Amazing Americans

After thirty years of addiction, broken relationships, and self-sabotage, Benton Savage finally reached a turning point. He tells all about the habits that nearly destroyed his life as well as his journey to sobriety, personal responsibility, and a better life.Book: The Stoic Alcoholic: It’s Not Only About Counting Days

Sensitive Subject Matter Disclaimer: This episode contains descriptions of sexual abuse and mature subject matter. Listener discretion is advised.James B Bolen PhD is a retired Chicago Police Officer who first served our country in the Marines. Some of the things her learned and saw on the beat were both heartbreaking and headscratching, so his mission now is to be a catalyst for change in a broken American criminal justice system.Book: Fixing This Broken Thing...The American Criminal Justice System

Pressure has a unique ability to reveal what is truly in our hearts and to develop qualities that comfort cannot produce. Dr. Patricia Hauser has faced all sorts of pressures and difficulties in her life. She was molested when she she was young. Her house was crushed by a hurricane, forcing her family to move to the projects. Her company was slammed with a fraud case while she was taking care of her mother who had stage 4 breast cancer. She wrote a book out of her increasing desire to help individuals realize there is more to life because God has so much more for them.Book: You Are Made For More

Ian Murray is a member of the Army National Guard who has served our country for 23 years, including deployments to Afghanistan and North Africa. In 2024, he was falsely arrested by his own employer, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, during a personal leave period. What happened turned him into an advocate for others falsely arrested and those fighting to clear their name thereafter. Website: IanMurray.netIan's Facebook Page

At age 15, Mary Keating got into a shiny Mustang convertible driven by a boy she barely knew. She never walked again, but that didn't stop her. She adapted, she persisted, and she lived fully in a world hardly designed for her disability. Mary became a lawyer, a poet, scuba diver, world traveler, wife, and an inspiration to everyone.Website: MaryKeatingPoet.com

This is the inspirational story of Geoffrey Bott. He a former rugby player and accomplished athlete from England and subsequently a scientist, business owner, and author. He's been through over a dozen knee surgeries, a raging house fire, divorce, and more. Not only has he bounced back from all of it, he's thrived and is here to share his story about never giving up.Books:Biological DeceptionUphill: An Inspirational Story of Suffering, Greed, Carnage, Immense Courage and Gut-determinationNote: this episode originally aired on 1/17/26

In March 2023, Bobby Dewbre was struck and killed by a drunk driver while crossing the highway after celebrating his 21st birthday. Ever since, his mother, Beth McBride, has been on a mission to turn heartbreak into change. She founded Montana Bar Fairies as a way to encourage responsible choices and to prevent other families from experiencing the same loss. She has also fought for stiffer penalties resulting from drink driving deaths.Website: Montana Bar FairiesNote: this episode originally aired on 9/27/25

When Louie Castriota's daughter was diagnosed with special needs, he started on a 13-year journey to create Leg Up Farm, which has now transformed the lives of over 1,500 children with special needs and their families.Website: LegUpFarm.orgBook: Leg Up, The Courage to DreamNote: this episode originally aired on 1/24/26

Michael Steven Purles and his wife had four children. The oldest was born with congenital heart disease and lived to be 20. The second also had congenital heart disease but was able to be rescued by medical science. His wife suffered a stroke a few years ago, and he considers it an honor to be her caregiver. This is a story of family, faith, and finding strength in all circumstances. Michael Purles is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.Website: MichaelPurles.com

Rudy Knapp lost a brother when he was 12 and is now dealing with his mother going through the stages of dementia. He shares what he's learned about this terrible disease, the human memory, and what's truly important in life. Now a life coach, his goal is to help others build a thriving kingdom and leave a legacy by focusing on the 5 Pillars of Life: spiritual uplift and purpose, mental health growth, physical enhancement, financial and career development, and emotional and relationship intelligence.Book: Legacy - Build Your Kingdom: A Divine Blueprint

