Life's Learning Curve
by Paul Hardt
Storytelling: How we became us! We take a look backward & find ourselves negotiating our LIFE EXPERIENCES, discovering life's various tones -comedy, drama, and nostalgia. Our podcast offers imagery of a documentary recreation, but for audio. Life happens in a heartbeat. Let's learn, thrive and love from our experiences while we're here. Cheers!
Episodes
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Looking Back, I Was WRONG About a Few Things
Send us Fan Mail What happens when the work you’re proudest of also leaves you standing alone? In 2006, nearly a thousand educators were nominated—and I was named Educator of the Year. My family attended the banquet. People shook my hand. For one unforgettable evening, I allowed myself to believe...
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The Boy Who Became Mr. Hardt
Send us Fan Mail From late-night college memories and the drive away from DeKalb's cornfields to the terrifying first day standing in front of his own classroom as "Mr. Hardt," Paul shares the awkward, funny, and deeply human moments that every new adult experiences. You'll laugh through...
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The Florida Guitar
Send us Fan Mail Paul’s father kept calling to ask for his address… So he could send his “favorite sweatshirts.” But the clothes were never the point. As generations continue on, we experience how favorite sweatshirts morph into a Florida Guitar. This episode of Life’s Learning Curve is about…
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The Flight That Never Left
Send us Fan Mail What if the flight you think you missed… was never meant to leave without you? In this milestone Episode 100 of Life’s Learning Curve, Paul returns to a forgotten airport in 1970s Key West—where time stalls, flights are “scheduled”… and decisions quietly shape your life. A chance...
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Did We Really Make It Happen?
Send us Fan Mail DID WE MAKE IT HAPPEN? What if your teenage dreams could look you in the eye and ask the one question you’ve been avoiding? In this moving, funny, and nostalgic episode of Life’s Learning Curve, Paul Hardt travels from a 1975 high school gym to adulthood—through pep bands…
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One Little Dog
Send us Fan Mail What if the smallest heartbeat in your home ended up shaping the biggest chapters of your life? Meet Mia — a shy little Havanese puppy who chose Paul’s family one spring night in 2007… and quietly became the glue that held them together for nearly eighteen years. This episode is…
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My First Summer Job
Send us Fan Mail When you’re sixteen, the right summer job can feel like hitting the jackpot. For Paul, it was working on a school district’s grounds crew—sun on his back, cash in his pocket, and a cast of unforgettable coworkers: Shorty, Sarge, Birdman, and Mr. Excitement. It wasn’t just mowing...
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Mr. Feature Creep: Just One More Change
Send us Fan Mail Ever had a media video client ask for “just one more thing”? Welcome to the world of Feature Creep—where a simple three-minute video spirals into CGI mascots, helicopter shots, courtroom drama, and toddlers dictating color palettes. From a newsroom commercial gone wild in 1990…
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That Fish Had More Paperwork Than Our Boat
Send us Fan Mail Meet Ernest “Skip” Wilson—Florida Keys legend, part-time adventurer, full-time excuse machine. In this episode, Skip, Chug, and Ricky Two-Toes haul in a monster grouper… only to realize it’s tagged by marine scientists and comes with more paperwork than their boat. From shady…
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You're Someone's Barstool Now
Send us Fan Mail What happens when a man who's spent his whole life dodging expectations finally… sticks around? In this episode, we meet Ernest “Skip” Wilson—ex-adventurer, ex-romantic, and full-time Keys philosopher with a caffeine addiction and a rusted mailbox full of stories. From fishing...
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Callan Lee & The Legend of Grandaddy Pal
Send us Fan Mail Time doesn’t just pass—it dances. Meet Callan Lee, a spirited two-year-old boy from Austin, Texas, seen through the eyes of his grandfather—and Callan’s own future ten-year-old self. What unfolds is a playful and poignant ride through memory, imagination, and legacy. Told as if...
