spent the next two years rehabbing his body and singing voice, which led him to the fulfillment of a lifelong dream -- g...

Guest: Linda Hall In this episode that was recorded on-site in the office of FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, host Melvin E. Edwards was able to interview Linda Hall, the widow of FAME producer and owner Rick...

Guest: Rachel Ridge Rachel is an author of six books and a Life Coach, though she didn’t begin those journeys until after her 50th birthday. She began painting in her 30s to make extra money to get her hair done. In the midst...

Patrick Chovanec's family's idea of a vacation was to pile into the car and drive to a national landmark. That all changed when his father decided to take the family to China in 1986. Since then, he has become one of the U.S....