🎙 Dissonance

👣 
🌵 Picture this: you're walking through a vast, dry desert, sun scorching your back, lips cracked, feet aching with every step. But you keep going. Why? Because on the horizon, you think you see it: approval, notoriety, love, fulfillment. You’re desperate for a drop of something real. But what if all those mirages are just that mirages?

🎶 The musical artist Plumb once wrote:

"There’s a God-shaped hole in all of us,
And the restless soul is searching.
There’s a God-shaped hole in all of us,
And it’s a void only He can fill."

That’s the ache of dissonance—the tension between what we chase and what we truly need. 💔✨

Today’s guest, Billy Byrd Sr., knows that desert well. 🏜 At 19, he found himself in federal prison, chasing things that never truly filled him. 

In the silence, the dissonance of his life, the clash between who he was and who he was created to be, became impossible to ignore. 🎤🙏

What emerged wasn’t just a man with a microphone, but an artist and pastor whose music and message now echo with redemption, purpose, and praise. 🎵⛪️

From early rhythms in R&B to a soul deeply rooted in worship, Billy’s upcoming album “I Trust You” is more than music; it’s a testimony. His life, once marked by chaos, now sings a new song: one of faith, healing, and divine harmony. 🌈🔥

💡 Episode Highlights:

💭 What “dissonance” really means in life, faith, and identity

🎯 The false promises of fame, fortune, and approval

🔐 How federal prison became a turning point for Billy

🎶 The power of music to guide, heal, and lead us to truth

🕳 The "God-shaped hole" and what finally fills it

🙌 The message behind “I Trust You” and why it matters now

🔗 Connect with Billy Byrd Sr..:
📱 Instagram: @billybyrdsr1
▶️ YouTube: Billy Byrd Sr. Music

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👣 
You’ve probably heard the phrase “members only,” a special club with exclusive access. Think Costco, country clubs, and elite lounges at the airport. But there’s one membership no one ever wants, one that June Kraholik found herself part of in the most gut-wrenching way possible: the invisible club of grieving mothers.

In 2012, June lost her two-year-old son Kaleb, and life as she knew it stopped making sense. Grief didn’t just knock on the door; it overtook her. But out of that devastation, June slowly found a way to transform her pain into purpose. Her debut nonfiction book, Momma, You Don’t Heal, offers an honest, raw, and deeply personal look at what it means to lose a child and live beyond the unthinkable.

💡 Episode Highlights:

🎟 Why grief can feel like a “membership club” no one ever signs up for

💔 What happens when grief becomes something you live with instead of healing from

🧠 The emotional and psychological toll of unresolved grief backed by startling statistics

🗣 The social stigma surrounding child loss and why many grieving mothers feel invisible

✍️ How June used storytelling as a lifeline and why writing helped her process the unimaginable

🕊 A message to mothers who’ve lost children: You’re not alone, and your story still matters

📊 Did you know? Studies show that unresolved grief can lead to serious health issues, including depression, anxiety, immune dysfunction, and even heart disease. One survey found that nearly 1 in 4 bereaved parents experience symptoms of PTSD. (Source: NIH, American Psychological Association)

🔗 Connect with June Kraholik:
Website: authorjunekraholik.com
Instagram: @authorjunekraholik
Book: Momma, You Don’t Heal on Amazon

🎧 Listen & Follow Other People’s Shoes:

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🎙BONUS: The Change

🧩  Unmade:
🛏️ Like an unmade bed, this season leans into the raw, honest, and often messy moments of life—the ones where everything we thought we knew unravels. It’s in these unmade spaces that we begin to see what’s real, what matters, and who we truly are becoming.

🩵💔 

What if the worst moment of your life didn’t destroy you, but instead uncovered your calling?
🔥 In the wake of an unthinkable tragedy, Kathy Sanders did something few would dare: she stepped closer to the pain, asked the hardest questions, and refused to be silenced.
👣 This isn’t just a story about grief. It’s about uncovering the truth, no matter where it leads—and choosing to remain unchanged by a broken world.

👣 Kathy Sanders never intended to become an advocate, author, or investigator. But when the Oklahoma City bombing claimed the lives of her two young grandsons on April 19, 1995, everything in her life came unmade. 💥👼👼

As she mourned, a deeper question haunted her: Was the story we were told the whole truth?
📖 Nearly thirty years later, Kathy’s relentless pursuit of answers has uncovered disturbing evidence of a broader conspiracy—connecting domestic terrorism to far-right extremists, militia groups, and possible government failures. Her book, Shadows of Conspiracy, and her appearance in the Max documentary An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th, challenge us to look beyond the headlines and confront the truths we might rather ignore.