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Technicolor Teenager 1972
Send us Fan Mail It's 1972. Polyester clung. Adidas squeaked. And one 14-year-old kid believed that walking thirty miles might fix his whole personality. This isn’t just a story about a charity hike. It’s about awkward adolescence, Kool-Aid commercial dreams, abandoned comedy writers, and...
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Because of Mr. Benson: A Teacher's Farewell
Send us Fan Mail Today’s episode isn’t about a celebrity. It’s not about a bestselling author or a viral filmmaker. It’s about a guy who forgets where he parked, wears mismatched socks, and once left his coffee on the roof of his car. But behind the clumsy charm? He holds something powerful: the...
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Childhood County
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Life’s Learning Curve, we journey back to Childhood County—a place where laughter was law, imagination ruled, and every cloud sparked a new story. But what happens when the games start to feel smaller and the bridge to Adulthood looms ahead? Join us as we…
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Ghosts We Carry With Us
Send us Fan Mail A faked death, stolen insurance money, and a stormy night on a battered houseboat—this case had it all. But the strangest part? The voice guiding Paul wasn’t just his intuition… it was his late mentor. Was it Paul’s instincts, his sanity slipping, or something more? Buckle up for…
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The Paper Keyboard
Send us Fan Mail Ah, to be 18 again. Fresh out of high school, rocking flannel like it was your full-time job, and thinking you were the backbone of the next big thing in rock and blues. My band? Red Rock. Until one day, the unthinkable happened—my drummer dreams came crashing down with a single,...
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A Life of Shenanigans
Send us Fan Mail Are mischief and pranks the secret spice of life? Sometimes, yes! In this episode, Paul dives into the art shenanigans, sharing hilariously innocent (but oh-so-effective) childhood pranks, adventures and creative play. Think Jim Halpert-level hijinks with a nostalgic twist. Tune…
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The Hurricane and the Secrets
Send us Fan Mail In this high-stakes podcast episode, the sweltering August heat of Key Largo is nothing compared to the chaos unleashed by a looming Category 4 hurricane—and an even fiercer storm of grudges and past betrayals. Paul, a local boat repairman, finds himself navigating not just the...
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Boogie Man
Send us Fan Mail In this gripping episode of Life’s Learning Curve, join us as we delve into a spine-chilling chapter from my childhood—an unforgettable encounter with the supernatural that left an indelible mark on my young mind. Picture this: an idyllic summer at a secluded cottage in Lake...
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Life's Navigational Beacons
Send us Fan Mail Join Paul and Sharly as they recount their unexpected encounter with Brandon, a man whose presence altered the course of their holiday in Key West. Set against the backdrop of swaying palms and vibrant streets, their journey begins innocently enough with a quest for relaxation…
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Beyond the Comb Over
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of unexpected connections, transformative moments, and the power of perseverance in the face of adversity, Paul recalls his teenage years in 1972, marked by the untimely death of his band director and his pursuit of drumming dreams. Enter Mr. McCabe, an enigmatic...
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Coal Bootleggers: The Art of Being Clay
Send us Fan Mail Step into a time machine and journey back to 1948, where a gripping tale unfolds in Coal Township, PA. Meet eight-year-old Clay, whose story is a riveting testament to resilience and determination. As he and his family embark on a new chapter, you'll witness Clay's initiation…
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The Art of Being Clay -The Early Years
Send us Fan Mail Meet seven-year-old Clay Greager, whose unwavering determination to pursue his dreams leads him to brave the confines of a family coal mine in 1948. But that's just the beginning of his remarkable journey. Join us as we unravel the poignant stories shared by author Clay Greager...
