Life Stories Podcast with Shara Goswick: Real People. Inspiring Stories. Making a Difference.

Today I’m talking with Chef Steff about food, music, community, and the courage to take a chance on yourself. From her childhood as her mom’s “sous chef” to creating private culinary experiences and her “Good News is on the Menu” project, Steff shares how cooking became a way to connect with people and bring more joy into their lives.

We also talk about stepping outside your comfort zone, finding something you love, and using whatever gifts you have to help others. Steff’s message is simple: take the next step, be kind, and look for ways to make a difference.

To find out more about Chef Steff's Curated Experiences, visit https://shefsteff.com/.

Connect with Steff on Instagram @GoodNewsisOnTheMenu 

Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/lifestoriespodcast

In this episode, I talk with Marcus Walker, CEO of Daily Bread Ministries in San Antonio, about what it really means to help people who are experiencing poverty and food insecurity. Daily Bread rescues food that would otherwise go to waste and provides it to churches and community organizations, but Marcus explains that the ministry is about much more than putting food on someone's table. Food is a tool for building relationships, restoring dignity, and creating opportunities for deeper conversations and lasting change.

Marcus and I talk about why poverty is about more than a lack of food, money, or resources, and how broken relationships can play a significant role. He shares why Daily Bread focuses on equipping churches through education, including financial and parenting courses, rather than simply meeting immediate needs. We also talk about the importance of remembering someone's name, giving people choices, and seeing the person behind the circumstances. Marcus shares how his own perspective on poverty has changed over the years and leaves listeners with a simple encouragement: don't underestimate what God can do with one small step.

To find out more about Daily Bread Ministries in San Antonio, visit https://dbmsa.org/

Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/lifestoriespodcast

Today I’m talking with Allan Glanfield, a Canadian entrepreneur, husband, and dad who decided that waiting for “someday” wasn’t good enough. Allan and his family packed up their lives, rented out their home, and began traveling the world with their two young children. From Greece and Italy to France, England, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, their family has embraced a lifestyle centered around spending time together, experiencing different cultures, and giving their kids opportunities to see the world from a different perspective.

Along the way, Allan has also been building Chuck, a Canadian meat snack brand created from a problem his own family experienced while traveling. He shares what it’s like to build a food business without investors or a large team, why solving a real problem matters more than having perfect branding, and what he has learned from starting and failing at other businesses.

Allan’s story is a reminder that you don’t necessarily have to wait until everything is perfect to make a change. Sometimes, you just have to take that first step and figure out the rest along the way.

To find out more about Chuck, visit https://eatchuck.com/

Connect with Allan on Instagram  @eatchuck 

Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/lifestoriespodcast

Today I’m talking with Jobert E. Abueva about burnout, life transitions, and what it means to pause long enough to really ask ourselves what matters. Jobert shares how his successful career running Clairol Herbal Essences eventually led him to a point of burnout where he realized he had been ignoring his own wellbeing. That experience became the turning point that inspired The Janus Plan, a six-step framework built around looking honestly at the past before deciding how we want to move forward.

We talk about why so many of us struggle with resolutions, how to recognize when we’re quietly out of alignment, and why taking care of ourselves needs to come before deciding what we want to accomplish next.

Jobert also shares three simple questions we can ask whenever we find ourselves at a crossroads: What has worked that we want to continue? What can we let go of? And what is this season or situation trying to teach us? This is a practical conversation for anyone who feels overwhelmed, stuck, or simply ready to begin again with more intention.

To find out more about Jobert and pre-order his book, visit https://joberteabueva.com/

Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/lifestoriespodcast

Today I’m talking with Kim Rogers, better known as the viral “Worm Queen.” Kim spent more than 20 years working in Western medicine before her own long battle with chronic illness, endometriosis, Lyme disease, mold, and parasites led her on a very different healing journey. After feeling dismissed and without answers, Kim decided to become her own patient advocate, and that decision eventually changed the direction of her life.

Kim shares how one TikTok video about her experience with parasites went viral and led her to create RogersHood Apothecary and the ParaFy Parasite Cleanse Kit. We talk about her journey from Western medicine to natural herbal products, why patient advocacy is so important to her, what it has been like to build a huge online community, and her goal of making parasite education and testing more accessible.

This is a conversation about turning years of pain and frustration into a purpose that Kim hopes will help others take a more active role in their own health.

You can connect with Kim through the following sites:
www.RogersHood.com
Podcast: What’s Eating U?!
Tiktok: MrsRogersHood
Instagram: MrsRogers.Hood
YouTube: MrsRogersHood


Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/lifestoriespodcast

In this episode, I’m talking with Dr. David Teitelbaum, an osteopathic physician, functional medicine practitioner, author, and someone who has spent more than 40 years helping people improve their health by looking beyond their symptoms. But his journey into human medicine started in an unexpected place: as a veterinarian. Dr. Teitelbaum shares the “God moment” that led him to leave veterinary medicine and pursue human medicine, and how spending a day with an osteopathic physician completely changed the direction of his career.