🎶 

This bonus episode takes its name from the Garth Brooks song “The Change,” which reminds us that sometimes our actions aren’t about changing the world, but about refusing to let the world change us:

🎵 And I hear them saying,
"You'll never change things
And no matter what you do
It's still the same thing."
But it's not the world that I am changing
I do this so, this world we know
Never changes me
What I do is so, this world will know
That it will not change me"

🕊️ 

Previously on Other People’s Shoes, we spoke with David Thibodeau, one of the survivors of the Waco standoff, another event closely tied to the timeline that led to April 19th.
👉 Listen to that powerful conversation here: Season Finale: Waco

💡 Episode Highlights:

👩‍👦 Kathy’s deeply personal story of loss and how it led to a life of uncovering the truth

🕵️‍♀️ The disturbing patterns and overlooked evidence that challenge the official narrative

🕊️ What it means to pursue justice without bitterness

🎤 The power of staying grounded in your convictions—even when the world says, "You’ll never change things"

🪞 How does this story fit into the larger theme of living through the “unmade” moments

🔗 Connect with Kathy Sanders:
📘 Book: Shadows of Conspiracy
📱 Facebook: facebook.com/kathy.sanders.90

🎧 Listen & Follow Other People’s Shoes:
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⭐ If this episode moved you, challenged you, or gave you something to think about, don’t keep it to yourself! Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and let us know how stepping into Kathy’s shoes impacted you.

🎙️ "Permission," featuring the incredible James Epps Jr., is live now! 👟 From a childhood marked by trauma, poverty, and pain 🌪️ to earning one of the highest ranks in the U.S. Marine Corps 🇺🇸, James has lived through what most only read about—and came out stronger, sharper, and unshakably purpose-driven 💥. Now he’s using his voice to inspire students, educators, and nonprofits across the country 🌟. His message? 👉 Greatness does not need approval. As Geno Smith put it best: “They wrote me off—I ain’t write back though.” 🗣️🔥 🎧 In this powerful conversation, you’ll hear: 🎒 His journey through trauma and perseverance ✅ How to rise above the labels others place on you 🧭 What 22 years in the Marine Corps taught him about leadership 🎤 Why your voice matters more than their opinions 🚫 And how to stop waiting for permission to live your purpose.

👣 🎙️: "Permission"!
My guest today is James Epps Jr.—a man who’s walked through pain most never see and came out stronger on the other side 💥.

From surviving sexual assault and suicidal thoughts to rising through the ranks of the U.S. Marine Corps 🇺🇸, James’ story is one of raw resilience, unshakable purpose, and leadership forged in fire 🔥.

Now retired, he’s inspiring students, educators, and nonprofits with this truth:
👉 ✅ Key 1: Greatness does not need approval.

👉  ✅ Key 2 Geno Smith said: “They wrote me off—I ain’t write back though.” 🗣️

🎧 Tap in to hear:
🎒 Overcoming trauma and poverty
✅ Breaking the labels others place on you
🧭 22 years of leadership wisdom
🎤 Finding your voice after the silence
🚫 And why don’t you need anyone’s permission to walk in your purpose

📲 Listen now at opspodcast.com or wherever you get your podcasts!

#OtherPeoplesShoes #PermissionPodcast #LeadershipJourney #JamesEppsJr #GreatnessDoesNotNeedApproval #Resilience #MilitaryLeadership #MotivationalSpeaker #GenoSmithQuote #PodcastSeason #Unmade #StepIntoTheirShoes #InspirationDaily #PodcastDrop

⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING: ⚠️

This episode contains sensitive content, including references to sexual violence and trauma. Listener discretion is advised.

👣 This week’s guest, Tam Lawrence, has lived through unimaginable darkness—but her story doesn’t end there. Raped at 14 and put in a cage for two years at the age of 17, Tam's journey is one of extraordinary resilience. Today, she stands as a powerful voice in media, advocacy, and entrepreneurship. Her spirit is unbreakable, her voice unwavering, and her story—one of unmaking and remaking—is unforgettable.

The vivacious Tam Lawrence has owned and operated multiple businesses for over three decades. Refusing to let corporate America define her path, she carved out her own destiny—becoming a celebrated entrepreneur, author, media mogul, and activist.

From a degree in Human Services to a BA in Communication and Psychology at Marquette, and later a Master’s in Journalism from Kent University, Tam’s academic achievements are just the beginning. She toured the world as a stand-up comic, appeared on BET Comic View, and shared stages with Jamie Foxx and Sommore.

Tam founded Exposure Magazine, Exposure Plus TV, and Keynote Magazine, and formed the Urban Media Union to amplify the voices of underrepresented individuals in media. Her career also includes work as a Wisconsin State Lobbyist fighting for vulnerable aging populations.

