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

Episodes

Feb. 3, 2026

Ep. 187 - Kerry Damiano: Around the World in One Lifetime

In this episode of “Stories from Real Life,” host Melvin E. Edwards welcomes Kerry Damiano, known as Ms. World Traveler, who shares her incredible journey of exploration across more than 145 countries. Kerry discusses how her...

Listen to the Episode
Jan. 27, 2026

Ep. 186 - Dr. Ben Long: The Quiet Cost of Exhaustion

Sleep is often treated as negotiable — something we squeeze in after work, family, ambition, and obligation. But what if that assumption is costing us more than we realize? (Please excuse the audio problems on my end.) In thi...

Listen to the Episode
Jan. 20, 2026

Ep. 185 - Kristan Swan: Learning to Listen to Your Own Life

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards engages with Kristen Swan, who shares her insights on personal growth, curiosity, and the importance of reflection during life transitions. They discuss the im...

Listen to the Episode
Jan. 13, 2026

Ep. 184 - Dr. Nelva Lee: From the Classroom to the Campaign

FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Please support this sponsor of the podcast. In this episode of...

Listen to the Episode
Jan. 6, 2026

Ep. 183 - Helton Pereira: Fire, Faith, Family, and the Fight for Purp…

FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Please support this sponsor of the podcast. Episode Summary: T...

Listen to the Episode
Dec. 30, 2025

Ep. 182 - Mark Burnett: The Healing That No Doctor Prescribed

FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Please support this sponsor of the podcast. In this episode, w...

Listen to the Episode
Dec. 26, 2025

Ep. 181 - Matthew Pridgen: Confronting America’s Hardest Truths

FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Please support this sponsor of the podcast. Episode Summary In...

Listen to the Episode
Dec. 23, 2025

Ep. 180 - Scott Miller: Love, Loss, and a Sci-Fi Legacy

Sponsored by: FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Episode Summary: In this episode, we sit down wi...

Listen to the Episode
Dec. 19, 2025

Ep. 179 - Danny Johnson: Clean Comedy, Real Stories, and the Road

Guest: Danny Johnson — Comedian, Storyteller, “The Everyday Comic” FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generati...

Listen to the Episode
Dec. 15, 2025

Ep. 178 - Russell Van Brocklen: The Truth About Dyslexia That Schools…

FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Please support this sponsor of the podcast. Episode Summary: I...

Listen to the Episode
Dec. 12, 2025

Ep. 177 - Tom Russo: In a Blink of an Eye

FOREVER Digital Storage - Their mission is to be the complete, permanent, and safe place where millions of families save and enjoy their memories for generations. Episode Summary: In today’s episode, we sit down with Tom Russ...

Listen to the Episode
Dec. 9, 2025

Ep. 176 - Amy Hawk: What Would Judas Do?

Episode Summary: In this powerful conversation, “The Judas Effect” author Amy Hawk shares her deeply personal journey of faith, identity, and finding her voice in the conversation around Christian Nationalism. Amy opens up ab...

Listen to the Episode
Dec. 5, 2025

Ep. 175 - Karen Bates: More Than a Bus Driver

Episode Show Notes In this heartfelt episode of Stories from Real Life , we sit down with “Miss Karen” Bates, a Utah school bus driver who has spent 14 years shaping young lives from the driver’s seat. Miss Karen opens up abo...

Listen to the Episode
Dec. 2, 2025

Ep. 174 - Scott Martin: How a Coach Lost His Identity -- and Found Hi…

Guest: Scott Martin — Author, Coach, Advocate Episode Description In this deeply moving episode of Stories from Real Life , we sit down with Scott Martin — former elite soccer coach, author of Play From Your Heart , and livin...

Listen to the Episode
Nov. 28, 2025

Ep. 173 - Matt Roberson & Gene Bowles: Beyond The Dugout

What does it truly mean to coach — not just athletes, but young men navigating life? In this powerful and reflective episode, we sit down with Boyd-Buchanan high school baseball coaches Matt Roberson and Gene Bowles for a con...

Listen to the Episode
Nov. 25, 2025

Ep. 172 - Tami Gaines: The Story That Changed Everything

Today on Stories from Real Life , we’re joined by Tami Gaines , author of Preemie Parents: 26 Ways to Grow With Your Premature Baby , resilience strategist, and speaker who has inspired audiences of hundreds of thousands. Tam...

Listen to the Episode
Nov. 21, 2025

Ep. 171 - Joe Carlucci: The Heart of Hospitality

🎙️ Episode Intro In today’s episode of Stories from Real Life , we’re stepping inside the clubhouse with hospitality leader Joe Carlucci — a man who’s spent his career turning golf clubs and restaurants into communities. From...

Listen to the Episode
Nov. 18, 2025

Ep. 170 - Jim Brown: How A Firefighter’s Guitar Group Helps Men Facin…

🎧 Episode Intro: When firefighter and paramedic Jim Brown was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer, his life took a turn no training could prepare him for. Out of his struggle came something extraordinary — a nationwide guitar...

Listen to the Episode
Nov. 14, 2025

Ep. 169 - Dr. Tomás Estrada: Engineering a Meaningful Life

🎧 Stories from Real Life 🎙️ Episode Title: “Engineering a Meaningful Life” Episode Summary: Dr. Tomás Estrada doesn’t just teach engineering — he teaches perspective. In this conversation, the Elizabethtown College professor ...

Listen to the Episode
Nov. 11, 2025

Ep. 168 - Susan Snow: The Other Side of the Gun

🎧 Stories from Real Life Episode: “The Other Side of the Gun – Susan Snow’s Journey Through Trauma, Grief, and Forgiveness” Summary: When Susan Snow was 17, her father — Los Angeles Police Detective Thomas C. Williams — was m...

Listen to the Episode
Nov. 7, 2025

Ep. 167 - Rand Timmerman: Redemption on the Appalachian Trail

Beware: This conversation includes a discussion of alcoholism and suicide. At 72, most people are slowing down. But for Rand Timmerman, life’s greatest challenge — and greatest healing — came on a 2,000-mile trek through the ...

Listen to the Episode
Nov. 4, 2025

Ep. 166 - Patton Dodd: 'Becoming the Father I Needed'

Everyone carries a story about their father — the one we got, the one we needed, and maybe even the one we’ve become. In this episode of Stories from Real Life , I talk with Patton Dodd , writer, editor, and author of The Fat...

Listen to the Episode
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...

Listen to the Episode
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...

Listen to the Episode