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Criminals, Outcasts and Artists
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Life's Learning Curve "Criminals, Outcasts, and Artists," we follow the adventurous journey of Paul, who is called upon by his old friend Duke to rescue the failing Huckleberry Sunshine business in California, left in ruins by the C0-Vid crisis. Despite…
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Flimflam Poker Night
Send us Fan Mail When your 11, life still seems strange, adult behaviors are sometimes confusing and we are lucky to survive it all. In this episode, Paul is curious about his father’s semi annual poker night in the far back basement of his house. However, THIS TIME Paul is allowed to come sit…
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The Ripple Effect -First Grade
Send us Fan Mail In first grade, Paul's life is forever changed by a series of events. He is placed in a reading group, where he encounters a first-year teacher and is forced to sit next to Jimmy, a misfit who has trouble controlling his behavior. A mentor is brought in to help the class, and…
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The Great Key West Summer Solstice Cigar Hunt
Send us Fan Mail Can you keep the feeling of vacation after it’s over?? Paul’s friend Sam figured out how to do it. This episode finds Paul sharing a story about his friend Sam's epic adventure in tropical Key West. Sam, on a mission to find the perfect cigar for his buddy Paul, embarks on a...
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The Letter Left in the Desk Drawer
Send us Fan Mail Join us for a heartwarming episode of Life's Learning Curve. Prepare to be inspired as Paul reflects on his father's own struggles with hyperactivity and the loss of his father’s father at a young age. Through it all, Paul's dad found strength in other positive male role models…
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1968: An 11 Year Old in California
Send us Fan Mail As we reminisced about our carefree childhoods coming to a close, a nostalgic longing for innocence washed over us. The memories of a 1968 vacation to California evoked feelings of adventure, wonder, and warmth - from the magical Disneyland experience to the sun-kissed days spent...
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Life's Fish Cocktail Challenges
Send us Fan Mail New to the central American country of Costa Rica, Paul sat in a Chinese restaurant mulling over the foreign menu. Suddenly there it was…. A cold raw fish cocktail and a warm beer. Now, at that time in his life, Paul knew that he just DID NOT CARE for fish at all. He had tried it...
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The St. Maarten ScubaGuy Incident
Send us Fan Mail This episode tells the story of what happened one night, to Paul when he chose to relax a bit and sit by the moonlit sea on the tropical island of St. Maarten. While stargazing just off the Caribbean coast, Paul spots a large glowing object off the far sandbar and deep in the...
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Trust There's Water in the Pool
Send us Fan Mail What do mile markers and tollbooths have in common? If I told you the answer to this question was… ‘They are a contributing reoccurring part of YOU and your life’s journey’ Mile markers and tollbooths, etc. might alter your perspective on a few things. On this episode, The Story…
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Let's Be Copacetic!
Send us Fan Mail Did you ever have a teacher whose passion and excitement for learning drove you AND your peers to excel? In this episode Paul is in 8th Grade, and his new band teacher is young, fun, talented, interesting, fair and engaging with all of his students. Quelling immature student...
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Cigarette Cowboy
Send us Fan Mail This episode delves into the captivating story of Paul's Uncle Russ, who, as a young boy in the 1930s, became enamored with the rugged, untamed wilderness of the American West in the 1880s. Fueled by his love for the thrilling adventures depicted in comic books and B-movie...
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The Savannah Sling
Send us Fan Mail This episode sets us in Savannah Georgia with Paul’s ol’ college buddy, Dentist Tye Hagan. Let’s face it, as engaged and motivated as we all once were to begin our careers back in the day, most of us held tight to our innocence of youth and doing the right thing. Newbie dentist…
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Folksy CEO Philosophers
Send us Fan Mail Regional speak, or regional dialects are sometimes my favorite part of Paul’s business day. When he gets a client on the phone, he may ask him how everything is going (insert their state name). Paul often gets a 3 to 5 sentence primer in their regional language, metaphors or…
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A Respectful CLOSE-UP -Bob Tonge
Send us Fan Mail “You can always be better! You have to learn something every day, and if you don’t, …There’s no place to go.” This organic inspiration is innate for our guest Bob Tonge. A man with a career in broadcasting, video production, and writing and performing music. Bob Tonge’s drive to...
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Greatest Blessings Call Me Dad
Send us Fan Mail In a world that's always shifting, where time molds us like clay, this episode of Life’s Learning Curve is a tapestry. That intricate dance between growing up, embracing change, and stepping into the shoes of fatherhood. Join Paul on a journey as he revisits the chapters of his...
