What if the dream you had at five years old was still waiting for you?

In this inspiring episode of GenX Journeys, Paul welcomes Stacie Jones, founder of AB & J Travel Agency, certified travel advisor, entrepreneur, stroke survivor, Guinness World Record holder, and someone who proves it's never too late to reinvent your life.

As a little girl growing up in the 1970s, Stacie dreamed of seeing the world. Life took her in a different direction, leading her into a successful corporate career. But after suffering multiple strokes in 2022, she was forced to slow down and re-evaluate everything.

Instead of giving up, she returned to the dream she'd carried since childhood.

Today, Stacie helps others create unforgettable travel experiences while living the life she always imagined. Along the way, she shares why travel is about far more than vacations. It's about healing, perspective, renewal, and finding your way back to yourself.

Paul and Stacie also take a nostalgic trip through Gen X memories, including favorite TV shows, music, childhood crushes, and plenty of laughs that every Gen Xer will appreciate.

In This Episode:

• Growing up Gen X in the 1970s and '80s
• The childhood dream that never disappeared
• Life after surviving multiple strokes
• Leaving corporate America to build a dream business
• Why travel can transform your perspective
• Common misconceptions about using a travel advisor
• Affordable bucket-list travel
• Favorite travel destinations (including Sedona and Vietnam)
• Dream trips still on the horizon
• Gen X nostalgia: Dukes of Hazzard, Knight Rider, Buck Rogers, Duran Duran, Men at Work, The Muppets, and much more

Whether you're dreaming about traveling, changing careers, or rediscovering the person you always wanted to become, this conversation is a reminder that it's never too late to begin again.

Connect with Stacie Jones

Facebook: Stacie N. Jones AB & J Travel Agency Phone: (513) 991-2717

🎙 GenX Journeys is where Generation X comes to embrace the past, own the present, and build an epic future.

Follow, subscribe, and share wherever you listen to podcasts.

💡 Connect with GenX Journeys

🌎 Website: GenXJourneys.net 📩 Email: [email protected] 📺 YouTube: @GenXJourneys 📷 Instagram: @GenXJourneys 🐦 Twitter/X: @Returntothe80s 📘 Facebook: GenX Journeys 🎥 TikTok: @GenXJourneys

🎧 Subscribe to the GenX Journeys Podcast on: ✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

What if you could step back into the neighborhoods, friendships, and moments that shaped your life?

In this episode of GenX Journeys, Paul welcomes author Mike Di Leo to discuss his remarkable book, There Are Places I Remember. More than a collection of short stories, the book is a tapestry of interconnected memories spanning the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and beyond. Through themes of family, friendship, music, loss, nostalgia, and the passage of time, Mike captures experiences that resonate with Gen X and anyone who has ever looked back on the places and people who shaped them.

Mike shares how the book evolved from an abandoned novel into forty interconnected stories, written during his daily train commute into New York City. The conversation explores growing up on Long Island, the changing nature of memory, revisiting childhood neighborhoods, the impact of 9/11, the universal pull of nostalgia, and why certain moments stay with us forever.

Whether you're a fan of storytelling, history, music, sports, or simply reflecting on life's journey, this episode is a heartfelt exploration of where we've been and how those experiences continue to shape who we are.

In This Episode

• Mike's journey from project manager to published author
• How There Are Places I Remember came to life
• Writing an entire book on an iPhone during train commutes
• The challenge and joy of connecting forty separate stories into one cohesive experience
• Why nostalgia plays such a powerful role in our lives
• Growing up in the suburbs during the 1970s and 1980s
• Revisiting childhood neighborhoods and seeing them through adult eyes
• Mike's firsthand experience during the events of September 11, 2001
• The changing nature of culture from Gen X to today
• Baseball fandom, the Yankees-Mets rivalry, and sports nostalgia
• The Beatles, James Bond, and the cultural touchstones that shaped a generation
• What Mike is working on next

About Mike Di Leo

Mike Di Leo is an independent author from Long Island, New York. His latest book, There Are Places I Remember, is a unique collection of interconnected stories that span decades and explore memory, family, friendship, and the moments that define our lives. He is also the author of Images of Broken Light and The Spy Who Thrilled Us: A Guide to the Best of Cinematic James Bond.

