True Stories From the Obit Files - Ordinary People You Never Knew, But Won’t Forget

Steve Rhode - Documentary Podcaster
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Steve Rhode hosts "True Stories from the Obit Files," a documentary life stories podcast where, three times weekly, real obituaries become unforgettable stories about ordinary people. Discover farmers, teachers, mechanics, and neighbors who quietly held the world together. Using publicly shared obituaries, Steve reveals the extraordinary life stories of a person you might have walked past and never noticed. Always real. Always respectful. Always worth remembering. Real people. Real lives. Never ordinary. Facebook: https://facebook.com/tapyournews Show Notifications: https://tapyournews.com

  1. 09/15/2025

    Johnathan Morin - Johnny Rocket: The Teen Who Faced Cancer Without Fear

    At just 15, Johnathan Morin received a devastating diagnosis: metastatic Ewing Sarcoma. But he didn’t ask “Why me?” — he simply said, “Tell me what I need to do.” Known as “Johnny Rocket,” this old soul with a competitive streak fought cancer with courage, humor, and grit. He doubled up on school, made the honor roll, took his dream trip to Hawaii, and dreamed of becoming a doctor to help other kids like him. Even as cancer returned again and again, he kept living — cheering on the Red Sox, riding his motorcycle, and filling every moment with purpose. This is the story of a brave young man who taught everyone what it means to live with heart.

    5 min

  2. 09/10/2025

    Martin Roy First - The Soccer Dad Who Revolutionized Transplant Medicine

    Martin Roy First left apartheid South Africa with two kids, two suitcases, and a thousand dollars. He became a global leader in kidney transplant medicine—authoring 400+ papers, meeting the Pope, and changing lives with his fierce compassion and brilliant mind. But he was also the kind of dad who got red-carded on the sidelines and fed the family dog like royalty. This is the story of a healer, a prankster, a wine connoisseur—and a man who never stopped showing up for the people he loved.

    5 min

  3. 09/08/2025

    The PE Teacher Who Traded Ski Lessons for Casseroles

    Jan Muyskens taught more than gym class. She taught self-reliance, compassion, and how to build a bridge between people using nothing more than ski poles, stained glass, and a home-cooked meal. This unforgettable PE teacher from Grand Junction, Colorado, lived 91 quietly remarkable years — shaping generations of students, building furniture and friendships alike, and feeding every stray dog or cat that crossed her path. In today’s episode, discover how one woman became the blueprint for strength, softness, and connection. Not everyone makes the front page. But everyone leaves a story worth telling. 🎧 True Stories from the Obit Files 🔗 Visit TapYourNews.com to sign up for email notifications when new episodes drop.

    6 min

  4. 08/28/2025

    Theresia’s Story — From the Rhine to Tennessee

    Born in Czechoslovakia in 1938, Theresia’s journey carried her through war, across oceans, and around the world as a military wife — before she found her greatest joy on a quiet Tennessee back deck with coffee, books, and birds. This is the story of a life measured not by headlines, but by resilience, love, and everyday wonder. Visit TapYourNews.com to sign up for email notifications when new episodes drop.

    5 min

  5. 08/18/2025

    Melonie Wigley: Life Lessons from an Ordinary Woman with a Global Journey

    Melonie Wigley’s story is one of resilience and connection, making her a remarkable subject for our life stories podcast. She grew up crossing continents — from London to South Carolina to Tokyo — always adjusting and connecting with those around her. Throughout her life as a nurse and childbirth educator, Melonie guided others with compassion. While her legacy remains quiet, it is far-reaching, filled with gentle signposts that helped others find their way. Join us as we explore the documentary life stories that highlight the lives of ordinary people whose stories deserve to be told. Not everyone makes the front page, but everyone leaves a remarkable life story worth remembering. Visit TapYourNews.com to sign up for email notifications when new episodes drop.

    7 min

  6. 08/11/2025

    Larry Soule's Story — The Man Who Collected Memories

    In small-town Dansville, Michigan, Larry Soule spent 86 years quietly building an extraordinary life. A high school sports legend, 101st Airborne paratrooper, 30-year GM tradesman, and farmer who played softball into his 70s, Larry's passion for preserving history through his beloved tractor collection (especially his 1925 John Deere Spoker D) reveals a man who saw value in what others overlooked. His workshop—affectionately called "Soule Hardware" by his grandkids—wasn't just filled with tractors and tools, but with six decades of stories, community connections, and quiet dedication to the people and place he loved. True Stories from the Obit Files brings you unforgettable stories of ordinary people with extraordinary lives three times weekly. Because some of the most remarkable stories never made the news—until now.

    9 min

  7. 08/04/2025

    Marge Charleville's Life Story — The Woman Who Planted Hope

    Not everyone makes the front page, but everyone leaves a story worth telling. In this episode of our life stories podcast, meet Marge Charleville (1940-2025): weekend pilot, coffee entrepreneur, and avid gardener who transformed her deepest grief into powerful advocacy. After her daughter was killed by a drunk driver in 1980, Marge founded St. Louis' chapter of Remove Intoxicated Drivers, fighting for legislative changes that continue saving lives today. The woman who "planted gardens everywhere she lived" also nurtured seeds of change throughout Missouri—creating safety infrastructure that outlives her 85 years. Join us for an inspiring documentary podcast episode that celebrates the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. Real people. Real lives. Never ordinary.

    10 min

  8. 08/01/2025

    Gerald Armbruester's Story — The Mechanic Who Fixed More Than Machines

    In a garage in Tucson, Arizona, Gerald Armbruester spent decades perfecting the art of his craft as a mechanic. From maintaining military vehicles in Alaska to repairing medical equipment at the Red Cross, his mechanical expertise kept the world running. However, as his daughter and friends recall, Gerald's greatest gift went beyond fixing engines—it was his extraordinary ability to truly listen and offer support when needed. Even as Parkinson's Disease challenged his steady hands, he continued to move forward with humor and determination. Discover how this ordinary mechanic quietly built an extraordinary legacy of care through life stories, one repair at a time. For more information about this podcast visit TapYourNews.com

    7 min
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About

Steve Rhode hosts "True Stories from the Obit Files," a documentary life stories podcast where, three times weekly, real obituaries become unforgettable stories about ordinary people. Discover farmers, teachers, mechanics, and neighbors who quietly held the world together. Using publicly shared obituaries, Steve reveals the extraordinary life stories of a person you might have walked past and never noticed. Always real. Always respectful. Always worth remembering. Real people. Real lives. Never ordinary. Facebook: https://facebook.com/tapyournews Show Notifications: https://tapyournews.com

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