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Artwork for Stories from Real Life

Stories from Real Life

Melvin E. Edwards
Politics
Religion
Race Relations
Baseball
Independence
Cynicism
Dialogue
Christian Nationalism
Goodwill
Social Media
Negro Leagues Baseball
Country Music
Family
Pat Balls Candies
Texas
Kansas City Monarchs
Evangelicalism
Tennis
Peanut Brittle
Black American Experience

**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 ab... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes197Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Personal JournalsSociety & CultureScienceSocial Sciences

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Artwork for Stories from Real Life

Latest Episodes

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.

In this episode, you’ll l... more

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. But what happens ... more

YouTube

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 multiple identities — mu... more

YouTube

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 discusses the importance ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Antonio Michael Downing
Author and storyteller exploring identity and belonging
Episode: Ep. 195 - Antonio Michael Downing: Becoming Yourself in a World That Misunderstands You
Lisa Parda
Real estate broker, radio host, and cookbook author
Realty Scape Brokerage; Stars at Night Publishing
Episode: Ep. 194 - Lisa Parda: When Your Plans Change
Al Isaacs
Comedian and writer who uncovered his birth mother during a decades-long search
Self/Author of Finding Mary Smith
Episode: Ep. 193 - Al Isaacs: Searching for My Mother after 53 Years
Mark Firehammer
Author, musician, founder of the Creative Humanity Alliance
Creative Humanity Alliance
Episode: Ep. 192 - Mark Firehammer: The Lost Art of Being Human
Craig Randall
Former school counselor, teacher, coach, and principal; author of Trust-Based Observations, Maximizing Teaching and Learning Growth
Episode: Ep: 191 - Craig Randall: Stop Scoring Teachers. Start Growing Them.
Miles Spencer
Entrepreneur, investor, and storyteller with ventures in digital media.
Episode: Ep. 190 - Miles Spencer: What Happens When Curiosity Becomes a Career
Alison Gieschen
Author and world-circumnavigating sailor
Episode: Ep. 189 - Alison Gieschen: Sail On
Lisa Rites
Grief educator who shares insights on handling grief and personal losses, as discussed in her book.
lisasritesgrief.com
Episode: Ep. 188 - Lisa Rites: Death, Divorce, and the Grief Between Them
Kerry Damiano
Ms. World Traveler with experience in over 140 countries
Self-employed, Travel Content Creator
Episode: Ep. 187 - Kerry Damiano: Around the World in One Lifetime

Host

Melvin E. Edwards
Host of Stories from Real Life

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 64 ratings
  • Awesome Host!

    I want to thank Stories from Real Life for a great experience. The questions delved deep into the heart of my sailing journey. Melvin promoted my books and my websites and was an excellent podcast host. I highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    positivethoughts2020
    United States2 months ago
  • Thank you for having me Mel!

    Mel was great and very engaging. He asked thoughtful questions and directed me towards the message I was on the show to talk about. Plus he is a very cool guy

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    J CARLUCCI
    United States5 months ago
  • “A Spiritual Passage”

    Melvin was a great host, asking very thoughtful, provocative questions; inspiring me to tell our story. He was very inquisitive about our adventure and encouraged me to talk about my book "A Spiritual Passage", with 500 beautiful, color pictures about our life-changing journey. It is a great podcast to be a guest on and I feel blessed to have had the opportunity.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Randbo Writings
    United States5 months ago
  • Ken Webb on book Trapped in Deception

    Excellent fellow Texan. I look forward to the show being published!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WebbISTJ
    United States8 months ago
  • As Real as it gets!

    Melvin does an incredible job to bring out the best of a guest’s experiences. He asks profound and insightful questions that create a fun, engaging, and entertaining show. He creates so much value with his content. I couldn’t be happier with our interview!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Andrew-Ryan Profaci
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests feel heard, and stories stay impactful after listening.
Thoughtful host with deep questions leads to meaningful guest stories.
Engaging questions and respectful interviewing style are frequently noted.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep. 194 - Lisa Parda: When Your Plans Change
Q: What pivot strategies or boundaries can people use during a midlife shift?
She explains resegmenting her business to focus on higher-value, more enjoyable work (like radio and cookbook writing), preserving room for curiosity and passion, and allowing time for new ventures to develop while managing expectations and boundaries.
Ep. 194 - Lisa Parda: When Your Plans Change
Q: When did you start your first business or entrepreneurial excursion?
Lisa describes an early obsession with money and selling items as a kid, but her formal first business venture began around age 30 when she entered real estate, marking the start of her broader entrepreneurial journey beyond the corporate world.
Ep. 192 - Mark Firehammer: The Lost Art of Being Human
Q: Finally, what's one thing you'd like listeners to take away and do as an action item?
He suggests a 30-day exercise: write down your earliest memories of joy for 10 minutes each day, read and reflect on them, then begin to weave those memories into stories or reflections to rekindle a sense of purpose and well-being.
Ep. 192 - Mark Firehammer: The Lost Art of Being Human
Q: All right. So how do you balance allegory with emotional authenticity in your fiction?
Mark explains that his work blends allegory with years of observed, lived experience, ensuring the emotional core remains genuine and consistent across decades, making the characters and their journeys feel true to life.
Ep. 193 - Al Isaacs: Searching for My Mother after 53 Years
Q: How did finding your birth mother change your view of family and identity?
It reframed everything I believed about my roots, showing that love and connection can redefine family beyond the documents and names on a birth certificate, and it reinforced the idea that identity can expand rather than collapse when truth is embraced.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Stories from Real Life

What is Stories from Real Life about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show features intimate conversations where a steady host asks thoughtful questions that bring out transformative personal stories. Episodes range from professional growth and education reform to travel, health, creativity, and resilience, with guests often sharing practical insights, life lessons, and behind-the-scenes experiences. A standout trait is the focus on human moments—whether navigating career changes, caregiving, or pursuing passions—framed by a calm, curious interviewing style that encourages vulnerability. The format tends to blend storytelling with actionable takeaways, making it appealing to listeners seeking inspiration, real-world advice, and relatable journeys.

Notable strengths include a diverse slate of guests span... more

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How many listeners does Stories from Real Life get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers Stories from Real Life has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Stories from Real Life?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Stories from Real Life:

1. The Bulwark Podcast
2. The Illegal News with Sarah Longwell

How many episodes of Stories from Real Life are there?

Stories from Real Life launched 3 years ago and published 197 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Stories from Real Life?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Stories from Real Life?

Recent guests on Stories from Real Life include:

1. Antonio Michael Downing
2. Lisa Parda
3. Al Isaacs
4. Mark Firehammer
5. Craig Randall
6. Miles Spencer
7. Alison Gieschen
8. Lisa Rites

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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