Shows
Stories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.How Special This Journey - Notes on Life So Far From Rick DomeierClick here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback Support the show
2026-02-0158 min
Book Cougars Podcast: Two Middle-Aged Women on the Hunt for a Good ReadEpisode 252 - Listener Top Tens of 2025 and New Year Reading IntentionsWelcome to Episode 252, where we share LISTENER TOP TEN READS of 2025! In past years, there hasn’t been much of a spread between the first and second place books on the list. But this year there is a 15-point spread between the first and second books! As usual, the first-place book was a novel, but the second-place book was nonfiction—a first ever for that. Usually, nonfiction doesn’t show up until well into the list’s mid-teens. Thanks to everyone who shared their top tens– you help grow our TBR lists! Reminder that we have a Top 10 shelf on our Booksh...
2026-01-271h 37
The Energy XchangeWhat "Boundary Culture" Gets WrongSend us a textIn this episode of The Energy Xchange, I’m unpacking why modern boundary culture, especially the hardline, “just say no” approach, misses the mark for deep feelers, empaths, and quiet leaders.While that advice can sound empowering in theory, it often feels unnatural, rigid, or even unsafe in practice. Especially if you’re someone who values connection, nuance, and emotional awareness.This episode dives into:Why most boundary advice quietly assumes you’re powerlessWhy boundaries feel risky when you’re wired to sense consequences...
2026-01-0714 minStories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.One Backpack, Maps and the Open Road - How Travel Built My Faith In HumanityClick here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback What would you learn if you crossed international borders with only a 26-liter backpack and a belief that most people are kind? We sit down with friend Dean Fromm, a Colorado based traveler who’s visited 109 countries, to unpack how light gear, slow plans, and open eyes can turn the world into a classroom. From Ecuador’s Amazon, where a landslide an innovative act of collective problem-solving, to nights in Beirut under rolling blackouts, Dean show...
2026-01-0658 minStories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.The Search for Ancestors - Anton and Alice Wolak From Galicia PolandClick here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback Support the show
2025-10-0752 minStories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.Walking from Mexico to Canada - A Perspective On What Matters Most in Life.Click here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback What happens when you strip away the complexities of modern life and spend five months walking 2,650 miles through some of America's most breathtaking landscapes? Mary and Jason Kosch did exactly that when they hiked the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mexican border to Canada, and their journey reveals profound insights about human capability, resilience, and the transformative power of simplicity.The young couple from Bend, Oregon shares how a simple spark of inspiration...
2025-05-3057 minBook Cougars Podcast: Two Middle-Aged Women on the Hunt for a Good ReadEpisode 232 - Author Spotlight with Eowyn IveyWe were thrilled to talk with author Eowyn Ivey about her new book, BLACK WOODS BLUE SKY. During our conversation, Eowyn shared her writing habits, including a description of her writing cottage, and tells us about her reading life. Topics ranged from motherhood on the page and in real life, her family’s literary life in Alaska, and Proust vs Joyce.
In our own reading lives, we both read and discuss “The North Mail” by Amelia B. Edwards from THE PENGUIN BOOK OF GHOST STORIES: from Elizabeth Gaskell to Ambrose Bierce. We gave this one four paws up. Or should it be...
2025-04-221h 30Stories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.Heaven on Earth: The Gift of Enduring Friendship with Skipper Gary AndersonClick here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback Death often reveals what truly matters in life. When our friend Gary Anderson passed unexpectedly last October, we found ourselves reflecting on the extraordinary power of enduring friendship and its ability to shape our lives in profound ways.This special episode brings together the voices of Gary's longtime friends to celebrate a life well-lived through stories, laughter, music, and shared memories. From high school connections to sailing adventures on Lake Superior that spanned...
2025-04-031h 02Stories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.Minnesota Superintendent of the Year: Dr. Laurie Putnam’s Vision for Hope, Truth, Unity and GrowthClick here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback Superintendent Laurie Putnam shares her inspiring vision for public education, emphasizing hope, truth, unity and growth in the St. Cloud Area Schools District. Through candid discussions on leadership challenges, the importance of diverse representation, and an innovative community school model, she highlights the imperative to rethink success metrics in education with a commitment to schools as a place for developing a stronger community. • Focus on hope as a cornerstone of leadership, • Importance of lis...
2025-01-0852 minStories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.Confronting Global Climate Change: Adaptive Strategies for Families with Dr. Lorin RobinsonClick here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback Explore the future of with Dr. Lorin Robinson, a distinguished journalist and author, as he unveils the real-world strategies needed to combat the relentless march of global warming. Dr. Robinson, who has spent years dissecting the complexities of climate change, provides a sobering look at the current state of our environment in his latest work, "Surviving the Warming: Strategies for Americans." This episode promises to arm listeners with valuable insights into the alarming rise of...