Connect with Mike

Website: MichaelDiLeoAuthor.com

Books available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

💡 Connect with GenX Journeys

🌎 Website: GenXJourneys.net 📩 Email: [email protected] 📺 YouTube: @GenXJourneys 📷 Instagram: @GenXJourneys 🐦 Twitter/X: @Returntothe80s 📘 Facebook: GenX Journeys 🎥 TikTok: @GenXJourneys

🎧 Subscribe to the GenX Journeys Podcast on: ✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

What do an arrow through the head, a white suit, a banjo, and two wild and crazy guys have in common?

Steve Martin.

In this episode of the GenX Book Club, Paul Stroessner, Suzanne Mattaboni, and Del Roehling take a nostalgic look back at Steve Martin's memoir Born Standing Up, a fascinating behind-the-scenes story of one of comedy's most innovative performers.

The conversation explores Martin's journey from working in the magic shops of Disneyland to becoming one of the biggest stand-up comedians in America. Along the way, we discuss the discipline, persistence, and creativity that fueled his rise, as well as the personal struggles that shaped him.

We also revisit some of Steve Martin's most iconic moments, including:

📚 The origins of the arrow-through-the-head routine 🎭 The development of his unique style of comedy 🎤 His groundbreaking stand-up performances of the 1970s 📺 Saturday Night Live and the "Wild and Crazy Guys" era 🎵 King Tut, Let's Get Small, and comedy albums as Gen X cultural touchstones 🎬 Favorite Steve Martin films including The Jerk, Three Amigos, Father of the Bride, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Parenthood, and more

More than a celebrity memoir, Born Standing Up is a masterclass in perseverance, reinvention, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

Whether you grew up quoting Steve Martin's routines or are discovering his story for the first time, this episode celebrates a comedy legend whose influence continues to be felt across generations.

More from the GenX Book Club Crew

📖 Suzanne Mattaboni (Author of Once in a Lifetime) 🔹 Get her book anywhere books are sold, including Kindle Unlimited and onceinalifetimenovel.com 🔹 Visit her at suzannemattaboni.com 🔹 Follow Suzanne:

• 📷 Instagram: @suzannemattaboni80s
• 🐦 X: @suzmattaboni
• 📘 Facebook: Suzanne Mattaboni

🎙️ Del Roehling (Host of 80s at 8 on 91.1 WEDM FM) 🔹 Tune in to 80s at 8 for all your favorite throwback tunes 🔹 Get your daily dose of '80s news on the 80s at 8 Facebook page

💡 Connect with GenX Journeys

🌎 Website: GenXJourneys.net 📩 Email: [email protected] 📺 YouTube: @GenXJourneys 📷 Instagram: @GenXJourneys 🐦 Twitter/X: @Returntothe80s 📘 Facebook: GenX Journeys 🎥 TikTok: @GenXJourneys

🎧 Subscribe to the GenX Journeys Podcast on: ✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

💡 Whether you're a die-hard '80s fan, a nostalgia lover, or just someone who enjoys a great book club discussion, this episode is packed with fun, wisdom, and plenty of throwback vibes.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow/subscribe on your favorite podcast app and leave a review.

What happens when the thing you love most is suddenly taken away?

In this episode of GenX Journeys, Paul sits down with singer-songwriter Greg Amici to explore a story of resilience, reinvention, and returning to a passion that never truly left.

After building momentum with his band Big Honey in New York City's music scene, Greg's journey took an unexpected turn when a vocal cord injury forced him away from music. What followed was a 16-year detour through screenwriting, acting, graduate school, and caring for aging parents before he finally found his way back to songwriting and recording.

Greg shares: • Growing up in New Jersey and discovering music through classic rock • The rise and sudden end of his band Big Honey • How a vocal injury changed the course of his life • His years pursuing screenwriting and acting in Los Angeles • The moment that reignited his passion for music • Creating his acclaimed album Tragicomic • The challenges and opportunities of making music in the streaming era • Why it's never too late to reconnect with something you love

Along the way, Greg opens up about criticism, creativity, family, aging, perseverance, and what he's learned at 64 that his 24-year-old self could never have understood.

Whether you're a musician, writer, runner, entrepreneur, or anyone who has ever put a dream on hold, this conversation is a reminder that some passions don't disappear. They simply wait for us to return.

Connect with Greg Amici: Website: https://gregamici.com YouTube: @gregamicimusic

💡 Connect with GenX Journeys

🌎 Website: GenXJourneys.net 📩 Email: [email protected] 📺 YouTube: @GenXJourneys 📷 Instagram: @GenXJourneys 🐦 Twitter/X: @Returntothe80s 📘 Facebook: GenX Journeys 🎥 TikTok: @GenXJourneys

🎧 Subscribe to the GenX Journeys Podcast on: ✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

In this episode of GenX Journeys, Paul welcomes Marine Corps combat veteran and author Keith Cole for a deeply honest conversation about trauma, burnout, faith, resilience, and recovery.

