Society & Culture Episodes

What kind of President would Alexander Hamilton have been if he had not died during that famous duel with VP Aaron Burr? Could he have ended slavery without a Civil War? Would he have replaced James Madison in the historical timeline? In this episode, author Lewis Ben Smith discusses his interesting novel of alternative history that answers many questions and leaves us with many more. https://lewisliterarylair.blogspot.com/ https://lewisbensmith.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@indianasmith8152 ...

Too often, our dreams are shattered before we ever give them a chance to develop. In this episode, 26-year-old entrepreneur and author Joe Ignace shares the secrets that made him a Top 1% salesman at his company, and how you can leverage your own talents to make an impact on those with whom you come in contact. https://joeignace.com/ Get full access to Melvin E. Edwards at storiesfromreallife.substack.com/subscribe

Dr. Jan Canty is a psychologist, writer, photographer, educator, consultant, podcast host, and cancer survivor, whose cancer has just returned for a second bout. She tells us some sobering stories of how her life was tragically disrupted by the tragic death of her husband. https://jancantyphd.com/ Get full access to Melvin E. Edwards at storiesfromreallife.substack.com/subscribe

Talented musician Daniel DeBlanke, known professionally as Bombay Beach Revival, once ended up on tour with the legendary Prince. Yes, THAT Prince! He joins the show to talk about all things music related, including his unexpected choice for favorite Christmas movie. His Christmas songs are interjected throughout this episode, so listen in, and add yourself as a new fan to the "country-fried soul" music of Bombay Beach Revival. Bombay Beach Revival songs in this episode: 1. Christmas is Here...

Documentarian Mary Beth Minnis isn't the person you might expect to produce a film about Juneteenth, but when she was approached by Rasool Berry and Our Daily Bread Ministries, the executive producers of Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom, she jumped in head-first. Faith and freedom are ideas that we can celebrate all year around, so we're choosing to consider those topics during this holiday season. Documentary Film Producer & Executive Producer www.MaryBethMinnis.com Checkout: experiencevoices.org...

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 roots and went to segregated Georgia in the 1960s, she didn't know she would be teaching at an all-Black college. She certainly didn't know she would stay there for nearly 50 years. "Looking for Jazz: A Memoir about the Black College and Southern Town That Changed My Life" is h...

Host Melvin E. Edwards was the Master of Ceremonies during the Traditional Storytellers portion of the Wimberley (Texas) StoryFest over the weekend of October 12-14, 2023. He also interviewed various participants as they represented the theme of the weekend, which was "Story in all its forms." This episode is a brief summary of the singer-songwriters, filmmakers, and traditional storytellers. https://www.wimberleystoryfest.org/ Get full access to Melvin E. Edwards at storiesfromreallife.substac...

GUEST: ROB MATWICK In this special edition of the podcast, Texas Rangers Executive Vice President of Business Operations Rob Matwick stops by to discuss this October weekend's American League Championship Series (ALCS). This episode is special because Matwick has been an executive for both teams. It's also special because he hired Melvin E. Edwards for his first job out of college in 1988. Take a look ahead at the upcoming ALCS, while you get a bird's eye view of the roads that led these men t...

Dr. Hans Boas is the Director of Germanic Studies at the University of Texas-Austin, but until he arrived in Texas in 2001, he had no idea that the distinctive Texas German dialect even existed. Once he learned this fascinating fact, it became his life's work to record as many of the surviving speakers of Texas German as possible before it was too late. Hear how the German immigrants' personal views on slavery conflicted with the Anglos who were already in the Republic of Texas in the 1840s, an...

Guest: Deb Powell Deb Powell, the owner and operator of Port O'Connor (POC) Rod and Gun, has been fishing in this Texas town since childhood. She shares her favorite memories of fishing with her dad and siblings, and recalls all of the fish that got away. She also describes how you can bring your family or group to POC to fish during the winter and what you will need to know to make the most of your trip. It was the first remote location recording of this podcast and it was a lot of fun! Get ...

Guest: Rick Hall, Jr. You may not know Rick Hall's name, but you know the music that Rick Hall developed as the founder and producer of FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. In this episode, we talk to Rick Hall Jr. about the motivation that led his dad into the music business and breaking through Alabama's segregation attitudes on the 60th anniversary of his worldwide musical legacy. You won't want to miss the stories about Rick Hall's run-in with Aretha Franklin's husband, which ...

Because of Jim Crow laws, Darrin Evans' father - an Army Drill Sargeant - was never allowed to go to a public pool. Yet, he taught himself to swim in the river and insisted that his children also learn to swim. He considered it a survival skill. Statistics show that if a parent doesn't know how to swim, the chances are very high that their children will never learn. That's significant because of the 3,500 annual drownings in the U.S., half of those who died never intended to be in any body of w...

Guest: Bob Kendrick Negro Leagues Baseball Museum President Bob Kendrick is the ultimate storyteller. He can take you from the pitcher's mound with Satchel Paige to the batter's box with Josh Gibson in the time it takes a fastball to travel 60 feet, 6 inches. Hear Mr. Kendrick bring to life the players, fans, and superfans who keep alive the enduring legacy of the Negro Leagues. Stories like: The more you know about Buck O'Neil, the more you want to know. Baseball legend Ted Williams is the ...