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

Society & Culture Episodes

Oct. 31, 2025

Ep. 165 - Justin Woods: Five Crowns and One Calling

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards speaks with Dr. Justin Woods about his book, Crowns of Valor, and the concept of Five Crowns Outreach. They discuss the importance of leadership development in...

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Oct. 28, 2025

Ep. 164 - How False Stories Keep Us Comfortable — and Trapped

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, psychologist Dr. Alan Godwin discusses his new book, ‘Ties that Blind,’ which explores the deceptive narratives that shape our understanding of reality. He contrasts the reality-base...

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Oct. 14, 2025

Ep. 160 - Was Donald Trump an Inevitability?

In this episode of ‘Stories from Real Life,’ host Melvin E. Edwards engages with Dr. Brad Duren, a history professor, to explore the intricate relationship between American politics, religious revivalism, conspiracy theories,...

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Oct. 10, 2025

Ep. 159 - Thriving as a Highly Sensitive Person

Do you ever feel like you notice things others miss, or get easily overwhelmed by noise, stress, or busy environments? You might be a highly sensitive person. In this episode, we explore what it really means to be highly sens...

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Oct. 7, 2025

Ep. 158 - How Dads Can Build Legacy and Live with Purpose

Today I’m joined by Dean Taylor — speaker, mentor, and author — who helps fathers move from feeling stuck to living with clarity, courage, and purpose. After nearly three decades in healthcare leadership, Dean realized outwar...

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Oct. 3, 2025

Ep. 157 - Empowering Students Through Proactive Support

My guest today is Iuri Melo — a licensed therapist, author, and co-founder of SchoolPulse, a program that brings daily encouragement, emotional support, and real-time communication to students across the country. Iuri has spe...

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Sept. 26, 2025

Ep. 155 - Unlocking Your Side Hustle Potential

I apologize for the distorted audio on my end. It’s still a good episode with plenty of helpful hints. In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards speaks with Bart Merrill, known as the Side Hustle Samur...

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Sept. 23, 2025

Ep. 154 - How One Device Can Make Camps Safer Everywhere

Summer camp should be all about fun, freedom, and the great outdoors. But when severe weather strikes, those carefree moments can turn dangerous in an instant. That’s why Julie Kay Roberts launched Signal & Shield , a nationa...

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Sept. 12, 2025

Ep. 151 - From Muscle Shoals to Margaritaville

🎙️ What does it take to play bass for Elvis Presley, shape the Muscle Shoals sound, and produce hits for Jimmy Buffett? In this episode, legendary bassist and producer Norbert Putnam takes us behind the scenes of six decades ...

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Sept. 9, 2025

Ep. 150 - How a Family Tree Sparked a Historical Novel

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards converses with author D.H. Morris about her debut novel, 'The Girl of Many Crowns,' the story of her real-life ancestor, Princess Judith. The discussion delves...

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Sept. 5, 2025

Ep. 149 - The Musician Who Became a Hypnotist

My guest today is Doug O’Brien — an internationally recognized expert in Ericksonian Hypnosis, NLP, and Sleight of Mouth patterns. A former concert pianist and Broadway musician turned master trainer, Doug has spent decades t...

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Aug. 29, 2025

Ep. 147 - From Classroom to Casting Call: Secrets of a Talent Insider

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards interviews talent agent Albert Bramante, who shares his unique journey from psychology to the entertainment industry. Albert discusses the challenges actors fa...

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Aug. 26, 2025

Ep. 146 - The Ancient Code for a Modern Life

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards engages with Reginald Martin, founder of Kametaphysics, to explore the intersection of ancient wisdom and modern psychology. They discuss the origins of Kameta...

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Aug. 22, 2025

Ep. 145 - Couples Therapy in Seven Words

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards speaks with Dr. Bruce Chalmer, a couples therapist and co-host of the podcast Couples Therapy in Seven Words. They discuss the origins of their podcast, the si...

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Aug. 19, 2025

Ep. 144 - Building Dood Woof: The Power of Community

Today on Stories from Real Life , we’re diving into the world of fluffy coats, tangled curls, and one woman’s unexpected journey from doodle owner to product innovator. My guest is Elina Panteleyeva—the founder of Dood Woof ,...

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Aug. 15, 2025

Ep. 143: The College Game Plan: Smart Strategies for Students and Fam…

Daniel K. Berman, PhD is the founder of CollegeSolutionsUSA, a college admissions coaching firm dedicated to guiding students through the complexities of higher education applications. A Harvard graduate with more than 30 yea...

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Aug. 12, 2025

Ep. 142 - Free Black Virginians in a Slave Society

In this episode of "Stories from Real Life," host Melvin E. Edwards sits down with Elizabeth Klaczynski, curator at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. They delve into the fascinating history of free Black Virginians ...

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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 25, 2025

Ep. 136 - School's Out Forever

📝 Episode Summary: In this episode of Stories from Real Life , Moira Mills shares her journey as an unschooling advocate and parent, challenging traditional views of education and child-rearing. She explains why she believes ...

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July 18, 2025

Video Podcast: A New Voice for Alabama: Kyle Sweetser’s Vision for th…

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards interviews Alabama Senate candidate Kyle Sweetser. They discuss Sweetser's motivations for running, the challenges facing Alabama, and his vision for a more in...

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July 18, 2025

Ep. 134 - A New Voice for Alabama: Kyle Sweetser’s Vision for the Sen…

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards interviews Alabama Senate candidate Kyle Sweetser. They discuss Sweetser's motivations for running, the challenges facing Alabama, and his vision for a more in...

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July 15, 2025

Ep. 133 - Autographing History: Preserving Personal Stories Through T…

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards interviews Cristian Cibils Bernardes, a digital historian and founder of Autograph. Cristian shares his unique journey from Paraguay to Stanford University, hi...

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July 8, 2025

Ep. 131 - From Sailor to Healer: A Transformative Path

In this enlightening episode, Dr. Alain Salas shares his journey from living on a sail boat in France to becoming a chiropractor and healer in the United States. He discusses the importance of understanding the subconscious m...

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