Author George Russell tells the inspiring story of how writing helped saved him after a midlife crisis led to no job, living in a car, and a raging alcoholism problem. He's 36 years sober now.Book: Chasing the Hummingbird's Universe

Mitch Mueck tells the powerful story of the tragedies and triumphs he's experienced in his lifetime. He lost 2 wives to cancer, one of them when he was only 19 years old. He also struggled with a debilitating disease but overcome a doctor’s poor prognosis. He's learned a lot of lessons along the way and enjoys sharing them with anyone he can.Website: mitchellmueck.com

Abused, forced to sell drugs, and discarded by her prostitute mother, Soul Singh had to grow up fast and without much hope. She spent time in dozens of foster homes and endured even further abuse. This is the story of how she defied the odds and the stereotypes surrounding her life circumstances to not only get a college education but to give back to children in a meaningful way.Book: Thank you for Smiling

After surviving a car accident that left him paralyzed, David Francisco's story was one of the most viewed auditions of the 2018 American Idol season. He joins the show to share his inspirational story about overcoming the odds and adapting to a new way of life, even while continuing his career as a singer, songwriter, producer, motivational speaker, and dad.Website: DavidFranciscoMusic.com

Dr. Glen Robison shares his breathtaking account of resilience, discovery, and the pursuit of purpose. Once told he would never succeed, he courageously stepped into the unknown and rose stronger to fulfill his calling as a surgeon and humanitarian. His story proves that the answers we seek, and the life we dream of, often emerge when we embrace uncertainty with faith and determination.Book: Show Them: Stepping Into the Unknown to Find the AnswersWebsite: DrGlenRobison.com

Ron Nelson's copper postcards were everywhere! Did you ever pick one up at the Statue of Liberty? He sold millions of the unique copper postcards. He also designed and manufactured CD covers for some very famous people, including Madonna. Ron tells us all about his interesting professional life as well as the slew of health problems that he's had to face. The guy has had 650 blood transfusions, cancer, and other medical problems, and he took care of his wife for 17 years as she battled serious health issues. Ron tells us how he was able to maintain a positive outlook through it all.Website: RonNelsonBooks.comBook: Engraved: The Upbringing Of A Caregiver

Beth Watter's son Nick had heart surgery at less than a year old, his lungs collapsed, and he suffered brain damage due to loss of oxygen. Doctors told Beth to put her son in an institution, but she refused. This is a story of inspiration and resilience as Beth found the strength and support she needed and Nick continues to defy the odds and thrive despite his limitations.Books:Champions, We AreThe Making Of Champions

Vincent Tomeo is a poet and history teacher who's been all over the world. He has over 1000 published poems/essays. He even survived cancer and went blind for a year due to multiple sclerosis. He's humorous, cultured, and has won several awards for his writings. You'll enjoy hearing him talk about his experiences and what's important in life.Books:My Cemetery Friends: A Garden of Encounters at Mount Saint Mary in Queens, New YorkThe Usefulness of Hippopotamus: A Humorous Chapbook for Trying TimesDefinition: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Note: this episode originally aired on 11/8/25

Karen Kay Smith supressed her feelings and felt alone in helping her husband deal with Multiple Sclerosis for 15 years. This led to her developing an eating disorder. Plus, she was in charge of helping her daughter with Muscular Dystrophy. Hear how she overcame her eating disorder and feelings of deep lonliness and is now thriving while caring for her daughter and inspiring others as a certified health and life coach, author, and more.Website: KarenKaySmith.com

Ralph Myers' son was killed by a gangmember in a drive-by shooting. In this podcast, Ralph details the incident that took his son's life, the years he spent battling the court system thereafter, and the crisis response team he helped establish in order to help other parents going through similar tragedies.Books: Beneath the Law: The Plight of Crime Victims in the American Criminal Justice SystemThe Bergman-Schuour Destiny

