Episodes

Show Notes: Amy Hawk — Author, Bible Teacher, and Truth-Teller What happens when faithfulness to Jesus begins to put you at odds with the religious community that shaped you? In this episode of Stories from Real Life , I sit ...

Irish singer, composer, storyteller, poet, teacher, and leadership guide Owen Ó Súilleabháin brings a rare blend of music, memory, spirituality, and cultural wisdom to the conversation. Raised in one of Ireland’s most respect...

Episode Summary Nancy Deyo is a former Silicon Valley CEO, Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute Fellow, and author of the forthcoming memoir Perilous Ascent . After a medical crisis on Mount Kilimanjaro, Nancy entered a f...

Discover the compelling journey of Dr. Craig Yorke, a Black neurosurgeon, author of Steep , as he reflects on his experiences growing up in Boston, navigating racial identity, and the nuances of success in a demanding profess...

Release Date: May 19, 2026 Episode: Number 203 Guest: Johnzelle Anderson, LPC, Author of Mixtape: A Memoir ## Episode Summary What if your memories weren’t just chapters in a book, but tracks on a mixtape? In this episode of ...

Podcast: Stories from Real Life Host: Melvin E. Edwards Guest: Aaron Ryan Release Date: May 12, 2026 Episode Summary Award-winning and bestselling author Aaron Ryan joins Stories from Real Life to discuss the discipline, pers...

Show Notes Release Date: May 5, 2026 Guest: Jason Prokowiew, author of War Boys About the Episode: How do you learn to love a man you were raised to fear? In this episode, we speak with author Jason Prokowiew about his transf...

Episode 200: A Milestone and a Premiere To celebrate this double-milestone, this episode reflects on the journey to 200 episodes of Stories from Real Life and announces the global launch of the debut novel, Nuremberg, Mississ...

Guest: Nancy Jasin Ensley Host: Melvin E. Edwards Release Date: April 28, 2026 Episode Summary Nancy Jasin Ensley is a multifaceted creator whose work is deeply rooted in her 54-year career in healthcare and her personal jour...

Guest: Dr. Stuart D. Jones, Author of For the Love of Stephen Release Date: April 21, 2026 Episode Overview In a society that often measures value by productivity and “normalcy,” what does it mean to be whole? In this episode...

Join us as Eric Robinson shares his extraordinary transition from being a Baptist pastor to a seasoned FBI agent, blending faith, intuition, and law enforcement expertise to navigate some of the most challenging situations. I...

Episode Show Notes Guest: Matt O’Neill Host: Melvin E. Edwards Category: Mindset / Business / Personal Development Episode Summary We’ve all been told the same story: work hard, hit the milestones, and happiness will find you...

Author and broadcaster Antonio Michael Downing joins Melvin E. Edwards for a powerful conversation about identity, reinvention, and belonging. Born in Trinidad and raised in rural Canada, Downing’s life has taken him through ...

Stories from Real Life: Lisa Parda on Pivoting, Leadership, and Impact In this episode, Lisa Parda shares her journey from aspiring air traffic controller to successful real estate broker, media personality, and author. She d...

Guest: Al Isaacs Episode Summary What would you do if you discovered—after decades—that the story of your own life wasn’t true? Would you want to know the truth? Comedian, writer, and performer Al Isaacs spent most of his lif...

📝 Show Notes Guest: Mark Firehammer Author, musician, creative advocate, founder of Creative Humanity Alliance Discussion Highlights: * Creativity as a pathway to human connection * Cultural pressures toward conformity vs aut...

Episode summary: Teacher observation is supposed to improve teaching and learning—but Craig Randall argues that in many schools it produces fear, limits risk-taking, and reduces growth. Craig shares the core principles of Tru...

In this episode, Miles Spencer shares his incredible journey of curiosity-driven ventures, fearless risk-taking, and the power of storytelling to lead, inspire, and preserve legacy across generations. Discover how adventure a...

Show Notes (Bullet Points) 🔸 Key Topics Covered * Alison’s journey from running a horse farm and teaching to sailing around the world. * How her early passion for adventure propelled her toward blue-water sailing. * The creat...

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, grief educator Lisa Rites discusses the multifaceted nature of grief, emphasizing that it extends beyond death to include experiences like divorce and life transitions. She shares he...

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...

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...

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...

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...