Stories in Life. On the Radio with Mark and Joe.

Mark Wolak and Joe Boyle
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Personal Journals
  • Bimonthly Series

Mark and Joe interview people with stories that affirm your belief in the goodwill, courage, determination, commitment and vision of everyday people. Our primary goal is that, through another person's story, you will find meaningful connection no matter your place in life. We intend that the stories we select will be inspiring and maybe help you laugh, cry, think or change your mind about something important in your life.

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  1. Episode 29

    One Backpack, Maps and the Open Road - How Travel Built My Faith In Humanity

    Click 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 shows how generosity often lives where our news cycles don’t look. We dig into practicals—e-visas, passports, research routines, and why maps reveal more than roads. Dean chooses regions and builds trips around terrain, history, and the people he meets along the way. He makes the case for the Middle East and Asia as welcoming, life-affirming places, sharing vivid stories from Lebanon, Armenia, and an unforgettable solo entry into Gaza in the mid-90s that led to two days of hospitality from people with very little to spare. It’s not a blind faith; it’s a risk-aware posture shaped by real mishaps like a fall near Lake Baikal that turned into a lesson on resilience, recovery, and listening to your limits. If you’ve ever wondered how to travel with intention, Dean’s playbook is simple and demanding: pack less, stay longer, talk to strangers, and let maps guide your understanding of why cities exist where they do. Let local food, markets, and music become your syllabus. Say yes when your gut says yes, and keep your boundaries when it doesn’t. You’ll come home with fewer certainties and a deeper, steadier confidence in people—and in your own ability to navigate the unknown. Enjoy the conversation, then share it with a friend who needs a nudge to book that first trip. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: where did a stranger’s kindness change your route? Support the show

  2. Episode 30

    How Special This Journey - Notes on Life So Far From Rick Domeier

    Click here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback Support the show

  3. Episode 31

    A Diver’s Field Guide To Visiting Lake Superior Ship Wrecks

    Click here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback Lake Superior is not just cold, it’s demanding. The weather can turn fast, the waves hit differently than the ocean, and a shipwreck that felt “familiar” a decade ago may have collapsed into something sharp, dark, and dangerous today. We sit down with Stephen B. Daniel, an accomplished diver, author, illustrator, photographer, and maritime expert who has logged 530+ dives and brought countless wrecks to the surface through detailed underwater sketches and diver-friendly maps.  We get practical about Lake Superior scuba diving safety: how Stephen plans a wreck dive, why dry suit layering matters, what good buoyancy control protects, and how depth changes everything from bottom time to decompression risk. He shares stories from standout dives like the SS America and describes what makes a wreck beautiful and what makes it a trap when storms shift structure and visibility drops.  Then we zoom out to shipwreck preservation and Great Lakes maritime history. Stephen explains the difference between documented and undocumented wrecks, why laws like the Abandoned Shipwreck Act exist, and why “take pictures, leave bubbles” is more than a slogan. We also explore underwater photogrammetry and 3D shipwreck models that let non-divers experience these sites, track how wrecks change over time, and protect the past without removing it from the lake.  If you care about shipwreck diving, boating safety, or the hidden history off Lake Superior’s North Shore, this conversation will stick with you. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend who loves the Great Lakes, and leave a review, then tell us: should shipwrecks be treated as underwater museums? Support the show

  4. Episode 32

    A Brief Introduction to the History and Community of Wines Around the World

    Click here to send a message. We love to hear from our listeners! Send us a text message and share your feedback Wine is not just a drink, it is geology, agriculture, family history, and a thousand small decisions that end up in your glass. We sit down with Tamra Lindahl, a certified sommelier and Costco wine steward in Minnesota, to hear how a 20-year career as a flight attendant turned into a deep passion for wine education, terroir, and the people who do the hard work in vineyards and cellars. Her story is a reminder that “wine culture” is not about status, it is about curiosity and respect.  We get practical fast: how sommeliers train their palate with sensory “muscle memory,” how to recognize classic markers like oak and buttery Chardonnay, and why your nose usually tells the truth when a wine is off. Tamra also breaks down what most shoppers miss when they buy wine, including how reading the label front and back can reveal single-vineyard clues, vintage details, and even why a bottle’s price suddenly drops. If you want better wine pairing choices without overspending, her approach is simple: learn your preferences, try new grapes, and focus on place.  We also dig into underrated wine regions and high-value picks, from Washington and Oregon to Portugal’s rising profile, Vino Verde, Spain, and Chile. Along the way, Tamra shares what she has learned about organic vineyard practices, the realities of growing grapes in tough climates, and the trends changing the wine industry right now, from orange wine to spritzes and more experimental aging. If you enjoy wine tasting, sommelier tips, and budget-friendly wine shopping, you will walk away with concrete next steps and a longer list of bottles to try.  Subscribe, share this conversation with a fellow wine lover, and leave a review to help more people find the show. What region or grape are you exploring next? Support the show

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Mark and Joe interview people with stories that affirm your belief in the goodwill, courage, determination, commitment and vision of everyday people. Our primary goal is that, through another person's story, you will find meaningful connection no matter your place in life. We intend that the stories we select will be inspiring and maybe help you laugh, cry, think or change your mind about something important in your life.

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