Explore every episode of the podcast Regular People Extraordinary Lives

Illona reflects on her childhood in Communist Hungary, and how her experiences there helped her break barriers as one of the first women hired by FedEx.

A child prodigy, John discusses his early start in Chemistry that led him to a long, successful career in the toy and plastics industry. 

Sue's father helped Castro come to power in Cuba, but soon realized he needed to take his family someplace safer. Sue discusses the many places she lived as a child and how her migratory family gave her the best shot at an education that later led to an amazing career in the pharmaceutical industry.

Lea's parents escaped Poland at the outbreak of World War II. Traveling through Europe, and then onto the United States, Lea shares her childhood experiences of what it was like to grow up in the wake of her family's displacement. 

Alex escaped execution in Iraq in the 1970s, and made his way to the United States to work in electrical engineering. Alex explains the challenges and joys of being an engineer during the dawn of the digital age. 

Bill reflects on the changes that have occurred from when he joined the Wall Street workforce in the 1980s to when he retired in the late 2000s, and how his liberal arts background gave him a wealth of opportunity throughout his life.