"I have 100 movies running in my head nonstop. That being said, I cannot remember what happened 15 minutes ago."

Matt Meyers has an unusual superpower: he can quote obscure movie lines from memory, leaving his twenty-something employees baffled when he references Planes, Trains and Automobiles. But ask him what he said 15 minutes ago? No idea. He had to check his own notes to remember what he'd written about his superpower.

In this final episode of Good Life Stories, Matt reveals what truly drives success at Be Myers and Company: finding people who genuinely care. "Apathy is death," he says. His team are "true believers" in their mission—helping protect those in harm's way with products that must work perfectly every time. "Build it right, save a life" isn't just a motto; it's a mandate when someone's son or daughter depends on your work.

Matt shares the Earl Nightingale recording his father gave him at age 10—"Acres of Diamonds"—and why he returns to it quarterly. The message? "There's no growth without risk. Risks brighten the eye and get the mind cooking." He illustrates this with the story of meeting Evan Hafer before Black Rifle Coffee's $75 million IPO, when Matt politely thought, "I'm a Folgers guy, why would I buy coffee through the mail?"

The episode closes with Matt's philosophy on travel: go now, because places change or disappear. His spontaneous road trip with 12-year-old Jack—through canceled flights and desert highways—created memories that can never be replicated.

For more episode info and additional inspiring stories, visit https://www.goodlifestories.com/.

"Don't have to tell me to stay home. Don't have to tell me twice. I haven't been home in years."

Fresh from cancer treatment and nine years of military service, Matt Meyers returned to a family business he barely recognized. The 20-30 person operation he'd left in the late '90s had exploded to 180 employees—only to be gutted back to 55 in one devastating year.

In this episode of Good Life Stories, Matt shares the brutal reality of the post-deployment drawdown: four layoffs in twelve months at a company that had never laid off a single person in 40 years. As a new product manager, he watched the infrastructure collapse. The people who documented everything—those essential 700-page quality control manuals—were gone. The choice? Focus resources only where absolutely necessary and embrace common sense over bureaucracy.

But this story isn't just about survival. Matt reveals the remarkable origin of B.E. Myers and Company, founded by his father—a college dropout who sold encyclopedias, dug graves, worked in a Milwaukee garage band, and taught himself explosives (surviving when most self-taught experts didn't). From underwater salvage diving to accidentally discovering how to clean ship hulls with explosive netting, to selling night vision on kitchen tables, his dad turned odd hobbies into a defense contracting powerhouse.

Matt's journey from soldier to steward of this legacy reveals lessons about pulling the "red string," questioning assumptions, and bringing common sense to uncommon challenges.

For more episode info and additional inspiring stories, visit https://www.goodlifestories.com/.

A routine chiropractor appointment. A swollen neck. An unprepared Air Force officer accidentally breaking the news: "They told you you got cancer and everything, right?"

Matt Meyers' cancer diagnosis came at the worst possible time—just home from his third deployment, with a newborn son and a wife he'd barely lived with over three years of marriage. But this is just one chapter in an extraordinary story that begins years earlier, when a decade-long friendship transformed into love during phone calls from Baghdad.

In this episode of Good Life Stories, Matt shares how he and Nicole built their relationship across continents and deployments. Their romance includes spontaneous adventures to Paris and Luxembourg, the near-collapse of their marriage when Nicole struggled with isolation in Germany (saved, Matt insists, by "a GPS and a Jack Russell terrier"), and the realities of military life that kept them apart more than together.

Matt recounts his deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, including unexpectedly becoming an intelligence officer for western Afghanistan despite having zero training. Then came that chiropractor visit, the shocking revelation of Hodgkin's lymphoma with two goose egg-sized masses in his neck, and months of devastating treatment.

Through it all, Nicole became a superhero—caring for a returning soldier, a newborn baby, and a cancer patient simultaneously. Matt's raw honesty about the challenges makes this conversation unforgettable.

For more episode info and additional inspiring stories, visit https://www.goodlifestories.com/.

In this final episode with David Castillo, Tracy Crowley explores the personal philosophies and causes that drive this dedicated coach and community advocate. David opens up about his favorite quote—"Don't let perfection be the enemy of good"—and how it resonates differently at this stage of his life compared to his younger years.

The conversation touches on the challenge of reading people close to us versus strangers, with Tracy offering the insight that we often know our family members so well that we can tell their mood by their footsteps, while requiring more attention to understand others. David reflects on balancing his pursuit of excellence in coaching with accepting that "good enough" sometimes truly is good enough.

Looking ahead, David discusses his goal of completing his private pilot certificate by year's end, though football season means his training will take a backseat to coaching responsibilities. Most importantly, David shines a spotlight on two causes close to his heart: Compassion International, where he sponsors children in Africa and builds meaningful relationships with them, and the fight against human trafficking—a modern-day slavery issue he became passionate about during COVID. As the brother of three sisters raised by a single mom, protecting vulnerable women and girls holds deep personal significance for David.

For more episode info and additional inspiring stories, visit https://www.goodlifestories.com/.

What drives someone to send 14 letters asking to volunteer coach for free? David Castillo's coaching journey on Good Life Stories reveals how the mentors who filled gaps in his fatherless childhood inspired him to pour into the next generation. After a promising football career ended with a knee injury in his senior year, David found his true calling on the sidelines.

David's path from volunteer equipment manager to head coach spans 17 years and showcases both the rewards and challenges of high school coaching. He shares touching stories of players who still call him "Pops" and reach out years later, demonstrating the lasting impact coaches can have. "Those boys are still in our lives. I mean, they're like sons to us," he reflects about two players he coached from seventh grade through graduation.

The episode takes an honest turn as David contemplates whether this season of coaching is coming to an end. Between COVID's impact on high school sports, external pressures affecting his emotional well-being, and his son now in college, he's questioning if it's time for a new chapter. His superpower of empathy, while allowing him to deeply connect with players and families, also means he carries their pain and struggles as his own. David's candid reflection on recognizing life seasons and the courage to potentially step away offers valuable insights into knowing when it's time to transition from one calling to another.

For more episode info and additional inspiring stories, visit https://www.goodlifestories.com/.

What would you do if you had the phone number of the father you'd never met but couldn't find the courage to call? David Castillo's powerful story on Good Life Stories reveals how the universe conspired to bring him face-to-face with his dad at age 38, after a lifetime of wondering about his identity and heritage.

David's journey began with a serendipitous moment while working at the VA, when his half-brother's case crossed his desk. Recognizing the shared family name, David made a courageous phone call that would change both their lives forever. As he recalls, "I was like, I'm going to be courageous here. I'm going to be courageous." That call led to a parking lot meeting where both brothers immediately recognized their resemblance, and ultimately to David's first conversation with his father.

The episode explores how David filled the void left by his father's absence through music, finding catharsis writing and performing with his band in Seattle's vibrant 1990s music scene. From venues like the Off Ramp Cafe to the Phoenix Underground, David channeled his questions about identity and family into songs that helped him process years of wondering and longing.

His story beautifully illustrates how timing matters in relationships, how courage can open doors we've been afraid to walk through, and how creative expression can provide healing during our most uncertain moments.

For more episode info and additional inspiring stories, visit https://www.goodlifestories.com/.

What's the difference between "I'm not good at that" and "I'm not good at that yet"? In this final episode with Sheryl Tullis, host Tracy Crowley explores how one small word can fundamentally reshape our mindset and open possibilities we never imagined. Sheryl reveals her philosophy of being a "multiplier"—someone who helps others accomplish meaningful goals and rides along on their journey of growth.

The conversation takes a powerful turn as Sheryl shares her ongoing work with Combat Flip Flops founder Matt Griffin, helping Afghan allies escape Taliban persecution. After the Taliban takeover in August 2021, Sheryl joined a team working tirelessly to protect translators, teachers, university professors, and other vulnerable allies. Despite facing investigations, Western Union shutdowns, and countless obstacles, they've successfully helped dozens of families reach safety—including one family that just arrived in Canada after two years of hiding.

"For me, not doing anything just worsens the helpless feeling," Sheryl explains. "So if I can take some kind of action, no matter how small, it helps alleviate that." Her story demonstrates how individual action, no matter how small, can create ripples of hope in seemingly hopeless situations. Through her favorite quote—"When is the last time you did something for the first time?"—and her commitment to continuous learning, Sheryl embodies the transformative power of growth mindset and purposeful action.

