Stories that Touch your Heart

Everyone has a story to tell, a challenge they’ve overcome or difficult situation they’ve made it through. These stories have a way of connecting us all, and perhaps teaching us life lessons as well. This podcast will share heartwarming stories from all kinds of people; its purpose is to help you on this journey called life and to touch your heart.

Surviving Cancer, Part 2 11/29/2017

Surviving Cancer, Part 2 n the United States, one in every four deaths is due to cancer, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute. /episode/index/show/storiesthattouchyourheart/id/5989536

Surviving Cancer, Part 1 11/21/2017

Surviving Cancer, Part 1 This year, it’s estimated that cancer will kill more than 600,000 Americans. That translates to about 1,650 people dying per day in 2017, according to the American Cancer Society. Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the U.S. /episode/index/show/storiesthattouchyourheart/id/5961123

Recovering Addict, Part 2 11/14/2017

Recovering Addict, Part 2 Today’s episode features the second part of Lee Drewa’s story. The recovering addict shares how he got clean in treatment and has stayed clean for 12 years. Only a small percentage of those who are addicted receive treatment, and the number of Americans who die from drug overdoses continues to rise. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 64,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2016 from illicit drugs and prescription opioids (like OxyContin and Vicodin). /episode/index/show/storiesthattouchyourheart/id/5939677

Recovering Addict, Part 1 11/07/2017

Recovering Addict, Part 1 Over 20 million Americans struggle with substance abuse addictions, according to “Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs and Health.” So many people have been affected by addiction, and family members often wonder why their loved one can’t stop using. On today’s episode of Stories that Touch your Heart, you’ll hear from 54-year-old recovering addict Lee Drewa. His addiction began in a common way, drinking as a teenager. /episode/index/show/storiesthattouchyourheart/id/5918317

From Homeless to Hopeful 10/31/2017

From Homeless to Hopeful In Wisconsin, it’s estimated that 5,685 people are homeless. In the city of Milwaukee, there are several shelters offering a safe haven from sleeping on the streets. The Milwaukee Rescue Mission is one of them. /episode/index/show/storiesthattouchyourheart/id/5893579

Called to take a pay cut 10/24/2017

Called to take a pay cut Most people couldn’t imagine voluntarily taking a large pay cut, and going from a position of prestige to one without. But that's what Glenn Rohde did 19 years ago. He was a chef preparing high end meals for the rich and chose to leave and serve free food to the poor. /episode/index/show/storiesthattouchyourheart/id/5870352

Blindness not slowing him down 10/17/2017

Blindness not slowing him down Meet a Milwaukee teenager who's 100% blind, but doesn't let his visual disability stop him from achieving his goals. He's a member of the National Honor Society, on his high school's wrestling team and volunteers to help others who are blind. His can-do attitude is inspirational. /episode/index/show/storiesthattouchyourheart/id/5849426

How I became a Professor, Young Kim's story 10/10/2017

How I became a Professor, Young Kim's story Have you ever wondered why someone would want to become a professor, or how they became so interested in a particular subject that they decided to make it their life’s work? /episode/index/show/storiesthattouchyourheart/id/5824071

Breakfast with the Homeless and Working Poor 10/03/2017

Breakfast with the Homeless and Working Poor Many of us have an image of homeless people in our minds. It could be the man with a cardboard sign asking for money by a freeway ramp or someone sleeping in an alley in the middle of the day. You won’t usualy hear people talking about a homeless person by name, or mentioning what a great conversation they had with a homeless man or woman that morning. Today’s episode of Stories that Touch your Heart offers a different perspective from two women who eat free Saturday breakfasts with the homeless and working poor in the basement of a church on Milwaukee’s south side. Sandra Mandell, 44, and Patricia, 90, (a widow who was not comfortable sharing her last name) linger for a while at Ebenezer Stone Ministries, chatting with the regulars, getting to know people and even developing friendships with some individuals. They enjoy the conversations and sense of community that develops over the breakfast table. /episode/index/show/storiesthattouchyourheart/id/5801522

Feeding the Hungry, Receiving from Ebenezer 09/26/2017

Feeding the Hungry, Receiving from Ebenezer Those who are struggling to buy food and pay their utilities often take advantage of several meal sites and food pantries throughout Milwaukee. Ebenezer Stone Ministries is one location that offers free meals, as well as an emergency food pantry. On a Saturday morning visit, I spoke to one man enjoying a warm meal who shared his story with me. McKinley Cullins has had some difficulties in his life, but he isn’t bitter or resentful for the circumstances. In fact, he calls himself blessed. /episode/index/show/storiesthattouchyourheart/id/5769429

Feeding the Hungry, Serving at Ebenezer 09/19/2017

Feeding the Hungry, Serving at Ebenezer For many people, it’s hard to imagine not having enough food on the table to feed your family. In Milwaukee, there are many different organizations that help with food, clothing and other assistance. For the next couple of episodes of Stories that Touch your Heart, I’ll be focusing on one of those groups: Ebenezer Stone Ministries, a non-profit organization that provides support and hope for people in need on Milwaukee’s south side, and empowers individual’s to be financially independent. /episode/index/show/storiesthattouchyourheart/id/5752159

Overcoming Anxiety and Depression, Suzanne's Story 09/12/2017

Overcoming Anxiety and Depression, Suzanne's Story Suzanne Meunier knows the devastation anxiety and depression can cause and the feelings of worthlessness a person can have. She’s a clinical psychologist who battled anxiety and depression for years. /episode/index/show/storiesthattouchyourheart/id/5729069

Anxiety and Panic Attacks, Gena's Story 09/05/2017

Anxiety and Panic Attacks, Gena's Story Most of us have felt anxious or nervous at times in our lives, but imagine being in such a state of panic that you start involuntarily gagging in public. That’s the state Gena Haskett found herself in when she was in her early 30’s. This set her on a journey to find out more about her anxiety and panic attacks, and eventually to share what she discovered with others. Haskett uses her skills as a library technician and archivist to share information on her Anxiety Road Podcast and blog. /episode/index/show/storiesthattouchyourheart/id/5709477

Tapping into your Passions to Press Through Difficulties 08/29/2017

Tapping into your Passions to Press Through Difficulties It's the start of a new semester at Marquette University. It begins with so much hope, but sometimes that's not how it ends. I've seen students with great potential not stick it through to the end. Along the journey, they're stretched too much outside their comfort zone, face challenges they hadn't anticipated or get so far behind, they're not certain how they can make it through. We all can feel that way at times, it's life, but we can't stay there. Today's episode of Stories that Touch your Heart offers some hope when you're in that situation and it comes from two college students, Claire Kopperud and Nick Ormsby. They each tapped into their passions to tell audio stories of interesting people in Milwaukee, which is something neither student had done before. Claire's love of photography and Nick's passion for soccer gave each of them additional strength to press through the difficulties, complete the assignment, and do it well, with finals and other projects looming in the background. /episode/index/show/storiesthattouchyourheart/id/5687247

A College Student's Cry for Help 08/21/2017

A College Student's Cry for Help On this episode of Stories that Touch your Heart, I share a personal story of one day I threw my scheduled plan for the day aside, and spent more than seven hours with a college student in need. It was an adventure, and I’ve never experienced another day like it, but it makes me wonder how we all could impact our communities if we’d take just a few minutes out of our day to help a hurting person who crosses our path. /episode/index/show/storiesthattouchyourheart/id/5657858

Affected by Blindness 08/14/2017

Affected by Blindness In this episode of Stories that Touch your Heart, hear from two people whose lives have been affected by blindness and visual impairment. Kris Drollinger and Harold Mester had different experiences growing up, but how they view those challenges and use them in their lives now can inspire us to do the same. /episode/index/show/storiesthattouchyourheart/id/5635914

Staying Active in Retirement 08/07/2017

Staying Active in Retirement You're never too old to help others or to learn something new. Lenore Tesch and Kathy Herbst demonstrate that by bringing books to life for individuals who are blind and visually impaired. The women volunteer at ABLE, Audio & Braille Literacy Enhancement, a non-profit organization in Milwaukee where they share their love of reading and learning. /episode/index/show/storiesthattouchyourheart/id/5607985

When Life Throws a Devastating Curveball 07/31/2017

When Life Throws a Devastating Curveball Mark Zoromski discusses his career as a journalism instructor and shares what he's learned from a life changing tragedy that struck his family in November of 2007. /episode/index/show/storiesthattouchyourheart/id/5562675

How I became a Filmmaker 07/20/2017

How I became a Filmmaker Many people try to follow their passion, but life circumstances derail their dreams. Filmmaker Kris Holodak went in several career directions, in her 20's and early 30's, before she knew what to do with her passion. /episode/index/show/storiesthattouchyourheart/id/5554850

Stories that Touch your Heart

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