New Episodes of Stories from Real Life Every Tuesday

Episodes

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

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

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

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

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Ep. 165 - Justin Woods: Five Crowns and One Calling
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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Ep. 164 - How False Stories Keep Us Comfortable — and Trapped
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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Ep. 163 - Unbroken: One Woman’s Fight to Reclaim Her Life
Oct. 24, 2025

Ep. 163 - Unbroken: One Woman’s Fight to Reclaim Her Life

TRIGGER WARNING: Child trauma discussed in this episode. In this episode of Stories from Real Life , we sit down with Adriene Caldwell — author of Unbroken: Life Outside the Lines — to explore what it really means to survive,...

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Ep. 162 - She Started Her First Business at 16, Then She Hit Her Stride
Oct. 21, 2025

Ep. 162 - She Started Her First Business at 16, Then She Hit Her Stri…

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards interviews Azgari Lipshy , an entrepreneur who shares her journey from starting her first business at 16 to navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship. Az...

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Ep. 161 - From Studio Bassist to Music Legend
Oct. 17, 2025

Ep. 161 - From Studio Bassist to Music Legend

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards welcomes back music legend Norbert Putnam for a deep dive into his storied career. Norbert shares captivating anecdotes about his experiences with iconic artis...

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Ep. 160 - Was Donald Trump an Inevitability?
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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Ep. 159 - Thriving as a Highly Sensitive Person
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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Ep. 158 - How Dads Can Build Legacy and Live with Purpose
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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Ep. 157 - Empowering Students Through Proactive Support
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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Ep. 156 - Navigating the Sounds of Silence
Sept. 30, 2025

Ep. 156 - Navigating the Sounds of Silence

In this episode of Stories from Real Life, host Melvin E. Edwards speaks with Maria Gallucci, a real estate agent and author who grew up in a deaf family. They discuss the unique challenges and experiences of navigating both ...

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Ep. 155 - Unlocking Your Side Hustle Potential
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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Ep. 154 - How One Device Can Make Camps Safer Everywhere
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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Ep. 153 - Faith, Intuition, and the Mystical Side of Grief
Sept. 19, 2025

Ep. 153 - Faith, Intuition, and the Mystical Side of Grief

Dr. Gregg Korbon’s life was rooted in science, discipline, and achievement—through medicine, military service, martial arts, and teaching. But when his son, Brian, a deeply intuitive and gifted child, died just before his ten...

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Ep. 152 - Lt. Colonel to Crime Writer
Sept. 16, 2025

Ep. 152 - Lt. Colonel to Crime Writer

Kenneth Webb has lived a life of constant reinvention—retired U.S. Army Lt. Colonel, former American Airlines employee, defense contractor, and now debut crime-thriller author. In this episode, we dive into his journey from T...

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Ep. 151 - From Muscle Shoals to Margaritaville
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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Ep. 150 - How a Family Tree Sparked a Historical Novel
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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Ep. 149 - The Musician Who Became a Hypnotist
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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Ep. 148 - Living Room Startup to '20 Under 40'
Sept. 2, 2025

Ep. 148 - Living Room Startup to '20 Under 40'

Our guest today is Paden Squires, an entrepreneur, CPA, tax strategist, and host of the podcast Behind Their Success . From leaving corporate finance to building his own firm from his living room, Paden has made it his missio...

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Ep. 147 - From Classroom to Casting Call: Secrets of a Talent Insider
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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Ep. 146 - The Ancient Code for a Modern Life
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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