But beyond titles and accolades, Tam is a mother, a survivor, and a fierce advocate for change—proof that even the most unmade stories can be rewritten into ones of impact and empowerment.

🔗 Connect with Tam Lawrence:
Website: https://www.exposure-magazine.com
Instagram: @iamtamlawrence
YouTube: @ExposurePlusTV

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If this episode moved you, challenged you, or gave you something to think about, don’t keep it to yourself! Please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and let us know how stepping into Tam’s shoes impacted you.

🎙 Red, White, and Unmade 🇺🇸

🧩 Season Theme: Unmade
In a world where life often feels like an unmade bed—chaotic 🌀, imperfect 🧺, and in need of care 💔—we explore the beauty and power of restoration ✨. This season, we spotlight stories of people who are remaking what was once broken, messy, or incomplete 🛠️.

👣 
Throughout history, some of the most remarkable Americans—people like Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King Jr., and even the Founding Fathers—looked at the messiness of this nation 🇺🇸 and said, "Enough." They didn’t run from the chaos—they reshaped it 🔥.

This week, we welcome someone with that same kind of conviction: David Pasqualone 🙌. A born-again believer ✝️, father of two 👨‍👧‍👦, marketing guru 💼, and host of The Remarkable People Podcast 🎧, David has dedicated his life to helping people and organizations break free from confusion and move toward clarity, purpose, and impact 💡. In this special 4th of July episode 🎆, David joins us to explore the idea of freedom in a fractured nation—and he doesn’t shy away from answering the big question: “What would you change about the United States of America?” 🗽

💡 Episode Highlights:

🇺🇸 Why David believes messiness is part of the American DNA

📜 Reflecting on the Founding Fathers’ response to chaos and oppression

🔍 How David thinks the USA can get “remade” through purpose and vision

❓ The one thing David would change about America if he could

🔥 A powerful reminder that freedom isn't free—it’s forged in fire and refined in truth

💪 Encouragement to lead by example in a world desperate for leadership

🔗 Connect with David Pasqualone:
🌐 Website: https://davidpasqualone.com
🐦 X (Twitter): @davepasqualone
🎙️ Podcast: The Remarkable People Podcast

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📣 Leave Us a Review:
If this episode made you pause 🛑 and think about what’s “unmade” in our nation or even in your own heart, 🩵 leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Let us know what freedom means to you 💬.

🧩 Season Theme: Unmade
Much like an unmade bed can be straightened, so too can the messy and painful parts of our lives be reshaped, redefined, and ultimately redeemed. Unmade is about the journey of becoming, again and again.

👣 

What do you do when you're in a place so dark, you can’t see the light—or even remember what light feels like? This week’s guest, Carolyn Sophia Skowron, brings us into her raw, real, and redemptive story of navigating life with Nonverbal Learning Disability, depression, and anxiety. From childhood bullying to relentless self-doubt and anxiety, Carolyn often felt invisible and unworthy. She grew up believing she was broken—until she started to rebuild.

One moment stands out in her story: the day of a hit-and-run car accident. At the very last second, just before impact, Carolyn reached for her seatbelt and buckled it—an act that quite literally saved her life. That moment became more than just physical survival; it symbolized a turning point. It was as if something deep inside her said, You still matter. You’re still worth saving. That split-second decision became the spark that led her on a path to discovering her unbreakable light—a strength that had always been there, waiting to be seen.

💡 Episode Highlights:

Carolyn’s experience growing up feeling like an outsider

Her diagnosis of Nonverbal Learning Disability (NVLD) and what it revealed

The mental toll of bullying, isolation, and internalized self-hate

The hit-and-run accident—and how reaching for her seatbelt became a defining moment

The journey from self-doubt to self-awareness

How therapy, mindfulness, and inner work transformed her foundation

The power of choosing resilience, even in the darkest of places

🔗 Connect with Carolyn Sophia Skowron:
Website: www.carolynsophia.com
Instagram: @carolynsophiaaa

🎧 Listen & Follow Other People’s Shoes:

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📣 Leave Us a Review:
If this episode moved you, challenged you, or gave you hope, don’t keep it to yourself! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and let us know how stepping into Carolyn's shoes impacted you.

🎙STAY

🧩 Season Theme: Unmade
🛏️ Just like an unmade bed, our lives can feel messy, incomplete, or unraveling. But that doesn’t mean they’re beyond hope. This season, we explore the beauty in brokenness—and how what’s unmade can still be remade with purpose, healing, and grace.

