Tales of the Town

Tina Huynh
  • 5.0 (1)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Real people. Real Stories. Tales of the Town is a storytelling podcast that celebrates those real moments from our shared human experience. Listen in to hear real funny, heartfelt, and brave slices of life that reveal what it means to be human. Hosted by Tina Huynh, Tales of the Town invites you to slow down, listen in, and rediscover the art of storytelling by sharing and listening to one another.

  1. 1D AGO

    78: When Success Feels Empty: A Nigerian Artist on Rediscovering Meaning | Ayola

    Nigerian-born artist Ayola shares how walking away from a decade-long career in the pharmaceutical industry allowed him to reconnect with his true self. After years of professional success but growing emptiness, Ayola made the bold choice to leave Canada, return to Nigeria, and rebuild his life as a musician — confronting identity loss, financial fear, and the cultural expectations that equated stability with success. Now, as a touring artist moving between Africa, Canada, and the UK, Ayola unpacks what it means to live a life that actually feels like your own — one that values creativity, purpose, and trust in the unknown. Find Ayola here: https://www.instagram.com/ayolamusic/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/2HhGrOwO1aePIaDgMoGauG https://www.youtube.com/@ayolamusic TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Ayola's Story 06:11 - Building a New Life as a Musician Touring Canada 07:32 - How Culture Shapes Art 10:44 - Chaos as a Catalyst: 14:05 - Letting Go of Overthinking 19:58 - Advice to His Younger Self 22:10 - Ayola's song with Amaka: “Bout You”

    26 min

  2. FEB 19

    77: The Godfather of Salsa Talks Legacy, Leadership, and Love for the Dance Floor | Samer Georges

    Samer Georges, co-founder of Ya Salsa and creator of House of Godfather, shares how a simple love for dance grew into a 22-year nonprofit movement rooted in community, inclusivity, and joy. From his early days performing to building a space where dancers from all backgrounds come together, Samer opens up about the lessons he’s learned on leadership, mentorship, and staying true to your purpose. He also talks about the evolution of Latin dance culture in Michigan, the art of connection on the dance floor, and how creating safe, elegant, and welcoming spaces continues to drive his purpose today. Find Samer here: www.yasalsa.org www.houseofgodfather.com https://www.instagram.com/houseofgodfather/ YA Socials are the last Sunday of every month in Troy, Michigan TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Samer's Story 06:54 - Lessons from 22 Years of Salsa 09:51 - Introducing the House of Godfather 11:49 - Coffee, Music, and Fatherhood 19:24 - Dance and Connection 22:50 - Where to Find Ya Salsa and Future Events

    26 min

  3. FEB 4

    76: The Real Story of Wolf & Rebel: Creativity, Community & Comebacks | Annie Vanrivong

    Annie shares the real story behind Wolf & Rebel — a business that began with hand‑stamped keychains and a converted school bus, and grew into one of Windsor’s most creative community hubs. She opens up about the early days of traveling across Canada, the surprising ease of leasing her first storefront, and the emotional highs and lows of navigating competitiveness, burnout, and the pandemic. Annie talks about evolving her business through vintage vinyl, a matcha bar, local partnerships, and her constant search for products that feel authentic to her vision. She also reflects on rediscovering creativity, teaching Pilates, and learning to reconnect with herself after years of pouring everything into her shop. It’s a story of resilience, reinvention, and staying true to what lights you up. Where to find Annie:https://www.instagram.com/shopwolfandrebelhttps://www.instagram.com/moonimatcha/https://www.wolfandrebel.com/ TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Annie's Story04:40 – The Matcha Bar & New Additions  07:58 – Products That Didn’t Sell 09:49 – Partnerships, Local Makers & Blind Date Books  12:52 – Creativity, Work & Finding Herself Again  14:59 – How Pilates Changed Her Body After Kids  17:04 – Where to Find Wolf & Rebel   #SmallBusiness#EntrepreneurStory#BusinessPodcast#WomenEntrepreneurs#CanadianBusiness#StartupJourney#CreativeBusiness#PodcastClips#WolfAndRebel#MatchaBar#PilatesJourney#VintageVinyl#LocalShops#BusinessGrowth#InspiringStories

    18 min

  4. JAN 8

    75: What Getting Kicked Off the Air Taught Me | Robert Tymec

    What starts as a petty attempt to annoy an ex-girlfriend turns into an unexpected creative awakening. In this episode, Rob shares the true story of how volunteering for high school morning announcements spiraled into a full-blown show—complete with writers’ rooms, recurring characters, and a student-led petition to put him back on the air after he was kicked off. Along the way, Rob reflects on discipline, creative risk-taking, finding your voice early, and why sometimes the most meaningful work comes from simply following what feels fun. This is a story about creativity, momentum, and discovering that your voice can reach further than you ever imagined. Find Rob here:https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566118422354 TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Rob's Story11:29 – How to Build a Creative Career (Without Quitting Too Soon)  16:35 – The Power of Open Mics and Live Performance  19:04 – A Creative Brain That Never Turns Off  21:26 – The Role of Creative Role Models  24:15 – Ghost Stories, One-Person Shows, and Creative Sustainability   #StorytellingPodcast#RealStories#CreativeJourney#OriginStory#PodcastInterview#CreativeCareer#FindingYourVoice#LivePerformance#ArtistsOnYouTube#StorytimePodcast#PodcastEpisode#LongFormContent#CreativeInspiration#BehindTheStory#PersonalStories