2024-11-1136 minStories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.Beyond Traditional Bonds: Exploring Authentic Male Friendship with Neil J MeyerClick here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback Finding genuine male friendships and expressing emotions can be a complex journey, especially when faced with societal expectations. Join us for a heart-to-heart conversation with our lifelong friend, Neil J Meyer, as we break down the intricate dynamics of male companionship at different life stages. Neil's candid reflections illuminate the stark differences between male and female support systems, and how his early family experiences shaped his quest for emotional connection. Together, we revisit pivotal moments...
2024-10-2655 minStories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.An Intimate Family Portrait of Mental Illness in an Era of Silence - Wisdom Shared from Meg KissingerClick here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback Meg Kissinger, a distinguished journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist, takes us on an intimate journey through her life and work as she shares stories from her memoir, "While You Were Out." Raised in a family shadowed by mental health and addiction issues, Meg unveils the silent struggles that shaped her perspective on mental illness. Her investigative work on America's mental health system is both a career of advocacy and a personal mission. Her passion is t...
2024-10-0647 minBook Cougars Podcast: Two Middle-Aged Women on the Hunt for a Good ReadEpisode 214 - Biblio Adventure ExtravaganzaWelcome to Episode 214!
This episode contains a lot of biblio adventuring. Emily is in Traverse City, Michigan, helping her daughter, getting to know her new granddaughter, and discovering the many excellent Little Free Libraries in the area. She also shopped at Horizon Books and has been spending time at the Traverse City Library.
Meanwhile, back in New England, Chris and “Colleen from Chicago” hit the road for a four-day Biblio Adventure Extravaganza that included Melville’s Arrowhead, Wharton’s The Mount, Emily Dickinson’s family homes, The Homestead and The Evergreens, Amherst Books, and The Yiddish Book Center. The former bookstore...
2024-08-131h 10Stories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.Wisdom from the Hearts and Minds of Three Siblings: Bill (99) Dee Dee (98) and Fritz Kruschel (96) - Sharing Optimism, Values and FriendshipClick here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback In this episode you will be transported to 1932, right in the middle of the Great Depression, as we sit down with the incredible Kruschel siblings: Bill, Dee Dee, and Fritz, ages 99, 98, and 96. We promise you’ll learn not only about their struggles but also the heartwarming moments that defined their childhood. From family trips to Big Marine Lake and singing during long car rides, you’ll get a vivid glimpse into their resilient and resourceful upbr...
2024-07-171h 20Book Cougars Podcast: Two Middle-Aged Women on the Hunt for a Good ReadEpisode 210 - Getting Cozy with Our Mystery Man, John ValeriWelcome to Episode 210, where we have the pleasure of welcoming back Our Mystery Man, John Valeri! For those of you who are new to the Book Cougars, John is a frequent guest. He’s a reader, professional reviewer, and interviewer extraordinaire (check out his BookTube channel, CENTRAL BOOKING). John joins us to not only recommend some hot new mystery/thrillers but also to share insights on the guiding principles of cozy mysteries, making this a conversation you won't want to miss!
This episode is packed with a diverse range of books. We share our thoughts on THE AWAKENING: THE DRAGON HE...
2024-06-181h 45Stories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.Celebrating 99 Years of Courage, Resilience, and Joy with guest, Bill KruschelClick here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback Join us as we share the remarkable life of Bill Kruschel, an extraordinary 99-year-old, whose journey from a World War II Navy medic to a beloved member of the White Bear Lake community is nothing short of inspiring. This episode paints a vivid portrait of Bill's early years in St. Paul, Minnesota, his experiences during the Great Depression, and his career ascent at 3M. Bill attributes his longevity and active lifestyle to his mother's influence...
2024-06-1458 minStories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.Providing Mental Health Care in Schools - It's Complicated! PART TWO with Dr. William DikelClick here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback This is the second episode featuring child psychiatrist, Dr. William Dikel. Dr. Dikel pulls back the curtain on the often overlooked role that education systems play in addressing the mental health needs of children and youth. Dr. Dikel helps unravel the complexities facing schools that are caught between scarce resources and the pressing need to collaborate with external agencies. We challenge the myth that mental health is solely a special education concern, urging parents and com...
2024-05-0129 minStories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.Providing Mental Health Care in Schools with Dr William Dikel - Part OneClick here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback Embark on an enlightening exploration of the complex world of children's mental health with us, as we sit down with child psychiatrist, Dr. William Dikel. As a vanguard in child psychiatry, Dr. Dikel offers a wealth of knowledge on how our societal systems can better support youth facing mental health challenges. Our conversation delves into the heart of the matter, dissecting the successes and trials faced by school districts in their pioneering efforts to integrate m...
2024-04-1841 minStories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.Engine Out - A Harrowing Journey on Lake SuperiorClick here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback When the gentle hum of an engine gives way to eerie silence, the vast expanse of Lake Superior transforms from a peaceful oasis into a formidable beast. This is the chilling setting that Mark and Julie Wolak bravely stepped into, and their fight against the capricious whims of nature takes center stage. Vivid storytelling whisks you away to the heart of a raging storm, where they faced not only the lake's infamous waves but also...