Tito Ortiz was a kid who came from nothing, but through hard work and dedication, he was able to achieve the American dream. In his freshman year of high school, he joined the wrestling team and discovered he had a gift that changed his life. He eventually found his way into mixed martial arts and the rest is history! Here’s the story of how Tito Ortiz overcame poverty, drugs, and a broken family to become one of the greatest champions in UFC history!Note: this episode originally aired on 12/28/24

Carol Jones Hasbrouck and her friend left home with $500 in their pocket and embarked on a journey volunteering with as many charities and service projects as possible. Almost 4 months and 10,000 miles later, they returned home transformed women. Book: 10,000 Miles of Miracles: Dames Gone Wild Summer Service Adventure Helping People, Pets and Planets

Hal Eisner spent 43 of his 58-year broadcast news career in Los Angeles. He covered fires, eathquakes, school shootings, the OJ Simpson and Michael Jackson trials, and much more! He was even nearly killed by a drunk driver, while standing and covering a story in Hollywood. For his lifetime of work, Hal received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the Radio and Television News Association of Southern California (RTNA) in 2023.Book: An Accidental Career: My Fifty-Eight-Year Adventure as a Broadcast News Reporter

Jim Flaherty is 90 years old, but you'd never know if from listening to him. He's learned to love longevity and has lots of tips to help you do the same. He was a successful ad agency creative director, business owner, and was by his wife's side when she battled dementia. He's kept a positive attitude through it all and chooses to make the most of every day. He's now a writer, motivational speaker, and more. Prepare to be inspired!Website: JamesBFlaherty.com

Jack Ratliff's quest for meaning and adventure took him from college in the 1950s to the edge of everything - enduring the punishing trials of UDT-SEAL training, commanding a destroyer under a mercurial captain, battling deadly forest fires in Yellowstone, and more!Book: Riding the White Bull: The Making of a Navy SEAL

Frank Atchley was an active police officer for 33 years, including 12 years as a homicide detective. He helped take down Gary Ridgeway, the Green River Killer, who was convicted of killing nearly 50 women. He also prevented a woman from being sacrificed by a satanic cult. Frank shares how a homicide investigator solves crimes and how women and others can protect themselves from being potential victims.Book: A Birthday to Die For

Henry Kusiak is trying to make it in the pro ranks after a very successful college baseball career. He just got back from playing baseball in China and has played a couple seasons with semi-pro teams in the US. He's had to take the long road toward reaching his dream, while overcoming doubts and struggles along the way. This is Henry's story of perseverance.

This is the powerful true story of Nick Morrison’s journey from the rodeo arena to rock bottom and back again. After multiple concussions and a career-ending injury, Nick lost not only his dream but also his ability to speak. Refusing to give up, he fought through pain, fear, and silence to rebuild his life through faith and resilience. Nick is now an inspiring keynote speaker and stand-up comedian.Book: Knocked Out But Not DownWebsites: NickMorrisonSpeaker.com and NickMorrisonComedy.com

SENSITIVE CONTENT DISCLAIMER: This episode contains sensitive subject matter related to sexual abuse.As a child, Christina Balzani was sexually abused by a relative. As an adult, she was a victim of domestic violence. After gaining the spiritual and emotional tools to overcome her trauma, Christina's lifelong mission has been to help others gain freedom and healing from past abuse.Website: ChristinaSafeSpace.orgBook: Dry Your Eyes, Girl: From Surviving to Thriving After Childhood Sexual Abuse

Greg Roth's mother died of cancer when he was just 11. This tragedy sent him on a lifelong mission that includes creating the award-winning documentary We Ride Why, a film about the power of love, community, and hope in the face of cancer. The documentary follows the stories of several women who have been impacted by cancer, as well as the friends and family who support them. Through their stories, we learn about the collateral damage that cancer can bring, but also the hope that can be found in the relationships that are born out of trauma. We Ride Why is an inspiring and moving film that will stay with you long after you watch it.Website: WeRideWhy.com

When Louie Castriota's daughter was diagnosed with special needs, he started on a 13-year journey to create Leg Up Farm, which has now transformed the lives of over 1,500 children with special needs and their families.Website: LegUpFarm.orgBook: Leg Up, The Courage to Dream

This is the inspirational story of Geoffrey Bott. He a former rugby player and accomplished athlete from England and subsequently a scientist, business owner, and author. He's been through over a dozen knee surgeries, a raging house fire, divorce, and more. Not only has he bounced back from all of it, he's thrived and is here to share his story about never giving up.Books:Biological DeceptionUphill: An Inspirational Story of Suffering, Greed, Carnage, Immense Courage and Gut-determination

Linda Dezenski was born with Cerebral Palsy. She takes us on a rollercoaster ride through the ups and downs she experienced with a body that doesn't always cooperate and a society that often misunderstands, as well as how she's managed to triumph in the midst of it all.Book: Persistence: Living an Authentic Life with a Disability

This is Kathy Teyler Jarrett’s journey of taking care of a spouse with Lewy Body Dementia in hopes of helping others recognize the signs and get proper diagnosis and treatment.She shares the signs and symptoms, how her husband’s Lewy Body Dementia was finally diagnosed, how she and others treated and cared for him, and the mistakes and pitfalls they faced along the way.Definition: Lewy Body Dementia is an umbrella term for two similar and common subtypes of dementia: dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease dementia. Both are characterized by changes in thinking, movement, behavior, and mood.Book: You Are Not Alone: Dealing with Lewy Body DementiaNote: this episode originally aired on 7/12/25

Maureen Anne Meehan has written 23 books, including 19 in the Mary MacIntosh suspense thriller series. She's also climbed the legal ladder to become a judge and experienced a lot of tragedy in her life, including the murder of her assistant and the loss of her husband. Her subsequent dating stories are hilarious btw!Maureen Anne Meehan on AmazonNote: this episode originally aired on 6/7/25

After facing death more than a dozen times and enduring the deep scars of trauma, Miguel De La Rocha rose from the shadows with a calling—to become the guide he never had. Miguel's mission: to guide veterans, first responders, and trauma survivors battling PTS, invisible wounds, or thoughts of suicide—toward recovery, identity rebuilding, and emotional freedom.Website: yourfate.lifeBook: F.A.T.E.: My Future After Traumatic Events

John Simon is a brilliant neuroscientist, inventor, writer, and former pole-vaulter who had the right side of his face rebuilt after a freak accident.In addition to all of his accomplishments in the medical field and elsewhere, John wrote a fascinating sci-fi novel about a revolutionary device that forces a killer to experience their victim's terrifying final moments through the help of AI.Book: Virtual Justice

Navy vet Randy Tisch sold his financial business to buy a boat and sail the world. He fought 30-foot waves on the Pacific Ocean as well as some serious storms of life, including cancer.Book: Crossing the Wild Pacific: Captain's Log of the Yacht Argo

Chris Benyo ran 65 marathons, but it wasn't until his wife was dianosed with ALS that he ran his most meaningful ones!Book: All In: Living, not Dying with ALSNote: this episode originally aired on 5/31/25

"My story starts in absolute despair, but I went on to have a life many can only dream about."This is the story of Dale Jones, a determined maverick who invented his own way of juggling one-handed. From clown school to winning jobs over talented two-handed jugglers, and eventually even being hired by The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, this is an entertaining an inspirational story you won't want to miss!Book: One-Handed Juggler, A Memoir: The Wild and Somewhat Uplifting Life of Dale Jones

When moving to NYC to pursue an acting career, Kelly Cervantes never could have imagined what life had in store for her or how much she would fundamentally change along the way. Kelly speaks candidly about her emotional journey through the pain of unrealized dreams, navigating her husband’s Broadway spotlight, fighting for her child’s life, finding purpose after loss, and rebuilding her life and marriage.Website:kellycervantes.comBooks:Normal Broken: The Grief Companion for When It's Time to Heal but You're Not Sure You Want ToThe Luckiest: A Memoir of Love, Loss, Motherhood, and the Pursuit of Self