Keith shares his journey from growing up wanting to become a Methodist minister to serving as a machine gunner in Vietnam, where he was wounded three times in combat. After returning home, he carried decades of emotional weight in silence while building a successful career as a CPA, raising his younger siblings after the loss of his mother, and pushing himself beyond exhaustion.

Eventually, burnout caught up with him.

Keith opens up about the sleepless nights, emotional turmoil, drinking, and the breaking point that led him to cry out to God for help — a moment that ultimately inspired his book, Burnout: God's Recovery Plan.

Together, Paul and Keith discuss:

• Vietnam combat experiences and trauma
• The emotional toll of notifying families of fallen Marines
• Why so many people suffer silently
• Burnout in veterans, professionals, caregivers, and everyday life
• The importance of asking for help
• Faith, discipline, and healing
• Creating healthy routines and boundaries
• Keith's PRAISER recovery framework and workbook

This conversation is especially powerful for anyone feeling emotionally exhausted, overwhelmed, stuck, or burned out from carrying too much for too long.

Keith's story is a reminder that recovery is possible - and that asking for help is not weakness, but strength.

Connect with Keith Cole: Website: recoverybyfaith.com

Book: Burnout: God's Recovery Plan

💡 Connect with GenX Journeys

🌎 Website: GenXJourneys.net 📩 Email: [email protected] 📺 YouTube: @GenXJourneys 📷 Instagram: @GenXJourneys 🐦 Twitter/X: @Returntothe80s 📘 Facebook: GenX Journeys 🎥 TikTok: @GenXJourneys

🎧 Subscribe to the GenX Journeys Podcast on: ✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

For this episode of GenX Journeys, Paul sits down with Devin Fish for one of the most honest and emotionally powerful conversations the show has featured yet.

Growing up in poverty, constantly moving from place to place, and surrounded by addiction and instability, Devin entered adulthood carrying more weight than most people face in a lifetime. Before even beginning his Army career, he experienced trauma that would shape the years ahead — including family addiction, loss, depression, online exploitation, blackmail, and moments where he seriously questioned whether he wanted to keep going at all.

But this isn't just a story about survival.

It's a story about resilience, reinvention, mental health, purpose, and learning how to rebuild your life one hard question at a time.

Devin opens up about how those experiences eventually led him to write his book, Answering the Hard Questions: Let It Be the End of the Chapter, Not the End of the Book, a deeply personal reflection on resilience, mental health, purpose, and finding hope after life's darkest moments.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Growing up with instability and poverty
• Joining the Army and searching for direction
• Losing his mother while serving
• Mental health struggles and suicidal thoughts
• Online scams, emotional isolation, and blackmail
• Reinventing himself through service and leadership
• Why vulnerability can help others heal
• Writing his book and speaking openly about resilience
• The importance of letting a painful chapter end — without ending your story

This episode is raw, inspiring, and deeply human — especially for anyone who has ever felt stuck, broken, alone, or overwhelmed by life.

Because as Devin says: "Let it be the end of the chapter… not the end of the book."

Connect with Devin Fish:

Book: Answering the Hard Questions on Amazon

Facebook: Devin Fish on Facebook

Email: [email protected]

If this episode resonated with you, please follow, rate, and share GenX Journeys with someone who might need this conversation today.

💡 Connect with GenX Journeys

🌎 Website: GenXJourneys.net 📩 Email: [email protected] 📺 YouTube: @GenXJourneys 📷 Instagram: @GenXJourneys 🐦 Twitter/X: @Returntothe80s 📘 Facebook: GenX Journeys 🎥 TikTok: @GenXJourneys

🎧 Subscribe to the GenX Journeys Podcast on: ✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

What happens after life changes in ways you never saw coming?

In this episode of GenX Journeys, Paul sits down with author and personal brand strategist Chanoa Inez to explore what it really takes to rebuild, realign, and start dreaming again after loss, upheaval, or major life transitions.

After experiencing a sudden and devastating loss, Chanoa found herself in a place many of us know too well - functioning on the surface, but quietly shrinking her dreams without even realizing it. What followed was a powerful journey of self-discovery, healing, and reinvention that ultimately led to her book Dream On.