    29 min

  5. JAN 2

    74: What Happens When You Stop Chasing and Start Listening | David F Haas

    David Haas shares the true story behind his relentless drive for success and the unexpected childhood moment that shaped it all. From early entrepreneurship and financial struggle to meditation, awareness, and emotional healing, David unpacks how unresolved shame fuelled his desire for money, and how letting go of that desire changed everything. This episode explores the inner work behind ambition, the difference between hustle and flow, and why happiness doesn’t come from reaching a destination—but from learning to be present where you are. A powerful conversation for anyone questioning success, purpose, and what it really means to live well. Find David here:https://www.davidhaas.ca/https://www.youtube.com/@davidfhaas TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - David’s story 05:26 - How to start: awareness before meditation08:27 - How to find core fear + observe self-talk12:42 - Nonlinear causality + unfolding energy14:37 - Desire vs intention; allow it to happen19:45 - Daily practice: meditation + observing triggers23:51 - What is Lungovita? 26:11 - Where to find David + Lungovita #StorytellingPodcast #PersonalTransformation #InnerHealing #LettingGo #MindsetShift #Consciousness #SpiritualGrowth #SelfAwareness #EntrepreneurMindset #EmotionalIntelligence #FlowState #HealingJourney #RealLifeStories #PodcastInterview #HumanExperience

    29 min

  6. 12/18/2025

    73: The Domino Effect: How Small Yeses Created a Whole New Life | Scott Tousignant

    In this episode of Tales of the Town, Scott shares a story about self-discovery, curiosity, and what happens when you stop resisting who you really are. What started as a simple gift—ten yoga classes from his kids—set off a domino effect that led to community, confidence, creativity, solo travel, writing two books, and even proudly showing up to a gala dressed as the Tooth Fairy. Scott reflects on divorce, discomfort, masculinity, alignment, and learning to trust the unfolding of life rather than forcing rigid goals. This conversation is a reminder that growth doesn’t come from giant leaps—but from small, brave choices made again and again. Find Scott here:https://www.losefatgetjacked.com/https://www.instagram.com/scotttousignant/https://www.facebook.com/scotttousignant TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Scott's Story07:55 – Learning to Be Alone Without Fear  11:05 – Curiosity as a Life Philosophy  15:38 – Trusting the Unfolding  17:26 – Writing Two Books & What’s Next  23:02 – Where to Find Scott & Final Reflections #Storytelling #PersonalGrowth #SelfDiscovery #RealStories #LifeJourney #Authenticity #EmotionalGrowth #MensGrowth #MindsetShift #LifeLessons #CreativeLiving #HumanConnection #TransformationStory #PodcastInterview #TalesOfTheTown

    24 min

  7. 12/11/2025

    72: It’s Never Too Late: One Woman's Journey Back to Music, Dance & Herself | Laura Trottier

    Laura shares how the isolation of Covid forced her to confront her unhappiness and ultimately led her to completely rebuild her life in her 50s and 60s. After separating from her husband and moving home to care for her parents with Alzheimer’s, she unexpectedly found herself rediscovering the passions she had abandoned decades earlier — music, piano, dance, and creativity. Now, Laura is thriving as a musician, producer, dancer, and studio manager, proving that it’s never too late to start over, chase your dreams, or become the person you were always meant to be. Her story is a powerful reminder of resilience, reinvention, and the magic of following your inner calling. Find Laura here:https://open.spotify.com/artist/5nEaUCaz4gDBRMqoNhoCus?si=y-K0MNzeQD2a4z4gikcOHQhttps://artofdance.ca/ TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Laura's Story08:48 – How She Found Music Again  13:11 – The Calling of an Artist  15:19 – Writing R&B & Kizomba Music  18:02 – The Power of Process & Critique  22:30 – Sharing Her Work on Spotify & SoundCloud  22:54 – Listening to Laura’s Music  23:22 – How She Creates Her Tracks  27:20 – A sample of Laura's music: Complicated

    28 min

  8. 11/22/2025

    71: How Grief Taught Me to Live Authentically | Kimberly Roy

    Kim shares her powerful journey of transformation after the sudden passing of her father while she was six months pregnant. She opens up about living decades in survival mode, struggling with perfectionism and people‑pleasing, and the wake‑up call that nearly ended her marriage. Through grief, self‑discovery, and boundary‑setting, Kim learned that joy and authenticity come from within. Today, she helps ambitious women find their voice through podcast visibility and her Pitch to Shine Accelerator program. This episode is a raw, inspiring look at how loss can lead to growth, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose. Find Kim Here:https://pitchwithkim.com/  https://www.instagram.com/pitchwithkim/ Pitch to Shine Accelerator:https://pitchwithkim.myflodesk.com/pitch-to-shine-accelerator-official Free Resource:4 Steps to Consistent Lead Generation: This free visibility guide breaks down the exact steps to turn your podcast guest appearances into consistent, qualified leads. Inside, you’ll learn how to confidently pitch with purpose, show up with authority, and position your voice to attract aligned opportunities—without guesswork or burnout—and all while staying true to yourself.  https://pitchwithkim.myflodesk.com/4-stepsTIMESTAMPS00:00 – Kim's Story06:00 – Realizing Grief Is Lifelong10:30 – Finding Joy Through Authenticity12:00 – Dreaming Big and Redefining Success16:00 – Helping Women Find Their Voice #GriefJourney #Healing #Authenticity #SelfDiscovery #EmotionalHealth

    22 min
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About

Real people. Real Stories. Tales of the Town is a storytelling podcast that celebrates those real moments from our shared human experience. Listen in to hear real funny, heartfelt, and brave slices of life that reveal what it means to be human. Hosted by Tina Huynh, Tales of the Town invites you to slow down, listen in, and rediscover the art of storytelling by sharing and listening to one another.

Information

  • Creator
    Tina Huynh
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    74
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Tina Huynh
  • Show Website
    Tales of the Town