Stories from Real Life – Details, episodes & analysis

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 Appalachian Mountains. A Marine, lawyer, and recovering alcoholic, Rand set out with his 71-year-old brother to walk, reflect, and rediscover what really matters. This is a story about endurance, faith, and the long road home.

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Rand Timmerman’s website

www.podcastreallife.com

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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 Father You Get: And the Ones You Make, Believe In, and Become.

Patton’s story explores what it means to inherit pain and still choose purpose, to face the past without being defined by it, and to discover grace in the mess of family life.

Together, we talk about father wounds, forgiveness, and the ways faith and storytelling help us rewrite who we are — and who we can still become.

Patton Dodd’s website

The Father We Get book

Stories from Real Life website

The Strength of a Thousand Sons

Patton Dodd on LinkedIn

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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 spent his career helping people discover resilience, hope, and healing, whether in schools, families, or individual lives.

In our conversation, we’ll dive into his personal journey, the lessons he’s learned from working with thousands of students, and how SchoolPulse is reshaping the way we talk about mental health and well-being in our schools.

This is an episode about courage, connection, and the power of showing up when people need it most.

Here’s a link to SchoolPulse.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

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Ben Marsh is a pastor at First Alliance Church in Winston-Salem, NC. He lives there with his wife and two teenaged daughters. He has a dog, Hank, and a cat, who apparently changed its identity. The story of how that happened is almost unbelievable.

Ben has a heart for immigrants and is disturbed by what he is witnessing in today's political discourse.

Before you listen, you should know that he puts olives in chili. Find out why.

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Nate Bell is an outspoken Never Trump conservative and has been politically homeless since 2016. A lifelong Republican until 2015, Nate served in the Arkansas State House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017 where he chaired the State Agencies and Government Affairs Committee, served as House Chair of the Legislative Audit Subcommittee on State Agencies, and as House co-chair of the Joint Committee on Constitutional Amendments.

After 3 terms in office, Nate chose not to seek re-election, but he remains politically active and stirs up “good trouble.”

He and his wife of 34 years live sustainably and off-grid on 225 wilderness acres in a unique home they built themselves. They have 2 grown daughters and one grandson.

Tune in for a conversation with Nate Bell that will nudge you to think deeper about your political choices.

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In today's episode of "Stories from Real Life," hosted by Melvin E. Edwards, we feature Dr. Karen Swallow Prior. She is a renowned international speaker, professor, and author with a diverse portfolio of books on topics from theology to literature, with a particular focus on 18th-century British Literature.

Despite recent notable disagreements with the Southern Baptist Convention, her faith remains unwavering. Her passion for words and profound reverence for The Word are central to her life.

During the discussion, she explores the impact of Christian worldviews on historical events, including the abolition movement and the cause of animal safety.

Tune in for a conversation with Dr. Karen Swallow Prior that promises to enlighten and inspire.

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Our guest, Dr. Daniel Silliman, is the news editor for Christianity Today magazine. Three weeks ago, he released his newest book "One Lost Soul - Richard Nixon's Search for Salvation" to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Nixon's resignation from the presidency.

Nixon is a complicated historical figure who wrestled with God for most of his life. Today's episode will help us discover if he was eventually able to find what he was looking for.

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Meredith Wills has a Ph.D. in solar astrophysics and is a sports data scientist. She's a physicist and a baseball analyst, who happens to also be a world-class knitter. Rumor has it, Lynda Carter wears a Meredith Wills costume for Halloween.

Wills' grandfather may or may not have worked at Area 51.

Let's see how she weaves these interests into another fascinating episode of "Stories from Real Life."

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Eriksen Dickens is a storytelling wizard, crafting "legacy documentaries" that spotlight businesses, foundations, or individuals with fascinating tales to tell. These cinematic gems capture life through a lens of positivity, preserving legacies for generational to enjoy.

https://platinumpeek.com/

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Garret Williams is known on Twitter as @TexansCommenter and runs a page called Houston Stressans. He is a contributing writer for the Sporting News and covers the Houston Texans for that publication and his page. How many wins does he project for Houston this year? You might be surprised!

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