For more episode info and additional inspiring stories, visit https://www.goodlifestories.com/.

"When it's my time, am I going to die doing what I love or am I going to have wasted a whole bunch of time doing things that I don't love?"

What question would you ask yourself if someone you loved died doing what they loved? For Sheryl Tullis, losing her brother in a helicopter crash led to a life-changing realization and an extraordinary challenge: completing 50 adventures by age 50. In this compelling episode of Good Life Stories, host Tracy Crowley explores how Sheryl's motivation stems from a profound loss: her youngest brother Justin was killed in a helicopter crash during a National Guard training mission on his birthday 13 years ago.

This tragedy sparked a fundamental question that continues to drive her: "When it's my time, am I going to die doing what I love or am I going to have wasted a whole bunch of time doing things that I don't love?" Each year, Sheryl celebrates a "Justin Day" to honor his memory by doing something amazing or epic.

Inspired by the movie Walter Mitty, Sheryl embarked on adventures ranging from simple new experiences like trying different foods to epic challenges like hot air ballooning over 3,000 temples in Myanmar and climbing Mount Rainier. As she reflects, "My Walter Mitty moment was realizing that what I'm about is adventuring with people I love and helping people get outside their comfort zone."

The episode also reveals Sheryl's delightful superpowers: having "a lyric for everything" and remaining "calm under fire" during crisis situations. Her story demonstrates how tragedy can become a catalyst for intentional living and how pushing beyond comfort zones can reveal our true potential.

For more episode info and additional inspiring stories, visit https://www.goodlifestories.com/.

"When somebody tells you no, that doesn't have to be the end of it. There's always an appeal. There's always another way around."

In this inspiring episode of Good Life Stories, host Tracy Crowley sits down with Sheryl Tullis to explore her remarkable journey from West Point rejection to acceptance and beyond. Sheryl shares the powerful story of how a childhood lawnmower accident that severed three fingers initially seemed to close doors but ultimately opened them in unexpected ways.

When West Point initially rejected Sheryl for medical reasons due to missing finger joints, she refused to accept "no" as the final answer. Her childhood piano teacher, who had witnessed her determination to play piano again after doctors said she'd never have the dexterity, wrote a compelling letter to West Point that secured her medical waiver. This pivotal moment taught her that "when somebody tells you no, that doesn't have to be the end of it. There's always an appeal. There's always another way around."

The conversation then moves to Sheryl's extraordinary experience as an intern speechwriter for General Colin Powell, where she learned invaluable lessons about leadership and culture creation. From breaking the silence in a military van with a humorous observation about a billboard to receiving personal mentorship from one of America's most respected generals, Sheryl's stories illustrate how small moments can have profound impacts on our lives and careers.

For more episode info and additional inspiring stories, visit https://www.goodlifestories.com/.

"Power is not a zero sum game. Just because somebody steps into theirs doesn't diminish the power of the people who are around them, regardless of gender."

In this final part of the interview with Dr. Tammy Yard-McCracken, host Tracy Crowley explores the deeper motivations and philosophies that drive her guest's remarkable work in women's empowerment and self-defense.

The conversation begins with Dr. Yard-McCracken reflecting on leadership as her superpower, describing her unique "goals backward" approach—envisioning objectives first, then figuring out the path forward—rather than the more common "resources forward" approach. This perspective allows her to see possibilities where others might focus on limitations.

The discussion delves into Dr. Yard-McCracken's powerful guiding philosophy that "you have the right to take up space on the planet." She shares how learning about the estimated 60 million "missing women" worldwide profoundly impacted her worldview and fueled her mission to help women overcome societal conditioning to make themselves smaller. Tracy and Tammy explore how simple language shifts, like eliminating minimizing words such as "just," can help women communicate more powerfully.

The episode concludes with a spotlight on Mary Stevens, a karate practitioner and 500 Rising instructor who is making a significant impact by training girls and women in India through the Fair Fight organization. Dr. Yard-McCracken admires Stevens' commitment to working in extremely challenging conditions, learning the local language, and persisting despite overwhelming obstacles.

Throughout the conversation, listeners gain valuable insights into effective leadership, authentic communication, and how dedicated individuals can create meaningful change even in the most difficult circumstances.

For more episode info and additional inspiring stories, visit https://www.goodlifestories.com/.