This conversation goes beyond surface-level positivity. It's about reclaiming your life, reconnecting with who you are, and giving yourself permission to dream bigger—even when it feels impossible.

🔑 In This Episode, We Cover:

• Why we unknowingly shrink our dreams after loss or setbacks
• The difference between real gratitude vs. surface-level gratitude
• How the simple shift from "I have to" → "I get to" can change everything
• The hidden ways we fall out of alignment in life and business
• Why being authentic is less exhausting—and more powerful—than wearing a mask
• How grief can show up in unexpected ways, including physical health
• The truth about meditation (and why "I can't do it" is a limiting belief)
• What it really means to reinvent yourself without losing who you are

💡 Key Takeaway

Sometimes we think we've moved on—but in reality, we've just made our lives smaller to feel safe.

The real work is recognizing that… and choosing to dream again anyway.

📚 Resources & Links

• Chanoa Inez's book: Dream On: How to Create a New Life via Dreams After Upheaval or Loss
• Website: https://chanoainez.com
• Program: Magnetize Your Personal Brand
• LinkedIn: @chanoa
• InstagramL @chanoainez

(Full links also available in episode description on your podcast app)

🎧 Connect with GenX Journeys

• Follow the show for more conversations on reinvention, resilience, and living with intention
• Share this episode with someone who might need a reminder: it's not too late to start again

🎤 Closing Thought

Life is going to change—sometimes in ways we never expect. But the ability to dream again? That's still yours. Always.

💡 Connect with GenX Journeys

🌎 Website: GenXJourneys.net 📩 Email: [email protected] 📺 YouTube: @GenXJourneys 📷 Instagram: @GenXJourneys 🐦 Twitter/X: @Returntothe80s 📘 Facebook: GenX Journeys 🎥 TikTok: @GenXJourneys

🎧 Subscribe to the GenX Journeys Podcast on: ✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

What does it really take to change your life?

In this episode of GenX Journeys, Paul sits down with Matt Melvin, whose journey includes prison, addiction, and multiple life resets—but more importantly, a complete shift in mindset.

While Matt shares his story in his book Bullied Behind Bars, this conversation focuses on what came after: the inner work. From moving out of victimhood and into accountability, to building discipline, faith, and self-awareness, Matt breaks down the principles that helped him rebuild his life from the inside out.

This is a real, unfiltered conversation about mindset, mental health, and the kind of honest reflection most people avoid—but that leads to lasting change.

If you're ready to stop making excuses and start taking ownership, this episode will challenge you in all the right ways.

🔑 What You'll Hear in This Episode

• The shift from victimhood to full accountability
• How small decisions can lead to life-altering consequences
• Why mindset is everything when it comes to personal growth
• The role of discipline, faith, and daily habits
• How environment and relationships influence your direction
• Why journaling and self-reflection are powerful tools for change
• The importance of real conversations over surface-level talk
• Why many people struggle to express emotions—and how to change that

💡 Key Takeaways

• You can't change your life until you take responsibility for it
• Awareness is the foundation of growth
• Your environment matters more than you think
• Growth requires honesty, even when it's uncomfortable
• Real change is built through daily habits and decisions

📚 About Matt Melvin

Matt Melvin is the author of Bullied Behind Bars: A Gay Christian Trump Supporter Goes to Prison. His story is one of transformation through discipline, faith, and radical accountability after facing addiction and incarceration.

🔗 Connect with Matt

• Instagram: @BulliedBehindBars
• Facebook: Matthew Melvin
• X: @BarsBullied
• email: [email protected]
• Book: Bully Behind Bars (available on Amazon)

🎧 Listen & Watch

Available on all podcast platforms, with the full video version on YouTube.

🔥 Final Thought

You don't have to control everything that happens to you—but you do control what happens next.

💡 Connect with GenX Journeys

🌎 Website: GenXJourneys.net 📩 Email: [email protected] 📺 YouTube: @GenXJourneys 📷 Instagram: @GenXJourneys 🐦 Twitter/X: @Returntothe80s 📘 Facebook: GenX Journeys 🎥 TikTok: @GenXJourneys

🎧 Subscribe to the GenX Journeys Podcast on: ✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

What do you do when the life you built no longer feels like it fits?

In this episode of GenX Journeys, I'm joined by Camille Miller—three-time bestselling author, business designer, and founder of the Soul Professional Movement. Together, we explore what it means to step out of alignment… and how to find your way back.