👣 Guest Introduction:
This week, we invite you to STAY—Stop Thinking About Yourself—with a guest whose story redefines transformation: Frank Meeink. ⚠️ Once a high-profile neo-Nazi skinhead leader, Frank's life was filled with violence, hate, and deep-rooted pain. But in prison, the unexpected happened—he began to see the people he was taught to hate, and his walls started to crumble. 💥 Frank’s incredible story of redemption and reckoning is captured in his book, Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead 📖. Today, he speaks boldly about the dangers of radicalization and the power of second chances. His journey reminds us that no one is too far gone, and no story too broken to be rebuilt. 🧱💔➡️❤️

💡 Episode Highlights:

🧠 How early pain and ideology shaped Frank’s worldview

🪪 The people in prison who changed his mind—and heart

🔁 What it takes to unlearn hate and rewrite your story

🕊️ Why humility and listening are tools for real change

🫶 The challenge to stay present in others' pain, not just your own

🔗 Connect with Frank Meeink:
📘 Book: Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead

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If this episode opened your eyes, stirred your heart, or helped you see someone differently, don’t keep it to yourself! 🗣️ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share how Frank’s journey helped you choose to STAY. 💬🩵 

🧩 Season Theme: Unmade
This season, we walk into the unexpected—where life unravels, dreams collapse, and identities shift. But sometimes, being unmade is the first step toward being remade. What do we do when the timeline of our lives breaks beyond repair?

👣 Guest Introduction:
This week, I’m joined by Jill Pavlov, a magnetic voice in the world of messaging and storytelling. She’s the founder of Copy POP!, where she helps women transform the chaos in their heads into powerful words they’re proud to say out loud. Jill is helping in assisting entrepreneurs clarify their brand message. She was an entertainment reporter, learning firsthand how presence, performance, and storytelling can command a room.

In this episode, Jill opens up with raw honesty about her battle with eating disorders and addiction — the parts of her story that were messy, hidden, and tangled. With courage and insight, she shares how being unmade cracked her open, eventually giving her the clarity and confidence she brings to her work today.

💡 Episode Highlights:

What it means to be part of the 9%: the estimated portion of the U.S. population who will face an eating disorder

Why the struggle often remains unseen, especially for women in their 40s and 50s

Jill’s journey through addiction, disordered eating, and the turning point toward healing

How clutter, both internal and external, reflects the chaos of our lives — and how we begin to clear it

The parallels between making a bed and rebuilding a life

Why storytelling isn’t just about words, but about reclaiming your voice

🔗 Connect with Jill Pavlov:
Linkedin: 
Instagram:

🎧 Listen & Follow Other People’s Shoes:

👟 Website

🩵 Instagram

👍 Facebook

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📺 YouTube

📣 Leave Us a Review:
If this episode moved you, challenged you, or gave you something to think about, don’t keep it to yourself! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and let us know how stepping into Jill’s shoes impacted you.

🎙️ Episode Title:

"🐛 Hungry Caterpillar"

Season of Unmade — In this season, we explore what happens when life takes us apart, only to reveal who we were truly meant to be. Sometimes we have to be unmade to be remade. 🔄🦋

What’s your greatest pet peeve? 😤 Maybe it's slow drivers 🚗💨, loud chewing 😬, or people who always interrupt. But for today’s guest, Jordan Miller, it's something deeper: accepting things as truth without asking the hard questions. ❓🧠

Jordan was raised as a devout member of the LDS (Latter-day Saint) faith 🙏. He believed. He served. He followed. But inside, a hunger began to grow — a hunger for authenticity, for answers, for truth. 🌱

Eventually, he stepped away from everything he knew to become a truth seeker 🧭. Inspired by his childhood fascination with Bill Nye the Science Guy 🔬🧪, Jordan now approaches life like a science experiment — testing, questioning, and evolving.

Just like a caterpillar, always hungry for more 🐛, Jordan’s journey is one of continuous transformation. 👉 Join me as I step into Jordan’s shoes.

💬 What was it like growing up in the LDS community

⚖️ Wrestling with doubt, truth, and letting go

🔭 How science and critical thinking became guiding forces

🧪 Life as a spiritual experiment

🐛 The metaphor of the hungry caterpillar — growing through curiosity and change

📎  Jordan’s AI click here

🌐 Website: opspodcast.com

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Let’s keep the conversation going — one step at a time 👟💬

If Jordan’s journey got you thinking 🤔, please leave us a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review — it helps more people discover the show!
📲 Don’t forget to share this episode with someone else who’s hungry for truth too 💬👟

Stepping into Other People’s Shoes helps us see the world 🌎 through their steps and sometimes, discover the hunger within our hearts.🩵