Stories from Real Life
by Melvin E. Edwards
Latest episode
Ep 227 -- Robbi Hall Kumalo: Finding Your Voice When Life Changes
Ep 227 -- Robbi Hall Kumalo: Finding Your Voice When Life Changes
About this podcast
**Honored as the American Writing Awards Male Hosted Podcast of the Year for 2026.**
Why should you listen to this podcast?
Because "Stories from Real Life" reminds us we’re not alone.
In every episode, expert interviewer Melvin E. Edwards dives deep into the moments that shape who we are—messy, moving, sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking. Whether you're stuck, healing, or just curious about the human experience, these stories help you feel seen, understood, and connected.
Want to be a guest on Stories from Real Life? Send Melvin Edwards a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/storiesfromreallife.
www.podcastreallife.com
storiesfromreallife.substack.com
Episodes
The newest 20 of 227 episodes
- Ep 227 -- Robbi Hall Kumalo: Finding Your Voice When Life Changes · 30 min · Season 4 Episode 227Robbi Hall Kumalo, also presented as MS rŌbi and MS rŌbi K, is a Portland-based vocalist, composer, storyteller, teaching artist, memoirist, and podcaster. Her official biography…
- Ep. 226 -- Graig Kreindler: Painting the Past Back to Life · 52 min · Season 4 Episode 226A baseball painting can hold more than a memorable play. It can hold a father’s favorite player, a vanished ballpark, or the face of someone history overlooked. On this episode…
- Ep. 225 -- Reid Ryan: Growing Up in a Famous Shadow · 57 min · Season 4 Episode 225Growing Up Ryan: Reid Ryan on Nolan, the Astros, and Finding His Own Way What do Nolan Ryan, Barney the purple dinosaur, and Texas A&M have in common? Reid Ryan has a story…
- Ep. 224 - Pesa & Whitney Shayo: The Marriage Behind the Marriage Advice · 40 min · Season 4 Episode 224What happens when the person you love brings a different definition of marriage into the relationship? Pesa and Whitney Shayo, founders of Live Your Best Marriage, join Melvin E…
- Ep. 223 - Lisa Heisner: When Your Politics No Longer Fit Your Faith · 1 h 2 min · Season 4 Episode 223What happens when the political identity you inherited begins to collide with the faith that helped shape it? Melvin E. Edwards talks with educator and fellow John Brown…
- Ep. 222 - Rich Dunning: ‘Silence Was My First Language’ · 47 minContent note: This episode includes discussion of childhood abuse, sexual abuse, addiction, and trauma. What happens when the silence that helped you survive becomes difficult to…
- Ep. 221 - Sass Schaeffer: Who Are You Now? · 48 min · Season 4 Episode 221What happens when the life you’ve spent years building suddenly no longer fits the person you’ve become? For identity coach Sass Schaeffer, that question isn’t theoretical. Her…
- Ep. 220 - Patrick W. Naughton, Jr.: Saving Baker Battery · 48 min · Season 4 Episode 220What would you do if you opened an old binder at an estate sale and realized you were holding a piece of World War II history? Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and military…
- Ep. 219 - Andre Robertson: Before the Pinstripes: How Andre Robertson Changed Texas Baseball · 43 min · Season 4 Episode 219Andre Robertson on Texas, the Yankees, and the accident that changed everything Former Major League shortstop Andre Robertson joins Melvin E. Edwards to trace a career that moves…
- Ep. 218 - Margaret Eastman Smith: Faith, Family and Freedom · 50 minMargaret Eastman Smith grew up inside Moral Re-Armament (MRA), the international movement that emerged from the Oxford Group and sought to transform society through personal…
- Ep. 217 - Dr. Michael Brandt: The Future of Facial Plastic Surgery · 41 minHow do medicine, artistry, and psychology come together to transform lives? In this episode, award-winning journalist Melvin E. Edwards sits down with internationally recognized…
- Ep. 216 - Clint Hurdle: Take The Long Way Home · 1 h 16 min · Season 4 Episode 217Long before Clint Hurdle became one of baseball’s most recognizable managers, he was the kid everyone expected to become a star. A first-round draft pick of the Kansas City…
- Ep. 215 - Diane Les Becquets: Between Heaven and the Rest of My Life · 41 minNational bestselling novelist Diane Les Becquets joins Stories from Real Life for an unforgettable conversation about survival, faith, creativity, and the remarkable healing…
- Ep. 214 - Connie Kwan: Building Better Habits Through Better Stories · 59 min · Season 4 Episode 214Key Points Keywords storytelling, habits, identity, product management, entrepreneurship, AI, personal development, childhood influences, curiosity, leadership AI, storytelling…
- Ep. 213 - Neil Taylor: Me and My Old Man...and My Son · 51 min · Season 4 Episode 213Neil Taylor’s father, Patrick, died in March 2021. Six days later, Neil’s son was born and given Patrick as his middle name. Caught between grief and new life, Neil realized that…
- Ep. 212 - Scot Loyd: Nolan Xavier Wells Reminds Me of Roy · 50 min · Season 4 Episode 212Show Notes In this episode of Stories from Real Life, Melvin E. Edwards welcomes writer, historian, and author Scot Loyd for a thoughtful conversation about faith, race…
- Ep. 211 - Jeff Gomez: Why Fans May Save Hollywood · 46 min · Season 4 Episode 211Unmasking the Power of Stories with Jeff Gomez: From Franchises to AI Get ready to dive into a world where storytelling is not just an art, but a force for change. Jeff Gomez…
- Ep. 210 - Gretchen Hertler: The Kindness That Endures · 44 min · Season 4 Episode 210You won’t want to miss this inspiring episode with Gretchen Hertler, a woman whose life so beautifully exemplifies resilience, compassion, and unwavering dedication to helping…
- Ep. 209 - Kyle Sweetser: Semi-Sweet Home Alabama · 35 min · Season 4 Episode 209Explore the insights of Kyle Sweetser, a recent U.S. Senate candidate from Alabama, as he shares lessons learned from talking to diverse communities, challenging stereotypes, and…
- Ep. 208 - Colin Owensby: Beyond the Finish Line · 1 h 8 min · Season 4 Episode 208Dive into the compelling story of Colin Owensby as he shares how a severe car accident, personal tragedies, and remarkable sports achievements shaped his outlook on life…