2024-02-1840 minStories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.Honoring Stories: Our Year of Connections and Music in 2023Click here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback Join us, your hosts Mark and Joe, as we look back on a year where Stories in Life shared tales of human spirit and determination. We reflect on connections made across 20 countries and bonds with over a thousand followers who've become part of our journey. We relive the moments of courage, goodwill, and determination that have echoed through our show, celebrating the power of storytelling.Picture yourself nestled by Lake Superior or walking ra...
2024-01-1428 minStories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.Are We Living in the Age of the Heart? A Dialogue with Mark LarsonClick here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback This episode unfurls a captivating tapestry where our friend, Dr. Mark Larson shares a theory of the emergence of the 'age of the heart,' a transformative shift in societal values where empathy and emotional intelligence reign supreme. Listen as we sketch the lineage of societal evolutions, from the bygone days of small family farms, the industrial clatter to our present digital world, setting the stage for a future where our hearts must lead the...
2023-12-211h 01Stories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.From Chicago Streets to Peruvian Peaks - A Story of Gratitude From Dan KuzlikClick here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback Ever wondered about the sheer transformative power of gratitude and giving? Join us on an inspiring journey as we share this incredible story of gratitude and meaningful community change. Hear several first-hand accounts from Dan Kuzlik, whose humble beginnings in Chicago led him to dedicate three decades of his life to supporting a small community in Chimbote, Peru. Laugh and learn with us as we navigate through humorous global travels and learning cultural di...
2023-12-0146 minStories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.More Middle School Chronicles with Educator Emily BoyleClick here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback Do you remember your favorite teacher? The one who not only taught you academic knowledge but also shaped you into a better individual? Our guest, Emily Boyle is an experienced middle school teacher who embodies these qualities and more. Her knack for building a meaningful relationship with students and parents alike is both heart-warming and inspiring. She gives us a peek into her classroom, sharing some laugh-out-loud anecdotes, particularly a humorous story involving a creative...
2023-11-0936 minStories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.Teaching, Transforming and Inspiring: With Educator Emily BoyleClick here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback Imagine being a kid again, sitting in a classroom, listening to your teacher passionately discuss how important it is to learn and to be your best person. Then imagine seeing that same teacher put her heart into making sure that you are seen, heard, respected and asked to be a responsible and capable person with others. That's the everyday reality for the students of Emily Boyle, a dedicated middle school teacher at a private school i...
2023-10-2525 minStories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.Mid-Season Update: An Inside Look into Our StoryTelling JourneyClick here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback As the hosts of Stories in Life, Mark Wolak and Joe Boyle take time to reflect on the journey so far. Stories In Life - On the Radio with Mark and Joe has reached over 525 downloads across 15 countries and 125 cities and towns at the halfway marker of this first season! We reflect on our original purpose and plan and assess how we are doing so far. We invite your suggestions for future topics and are e...
2023-09-2807 minStories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.From Farm to Front - A Young Soldier's Story of Courage at the Battle of the Bulge (Part Three of Three)Click here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback This is the third episode of a three-part story told in detail by Alphonse Wolak, a young soldier who enlisted in the Air Force and served as a side gunner in a B-24 Liberator in WW2. Alphonse Wolak was 18 when he enlisted and shares his raw and riveting tales from the frontlines of European Theater at age 81. You'll be on the edge of your seat as he recounts the fateful day his unit w...
2023-09-2833 minStories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.From the Farm to Front - A Young Soldier's Story of Courage at the Battle of the Bulge (Episode Two of Three)Click here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback Ever wondered what it was like to be a side gunner in World War II? Prepare to be transported back in time as we hear from Alphonse Wolak, a B-24 Liberator gunner, who lived through the harrowing experience of being shot down and captured by German soldiers. Guided by his first hand story, we navigate the chilling realities of war, unveiling the physical and psychological demands these brave men faced. His tale is not just...
2023-09-0928 minStories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.From the Farm to Front - A Young Soldier's Story of Courage at the Battle of the Bulge (Part One of Three)Click here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback You're about to embark on a memorable journey through time, as we sit down with my Uncle Alphonse Wolak to share his unforgettable experiences serving in the now famous Eighth Air Force during World War II. From the moment he enlisted at Fort Snelling at 18 years old, to flying harrowing missions over Germany and Belgium, Alphonse's stories paint a vivid picture of bravery, sacrifice, and loss. As a left side gunner on the B-24 Liberator...
2023-08-2831 minStories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.Stranded on Lake Superior: A Sailor's Tale of Teamwork and IngenuityClick here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback This week, we're on board with Gary W. Anderson, a sailor and friend, with a serious knack for adventure and an unforgettable story. We set our course to Lake Superior, the largest fresh water lake in the world, where Gary and his crew find themselves stranded on Cat Island, with nothing but their resourcefulness and a sense of camaraderie to navigate through the challenges. Prepare for a tale that's adventurous, frightening and entirely captivating.
2023-07-2933 min