Legacy Lives On: The Power of Emily Perez and John Martin III
GenX Journeys
A Special Power Surge Episode In this powerful and heartfelt episode of GenX Journeys, Paul Stroessner honors two remarkable American heroes—Captain John Thomas Martin III and Second Lieutenant Emily Jazmin Tatum Perez—whose legacies deserve to be remembered, not erased. Captain Martin was a brilliant scholar, leader, and trailblazing West Point graduate who also earned a master’s from Harvard before serving in Vietnam. Lieutenant Perez was a fearless medical officer, record-breaking West Point cadet, and decorated track athlete who led from the front—literally—on her final mission...
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Throwback Thursday: Whitney Houston March Madness Tournament
GenX Journeys
Originally released on May 7, 2021, this episode was an absolute rollercoaster! Between scheduling struggles, technical mishaps, and some hilarious behind-the-scenes chaos, this one took a little extra effort to bring to life. But in the end, it turned out to be an absolute blast! 🎤 In this episode, we discuss: ✅ The Whitney Houston March Madness Tournament and its wild journey ✅ Instant tournament results—since someone (ahem, me) forgot to hit record the first time we did this 🤦 ✅ Fun discussions on Whitney’s music videos, album covers, and the magic of liner notes ✅ A...
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From Mixtapes to Spotify: How Nostalgia Can Be a Superpower
GenX Journeys
Why does hearing just a few seconds of a song from the ‘80s or ‘90s instantly transport you back in time? Whether it’s your childhood bedroom, cruising with friends, or staying up way too late watching Headbangers Ball, music isn’t just something we listen to—it’s wired into our memories. In this episode, we dive deep into the power of music nostalgia and how we can use it to fuel motivation, resilience, and personal growth. In This Episode, We Cover: ✅ Why music nostalgia is so powerful (hint: science backs it up!) ✅ How the shift from mixtapes to Spotify changed our...
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Power Surge: The Flowers That Brought Her Back - A Story of Love & Resilience
GenX Journeys
Some acts of love are so profound that they stand the test of time. This is the story of Mr. Kuroki, a devoted husband in Japan who spent two years planting thousands of Shibazakura flowers—moss phlox—for his wife after she lost her sight due to diabetes. Struggling with depression, she withdrew from the world. But Mr. Kuroki had a plan. He created a breathtaking sea of pink blossoms, their sweet fragrance filling the air, hoping it would bring her outside again. And it worked. Not only did the flowers help his wife step back into the world, but they also became a symbol of love and...
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Throwback Thursday: Madonna March Madness
GenX Journeys
March Madness is back, and this time, we’re putting the spotlight on the Queen of Pop herself: Madonna! 👑🎤 Back in 2020, while the world was on pause, Return to the '80s March Madness kept the spirit alive by diving into a head-to-head battle of Madonna’s biggest hits. And to make things even more fun, I was joined by my very good friend Lizzie Newton, an ‘elder Millennial’ and massive Madonna fan, who brought a fresh and exciting perspective to the tournament. Not only did we break down each matchup, but we also recorded this one in person—turning it into a full-on listening...
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GenX Journeys: Real-Life Lessons from St. Elmo’s Fire
GenX Journeys
In this episode of GenX Journeys, we’re diving into one of the most iconic Brat Pack films of the ‘80s—St. Elmo’s Fire! This classic film perfectly captures the chaos, confusion, and camaraderie of life after college, and believe it or not, there are some powerful life lessons tucked inside all the drama. From shifting friendships to messy love, from defining success to stepping into the unknown, this movie still resonates decades later. And just like the characters in St. Elmo’s Fire, we’re all on our own journeys—figuring it out as we go. In This Episode, We’ll Cover: ✔️...
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Power Surge: A.J. Brown Honors Young Hero Andre ‘Tre’ Howard
GenX Journeys
In this week’s Power Surge, we share the incredible story of Andre “Tre” Howard III, a 10-year-old boy who showed unbelievable bravery in the face of tragedy. After a devastating plane crash, Tre instinctively shielded his younger sister, suffering a severe head injury but ultimately saving her life. When Tre woke up after surgery, his first concern? Whether he had missed the Super Bowl. That’s the kind of die-hard Eagles fan spirit that caught the attention of A.J. Brown, who promised to visit Tre after the big game—and he kept his word. Brown’s surprise hospital visit, complete...