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One Last Middle Class Try
Send us Fan Mail While living a mundane existence in the suburbs. Thor Vance aspires to be a hot jazz guitarist . However, Thor is known as a triple-L loser. Although bullied and mocked as a child, he DID HAVE healthy and realistic future dreams. In this episode, procrastinator Thor seeks his...
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A Town with No Name
Send us Fan Mail The Adventure! Undertaking danger and unknown risks, Paul leaves the USA to participate in an internship in Costa Rica, This episode brings 1979-style adventures for Paul. Struggling with a language barrier, he and his college roommate Reed vacation for one week at a non existent...
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Summers at Apple Orchard
Send us Fan Mail Paul revisits the beginning of Summer with a look back at the people and events that made Summer go great! Phil, Sue, his mom & dad and RUDY! The swim instructor with a permanent tan! In the end, Paul learns a couple thing: He learns how to swim AND He learns that nothing TOO…
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A Face For Radio -John DiDonna
Send us Fan Mail Paul's guest is a stand up comic, a graphic artist, a puppeteer, a photographer, a voice artist, and a TV producer/performer, Paul welcomes TV’s John DiDonna. Life stories range from humorist innovator Ernie Kovacs to Chico Marx to a manic bus driver. John’s life is a shared...
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Inspirers and Tubthumpers -David Wormington
Send us Fan Mail Guest Dave Wormington has a super-talent. Since birth, Dave has inspired others to excel and do their best. Taking a step further, Dave provided an unexpected volume of encouragement, or as Paul calls it, tubthumping. Stories of bands, writing music, nuns, 70s hair for guys and…
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Not Yet Out of the Woods
Send us Fan Mail This episode takes Paul back to camp within two different time frames. Enthusiastic and engaged Rusty and Hilda June directed the field campus and helped create the magic of outdoor education when Paul’s class spent a week there as a twelve year old. At age 20 Paul returned as a...
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Caught Red-Handed
Send us Fan Mail From the moment 16 year old Paul entered high school that spring day, usually an invisible student, he had some celebrity, but did not know why. Someone named Joey Malone was looking for Paul. Joey had spread the word that he wanted payback, and that Paul had done something…
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Intent to Harm
Send us Fan Mail At age 18, it was the first summer Paul took a summer job that was different from the others. This job quickly became awkward, demoralizing, nightmarish and yet, somehow funny to him. It was as if Paul was participating in a Hitchcock film with a guy named Anthony. Paul’s sense…
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Shortest Line
Send us Fan Mail WHAT A RIDE?!?!? How did you choose your career? Did you choose it? Did it choose you, or was it fate? As we enter Season Four of Life’s Learning Curve Paul finally shares one of the MOST embarrassing stories of his life: Just HOW he chose his career field. Paul also explains…
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Good Ol' 39
Send us Fan Mail Ed not only delivered children from school to their homes daily on good ol’ bus 39, he also delivered kindness, patience and friendship. People just like Ed came into Paul’s live on occasion. For a brief time, Ed was a living legend to Paul, but do legends truly live on forever?…
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Saint Martin BUNCO
Send us Fan Mail It wasn’t the soft breeze and tropical sunny warmth that hooked Paul on St. Martin, it was the adventure. That is, until that adventure went off the rails. Break ins, theft, corruption, and organized crime, and bunco schemes all existed in the dank underbelly of the tropical...
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The Curve Ball
Send us Fan Mail Life threw Bob a curve ball, misleading him at a young age. You can’t control the curve balls life throws at you. so you have to learn how to change or adapt, sometimes quickly so that life’s curve balls don’t take you too far down the wrong path. Bob always knew the man he would...
About this show
Storytelling: How we became us! We take a look backward & find ourselves negotiating our LIFE EXPERIENCES, discovering life's various tones -comedy, drama, and nostalgia. Our podcast offers imagery of a documentary recreation, but for audio. Life happens in a heartbeat. Let's learn, thrive and love from our experiences while we're here. Cheers!
Hosted by
Paul Hardt