If you've ever felt stuck, restless, or like something is missing—even when everything looks "right" on paper—this conversation will resonate.

We talk about reinvention, authenticity, and why GenXers, in particular, are uniquely wired to evolve, adapt, and build something more meaningful in this next chapter of life.

🔑 In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Why so many people feel out of alignment after years in traditional careers
• The shift from stability to purpose-driven work
• How authenticity attracts new opportunities
• Letting go of identities that no longer serve you
• The importance of community and surrounding yourself with the right people
• Simple ways to begin realigning your life and purpose

✍️ A Simple Exercise to Get Started

Camille shares a powerful starting point:

Take a piece of paper and write down:

• What you want in your life moving forward
• What you no longer want or will no longer accept

From there, start building a life that aligns with who you are today—not who you used to be.

🌍 About Camille Miller

Camille Miller is a three-time bestselling author and the founder of the Soul Professional Movement, a global community helping individuals create purpose-driven businesses and lives aligned with their authentic selves.

🌐 Learn more: https://soulprofessional.com

💡 Connect with GenX Journeys

🌎 Website: GenXJourneys.net 📩 Email: [email protected] 📺 YouTube: @GenXJourneys 📷 Instagram: @GenXJourneys 🐦 Twitter/X: @Returntothe80s 📘 Facebook: GenX Journeys 🎥 TikTok: @GenXJourneys

🎧 Subscribe to the GenX Journeys Podcast on: ✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM

What happens when the soundtrack of the 1980s comes roaring back to life with big vocals, big energy, and a whole lot of heart?

In this episode of GenX Journeys, Paul is joined by GenX Book Club co-host Suzanne Mattaboni for a lively conversation with Rob and Lisa of Rubixx, one of the country's premier 80s tribute bands. Together, they dive into what makes 80s music so unforgettable, how Rubixx creates a full-on experience rather than just a performance, and why the songs of that decade still bring people together across generations.

Rob and Lisa share the origin story of the band, how they build their setlists to keep audiences singing and dancing, and the fun behind the costumes, visuals, movie-theme medleys, duets, and onstage chemistry that make a Rubixx show feel like a time machine with amplifiers.

The conversation also explores the magic of MTV, the power of 80s soundtracks, the wide range of genres that defined the decade, and the challenge of performing these iconic songs live while keeping their energy intact. Along the way, there are plenty of laughs, behind-the-scenes stories, and a clear love for the music that shaped a generation.

Whether you were raised on synth-pop, power ballads, movie anthems, freestyle, new wave, or arena rock, this episode is a celebration of the music, memories, and community that still make the 80s hit hard today.

In this episode:

• How Rubixx came together and evolved into the band it is today
• Why 80s music still resonates so deeply with audiences
• The art of creating a full visual and musical experience on stage
• Favorite crowd-pleasers, duets, and movie-theme moments
• The influence of MTV on music, fashion, and identity
• Songs that are tougher to perform than they sound
• Why authenticity, camaraderie, and zero ego matter in a live band
• Upcoming shows and where to find Rubixx online

If you love 80s music, live performance, and stories about people keeping the spirit of a generation alive, this one is for you.

Connect with Rubixx

🎥 TikTok: @RubixxBand

📷 Instagram: RubixxBand

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rubixxband

📺 YouTube: @RubixxBand

More from the GenX Book Club Crew

📖 Suzanne Mattaboni (Author of Once in a Lifetime) 🔹 Get her book anywhere books are sold, including Kindle Unlimited and onceinalifetimenovel.com 🔹 Visit her at suzannemattaboni.com 🔹 Follow Suzanne:

• 📷 Instagram: @suzannemattaboni80s
• 🐦 X: @suzmattaboni
• 📘 Facebook: Suzanne Mattaboni

🎙️ Del Roehling (Host of 80s at 8 on 91.1 WEDM FM) 🔹 Tune in to 80s at 8 for all your favorite throwback tunes 🔹 Get your daily dose of '80s news on the 80s at 8 Facebook page

💡 Connect with GenX Journeys

🌎 Website: GenXJourneys.net 📩 Email: [email protected] 📺 YouTube: @GenXJourneys 📷 Instagram: @GenXJourneys 🐦 Twitter/X: @Returntothe80s 📘 Facebook: GenX Journeys 🎥 TikTok: @GenXJourneys

🎧 Subscribe to the GenX Journeys Podcast on: ✅ Apple Podcasts ✅ Spotify ✅ iHeartRadio ✅ Podbean ✅ PlayerFM