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Throwback Thursday: Prince March Madness
GenX Journeys
Hey there, ‘80s fans! Welcome back to Throwback Thursday – Return to the '80s edition! It’s that time of year again—March Madness! But we’re not talking about basketball here. Oh no, we’re diving into our very own Return to the '80s March Madness music tournament! 🎶🏆 Now, if you’ve been with me for a while, you might remember that this all started back in the blog days when we kicked things off with Hall & Oates. It was such a blast that I decided to keep the tradition alive, and in 2019, we brought the tournament to the podcast—starting with none other than Prince....
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GenX Book Club: Stephen King’s Skeleton Crew – The Mist & The Monkey
GenX Journeys
Hosts: Paul Stroessner, Suzanne Mattaboni, Del Roehling 📚 In this episode of GenX Book Club, we dive into Stephen King’s chilling collection, Skeleton Crew! Suzanne, Del, and I take a deep look at two standout stories: The Mist and The Monkey. From the eerie atmosphere of a small-town supermarket trapped in a supernatural fog to a haunted toy monkey with a deadly agenda, we explore what makes these stories so unforgettable. 🎬 But that’s not all! We also discuss the movie adaptations—how they compare to the original stories, what worked, what didn’t, and how King’s storytelling...
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Power Surge: The Power of Reinvention – Gene Hackman’s Legacy
GenX Journeys
In this episode of Power Surge, we’re honoring the late Gene Hackman, a true legend who proved that reinvention is possible at any stage of life. Hackman wasn’t a Hollywood prodigy—he was told he would never make it. But instead of accepting defeat, he pushed forward, breaking into acting in his 30s and becoming one of the most respected actors of all time. Then, at age 74, he did something remarkable—he walked away from Hollywood on his own terms. No farewell tour, no clinging to past glory—just a smooth transition into his next passion: writing. His journey is proof that...
info_outlineWelcome back to another episode of Inspiring Journeys! Today, I’m thrilled to have the truly remarkable Mitzi Campbell join me.
Mitzi is a teacher, speaker, writer, and the host of the inspiring podcast, Blessons, where she invites guests to share their collected experiences, lessons, and blessings.
In addition to her podcast, Mitzi, along with Renee Vee, is co-hosting the Rich Thinking 2024 conference - Unlocking the Wealth of Wisdom. It will be held in Philadelphia, PA on September 6.
We discuss the importance of coming into alignment with yourself to live your life's purpose. All you have to do is take that first step, and you will see amazing things unfold.
We also discuss the upcoming Rich Thinking Conference and the perks of networking and connecting.
This episode is dedicated to 22 Too Many Veteran:
Brandy Hanla
August 1, 1985 – June 29, 2023
It’s so hard to sum up a person’s life into a few paragraphs – especially someone like Brandy.
Brandy Alexandra Hanla (Chierici)
She was born August 1st, 1985 in San Francisco, CA. Growing up surrounded by so much Family – Her mother, Brandy and Father, Peter. Siblings, Joey, Griffin, and Scarlet. Two uncles and an aunt and all the cousins she loved so much.
She was a proud Army veteran. She was the type of person that always wanted to help others and served as a medic. She deployed to help others in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
She continued in service to others and in the medical field as a phlebotomist. She was loved by her patients for the children. She was great with them.
She had so many hobbies and poured her heart into every one of them. Photography, sewing, jewelry making, and her final Love – Riding her motorcycle. As many know, she also loved glitter, bedazzling things and people and everything sparkly in general.
She passed June 29th, 2023. She is survived by the family above, her husband, Tim, and two beautiful daughters, Marie and Madison. They were her M&Ms.
A memorial service was held on July 9, 2023 in Massillon, Ohio.
“You were so loved by everyone you came into contact with. You lit up every room you walked into or, more like, busted into. You never did anything timidly – you were a ball of energy at all times. The stories I have heard the last couple days of people’s first encounters with you can be summed up with “And then there was Brandy.” You were a special force of Nature that no one else compares to. You will be missed by everyone that met you even for a little bit; you were that special of a person. There really aren’t words for the impact you had on all of us.”
Brandy was laid to rest in California.
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Mitzi can be found at:
https://www.mitzicampbell.com/
Instagram - @mitzianncampbell
You can also listen and subscribe to Blessons podcast (https://www.blessonspodcast.com/) - YouTube | Spotify | Apple
There are still openings for the Rich Thinking 2024 Conference - Unlocking the Wealth of Wisdom.
Go to https://www.richthinking.org/ to register or get more info.
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You can find Paul - The Rhode Runner in the following places:
Twitter: @TheRhodeRunner
Instagram: @TheRhodeRunner
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Instagram: @InspiringJourneysPod
You can also download and subscribe to the Inspiring Journeys Podcast at: