Life Stories Podcast with Shara Goswick: Real People. Inspiring Stories. Making a Difference.

What happens when a baseball team is built from scratch, but the greatest thing it creates has nothing to do with baseball?Dallas Martz moved to Alton, Illinois, in 2020 to become the first general manager of the Alton River Dragons, a collegiate summer baseball team. Arriving during COVID with no established team, staff, or community connections, he quickly discovered that building a successful organization takes more than players and a ballpark. It takes people willing to come together, build relationships, and believe in something bigger.Dallas shares how local business owners, host families, coaches, and players helped turn a new baseball team into a community. He also talks about an unforgettable championship moment, unexpectedly stepping into the role of field manager, and the lessons he learned about leadership, trust, and knowing when to rely on others.His experiences inspired his book, It Was Never Just Baseball: A Story of People, Purpose, and a Lasting Legacy. It's a reminder that meaningful things are rarely built alone and that the relationships we create can last long after the season ends.To find out more about Dallas and his book, visit https://dallasmartzbooks.com/#podcast #podmatch #lifestoriespodcast #baseball #books #booktok #community #people #purpose #legacy Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/lifestoriespodcast

What if feeding your children didn't have to be a source of stress, guilt, or frustration? In this episode, Dr. Liz Daniels, a board-certified pediatrician and registered dietitian, shares how parents can build healthier relationships with food while taking the pressure off themselves. We talk about picky eating, food preferences, sensory challenges, getting kids involved in the kitchen, and making small changes that add up over time. Liz also shares practical ideas for helping children explore new foods and explains why connection at the table matters more than getting every meal right.To connect with Liz, visit https://www.newstorynutrition.com/#lifestoriespodcast #podcast #podmatch #nutrition #food #pickyeater #health Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/lifestoriespodcast

In this episode, Scott Fehrenbacher, CEO of Worship Road Radio, shares how his career in Christian media, higher education, and ministry has shaped his passion for reaching people through music. From his early work at Crosswalk.com to helping expand online education at Grand Canyon University, Scott has spent his career finding new ways to share the message of faith.Scott discusses the power of Christian music to bring people closer to God, the importance of supporting emerging artists, and why Christian media needs to move beyond traditional thinking. He also shares why we shouldn't let comfort or complacency keep us from following God's calling and making a greater impact.Find out more about Worship Road Radio at https://www.worshiproad.com/ and https://www.goodbyeordinary.ca/bio#podcast #podcasting #lifestoriespodcast #canada #christianmusic #radio #statusquo #music #podmatch #faith Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/lifestoriespodcast

In this episode, Lindsay Knerl shares her 22-year journey as a homeschooling mom, working professional, author, and entrepreneur. She explains how her family found a homeschooling approach that worked for them, even while raising children, building careers, and navigating life's unexpected challenges.Lindsay also addresses common homeschooling concerns, including cost, socialization, curriculum, and teaching subjects you may not feel equipped to teach. She shares practical advice for parents considering homeschooling and explains why allowing children to discover their interests, develop life skills, and learn through everyday experiences can be just as valuable as traditional academics.To learn more about Linsey and her work, visit https://www.linseyknerl.com/To order Homeschool Hacks, visit https://a.co/d/01kUTI7l#books #homeschooling #homeschool #parenting #lifestoriespodcast #podcast #peoplehelpingpeople #podmatch #entrepreneur Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/lifestoriespodcast

In this episode of Life Stories, I sit down with Jody Hudson, author of My Promise to Alex and founder of the Alex Hudson Lyme Foundation. Jody shares the heartbreaking journey of her daughter, Alex, who spent ten years searching for answers to a mysterious illness before finally being diagnosed with Lyme disease. Despite countless doctor visits, incorrect diagnoses, and debilitating pain, Alex held on to her faith and continued to care for others. After losing Alex in 2018, Jody felt called to carry on her daughter's mission by helping other families navigate Lyme disease and supporting research and patient care.Jody also opens up about her own journey through foster care, adoption, divorce, financial hardship, and the challenges of raising a child with a chronic illness. She shares how her faith helped her keep moving forward, how she wrote and self-published her award-winning memoir, and why she believes it's possible to find joy again after losing a child. This is an honest conversation about faith, resilience, grief, and the importance of extending kindness and grace to others, because we never truly know what someone else is going through.To connect with Jody, visit https://www.alexhudsonlymefoundation.org/#podcast #podmatch #lifestoriespodcast #peoplehelpingpeople #books #lymedisease #chronicillness #faith #nonprofit Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/lifestoriespodcast

In this episode of Life Stories, I talk with Ilene Marcus, author, speaker, leadership coach, and inventor, about managing annoying people, understanding our own reactions, and finding ways to handle life’s challenges with kindness and humor. Ilene shares lessons from her years in executive leadership, her experiences with cancer and an unexpected career setback, and how those challenges shaped her perspective on resilience. We also talk about how she turned a frustrating cooking problem into her invention, the iLean-Pan, and how aspiring entrepreneurs can take the first steps toward bringing their ideas to life.We discuss recognizing our patterns, responding instead of reacting, learning to laugh at ourselves, and finding the courage to try something different. Ilene shares practical advice for dealing with difficult people, getting out of our own way, and taking action instead of putting things off.To connect with Ilene, visit ilenemarcus.com.To find out about Tech Stars, visit https://www.techstars.com/To purchase an ilean-pan, visit https://ilenemarcus.com/about/the-ilean-pan/#podcast #podmatch #podcasting #lifestoriespodcast #entrepreneur #inventions #techstars #resilience #cooking #innovation Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/lifestoriespodcast

In this episode, Ashley Hicks shares the heart behind her book, Sleeping Beauty: The Why and How to Live a Life of Sexual Purity. Drawing on more than 20 years of working with teenage girls, she explains why sexual purity goes beyond rules and abstinence. It’s about understanding our identity in Christ, protecting our hearts, and making thoughtful choices in relationships.We also discuss setting boundaries, choosing supportive friendships, and having ongoing, honest conversations with our children about dating and sexual purity. Ashley offers encouragement for parents and young women, reminding us that even when we have regrets about the past, God offers forgiveness, grace, and the opportunity to begin again.To connect with Ashley, visit https://www.pincministries.com/You can order her book here: https://a.co/d/069s7Urb#podcast #lifestoriespodcast #purity #parenting #conversations #boundaries #dating #forgiveness #grace #relationship Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/lifestoriespodcast

Life Stories is celebrating four years! In this special anniversary episode, I look back on another year of conversations, connections, and incredible people who are making a difference in the world.I share some of my favorite highlights, including interviewing 94 people, reconnecting with someone who helped build my confidence, meeting fellow podcasters in person, and stepping outside my comfort zone by participating in an online summit. I also talk about working toward my goal of interviewing someone from all 50 states, reading books written by my guests, trying new ways to connect with my audience, and an unexpected opportunity to enter a podcasting contest.As I reflect on how much I've grown over the past four years, I'm reminded of why I started this podcast and how much I still love connecting with people and sharing their stories. Thank you for being part of this journey! If you've listened to Life Stories, I'd love for you to leave a review, share this episode with someone who might enjoy it, or reach out and tell me what you enjoy most about the podcast. Your support means more than you know and helps me continue sharing stories of people making a difference. Here's to another year of Life Stories!Links mentioned in this episode:Rick and Clancy Denton: https://www.theloudquiet.comApril Garcia: https://www.aprildaygarcia.com/Nika Maples: https://nikamaples.com/My interview with Nika: https://youtu.be/PRkJOgaeH4IPodmatch.comAccess Speakers: https://accessspeakers.biz/Candy Messer: https://www.youtube.com/@BizTipsWithCandyYou can vote for me as Top Host here: https://tophost.org/2026/shara-goswick#podcast #podcasting #sharagoswick #lifestoriespodcast #books #booktok #podcastanniversary

What does it really take to build a strong blended family when everyone comes into the relationship with their own history, traditions, parenting styles, and challenges? Amy shares the honest story of blending her family with her husband Chris, including the trial and error of bringing their children together, learning how to parent as a team, and creating a home where every child felt like they belonged.Amy also opens up about some of the hardest seasons her family faced, including multiple battles with cancer, grief, and the challenges that came with parenting through difficult circumstances. She shares why being transparent with children, giving yourself grace, surrounding yourself with people who have walked the road before you, and maintaining a healthy co-parenting relationship can make such a difference. Most of all, Amy offers encouragement to never give up on your family and to keep the door open, even when relationships become difficult.To connect with Amy, visit https://shorturl.at/0xW6K#lifestoriespodcast #peoplehelpingpeople #podmatch #marriage #blendedfamily #parenting #grace #encouragement #podcast #traditional Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/lifestoriespodcast

What do you need to know before you suddenly find yourself caring for an aging parent? Nicole Hilgenkamp, founder of Your Parents Keeper, shares practical advice for preparing before a crisis happens. We talk about the importance of getting important documents in order, understanding the different stages of caregiving, preventing falls, and building a caregiving team.Nicole also shares some of the regrets she has from caring for her own mother, including things she wishes she had known about dementia, home safety, and available resources. She explains the differences between independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing, along with a few things families should know about Medicare. To find out more about this incredible program, visit https://yourparentskeeper.com/Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/lifestoriespodcast