Vincent Tomeo is a poet and history teacher who's been all over the world. He has over 1000 published poems/essays. He even survived cancer and went blind for a year due to multiple sclerosis. He's humorous, cultured, and has won several awards for his writings. You'll enjoy hearing him talk about his experiences and what's important in life.Books:My Cemetery Friends: A Garden of Encounters at Mount Saint Mary in Queens, New YorkThe Usefulness of Hippopotamus: A Humorous Chapbook for Trying TimesDefinition: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). 

Meet Deborah Gardner. She set the Guinness World Record for swimming the unpredictable 20+ mile open water Catalina Island Channel at the age of 66 1/2, and she did it with only one arm working for part of the swim! She'll tell you what it took to overcome her fears, as well as rough swimming conditions, to accomplish the unthinkable. Deborah is also an extraordinary keynote speaker, hospitality guru, and master motivator.Website: iamdeborahg.com

Jim Agals has led an interesting life. He grew up poor, but becoming a paperboy at age 11 opened up a world of possibilities. He's also a military veteran who graduated from college at the ripe age of 75 and is taking care of his wife who has Parkinson's disease.Book: The Paperboy Chronicles

Linsey Willis' older sister Betsy was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1975 at age 21. This is the story of Betsy's life, illness, and destructive tendencies as shared by someone who saw it up close and personal. Through this interview, as well as her book, Linsey hopes to offer others the peace of mind and healing that come from understanding this devastating illness.Book: Be There: My Lived Experience with My Sister’s Bipolar DisorderDefinition: Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition characterized by extreme shifts in mood, energy, and behavior. These shifts can range from periods of elevated mood (mania or hypomania) to periods of depressed mood.

Linda Drattell has made it through a lot in her lifetime. She became deaf in her thirties, and she was caught in the middle of the Bastille Day terrorist attack in Nice, France in 2016. She's a poet, children's author, competitive horse trail rider, and an advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing. Her uplifting story is one of perseverance and overcoming your fear that you won't fit in.Website: lindadrattell.com

From a massive brain tumor to a fibromyalgia diagnosis, Linda Plunkett had every reason to give up hope. How was she able to persevere through the pain, sleepless nights, and doctors telling her they couldn't help her? Linda shares her inspirational story about how faith, perseverance, and a constant quest for answers has kept her going.Website:lindasplunkett.comBooks:Supernatural Rescue: From Broken to BeautifulLiving a Positive Life in a Negative World: My Uphill Journey

In March 2023, Bobby Dewbre was struck and killed by a drunk driver while crossing the highway after celebrating his 21st birthday. Ever since, his mother, Beth McBride, has been on a mission to turn heartbreak into change. She founded Montana Bar Fairies as a way to encourage responsible choices and to prevent other families from experiencing the same loss. She has also fought for stiffer penalties resulting from drink driving deaths.Website: Montana Bar Fairies

David Selley is an 87-year-old entrepreneur and author who never stops improving. He's on a mission to write 17 or 18 books this year, and he's here to share his wisdom and inspire others to break the chains that limit their creativity and potential for huge success in the business world and in family life. David Selley is also the founder and CEO of the International Entrepreneurs Association.Website:davidselley.netinternationalentrepreneursassociation.org

Imagine having a daughter fighting for her life in a coma. Then, just a few years later, your 4-year-old has a brain tumor. Sharon Wilson is a professional coach with 35 years of corporate leadership experience and 25 years as a step mom. Through professional coaching training as well as a variety of life trials, she has gained a lot of practical knowledge to pass along. Whether you're looking for help to energize a workplace team, create harmony in a blended family, or just living with purpose, this is the podcast for you.Website: coachsharonwilson.com