We talk about what functional medicine really means and why Dr. Teitelbaum believes there is a place for both traditional medicine and more natural approaches to health. He explains why small, simple changes can make a difference and why being healthy isn’t about being perfect. It’s about what we do most of the time.

Dr. Teitelbaum also shares what he has learned about the connection between the gut and the brain, including why digestive health can have such a significant impact on overall health. We talk about brain health, cognitive decline, nutrition, supplements, inflammation, and some of the practical things people can consider as they work toward healthier aging.

To learn more about Dr. Teitelbaum and his work, visit https://www.doctor-t.com/

You can get his book here: https://shorturl.at/3ycJp

Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/lifestoriespodcast

In this solo episode of Life Stories, I take a break from my usual guest conversations to share a little about my summer: the good, the difficult, and everything in between. From a relaxing vacation and time with my grandkids to celebrating my birthday, starting an exciting new project, losing a beloved cat, and facing some unexpected challenges, I open up about the ups and downs that are simply part of life.

Through all of it, there has been one constant: the faithfulness of God. I share why I picture God’s faithfulness like a boulder standing firm in the middle of a rushing river, unchanging and unmoved no matter how chaotic life becomes.

If you’re walking through something difficult, feeling frustrated, grieving, or simply unsure of what comes next, I hope this conversation reminds you that God is faithful, He loves you right where you are, and you can trust Him even when life is hard.

You can find out more about me at lifestoriespodcast.com.

Here is the link to the survey I mentioned: https://forms.gle/iBQVWqP4tNQoeJtB9

After losing his five-year-old son Joey to Dravet syndrome, Michael Gomoll turned unimaginable grief into a mission of hope. He founded Joey's Song, a nonprofit that raises money for pediatric epilepsy research through incredible live music events featuring Rock & Roll Hall of Famers and Grammy-winning artists.

In this heartfelt conversation, Michael shares Joey's story, explains epilepsy in a way anyone can understand, and talks about how music became Joey's greatest connection to the world. He also offers encouragement for families facing a new diagnosis, shares the inspiring growth of Joey's Song, and reminds us that when people are given the opportunity to help, they often do.

In this episode, we discuss:
* Joey's journey with Dravet syndrome
* Understanding epilepsy and seizures
* How Joey's Song began
* The role music played in Joey's life
* Raising over $2 million for epilepsy research
* Encouragement for families facing a diagnosis
* The power of community and hope

To connect with Mike or find out more about Joey's Song, visit https://www.joeyssong.org/Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/lifestoriespodcast

We all know someone who seems to have everything together but what if they're quietly carrying the weight of everyone else's emotions?

In this episode, I sit down with life coach Caroline Holke to talk about the hidden struggles so many high-achieving women face. From people-pleasing and perfectionism to overthinking and replaying conversations, Caroline explains why these patterns develop and, more importantly, how we can begin to change them.

Caroline shares her own journey from a successful corporate marketing career to becoming a coach after experiencing firsthand how life-changing coaching can be. She explains how learning to question her own thoughts transformed her relationships, career, and confidence.

We also talk about "relationship regulation": learning to stay steady during conflict, stop walking on eggshells, and let go of the pressure to keep everyone else happy.

If you've ever found yourself lying awake replaying a conversation, worrying about what someone thinks of you, or feeling like you have to be perfect all the time, this conversation will remind you that you're not alone and that real change is possible.

To connect with Caroline, visit https://www.carolineholkecoaching.com/

To receive a free private Befriend Your Fear session, visit this link: https://shorturl.at/5dWNE.

(This is a somatic coaching method that helps clients work with the fear that is keeping them stuck. The kind of fear that no amount of "talking it through," strategic questioning or tools can help. It is available through Aug 13, 2026)

Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/lifestoriespodcast

Laura Van Wormer has spent a lifetime telling stories. From working her way up at Doubleday Publishing to becoming a bestselling novelist, she has seen the publishing world from every angle. In this episode, she shares how a childhood love of storytelling, encouraged by her mother, led to a successful writing career and some unforgettable experiences with legendary authors and publishers.

Laura also opens up about the devastating car accident that nearly ended her writing career, how she found hope again through podcasting, and why she created The Class of '74: a serialized fictional podcast that brings listeners back to the early 1970s. We talk about writing, publishing, creativity, overcoming setbacks, and why it's never too late to tell the story that's been waiting inside you.

Whether you're a writer, a reader, or someone looking for a little inspiration, this conversation is full of wisdom, laughter, and encouragement.

To connect with Laura and listen to her podcast, visit https://classof74podcast.com/

Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/lifestoriespodcast