What if life doesn’t have to be as complicated as we sometimes make it?

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I’m joined by Angelo Valenti, an author and business professional with more than 40 years of experience working with people and businesses. We talk about success, relationships, self-love, motivation, control, and the experiences that shape how we see life.

Angelo also shares the story behind his book, You’re Making This Way Too Hard: Find YOUR Easy Way to NJOYLFE, and why he believes we can find a simpler, more meaningful way to move through life.

It’s a warm and honest conversation about the lessons life teaches us, the things we sometimes overcomplicate, and finding your own easy way through it all.

Because if it’s part of life, it’s part of the conversation.

What makes some couples seem to just glow when they’re together?

In this episode, I’m joined by Ed Tomlinson, author of Glowing Relationships: How Two Ordinary People Create What Dreams Are Made Of, for a real conversation about love, connection, communication, romance, intimacy, and the everyday things that can shape a relationship.

Ed shares insights from his own experience and the ideas behind his book, including why the little things can matter more than grand gestures and how couples can continue building a relationship they genuinely enjoy being in.

If you’re interested in love, relationships, and what it takes to keep a connection strong over time, this conversation is for you.

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I sit down with Anna Jinja Mather for a deeply personal and thoughtful conversation about identity, belonging, self worth, and what it really means to choose yourself.

Anna shares how growing up as an international adoptee, being born in Seoul and raised in Iowa, shaped the way she understood identity and home. We talk about the different ways people search for belonging, the things we consciously choose to carry through life, and why knowing our worth can sometimes be harder than it sounds.

We also talk about her book, Adopting Grace, the heart behind the Choose You Club, the power of creativity and storytelling, and what years of listening to other people's stories have taught her about human connection.

Most of all, this conversation is about finding your place, understanding your story, and giving yourself permission to choose a life that feels true to who you are.

A beautiful conversation about belonging, worth, identity, and learning to choose yourself.

Tune in and join the conversation.

What happens to our faith when life doesn’t go the way we hoped?

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I’m joined by Cathy Garland for an honest conversation about faith, doubt, loss, waiting, and learning to trust God through seasons we don’t understand.

Cathy shares her journey from questioning the faith she grew up with to discovering a deeper, more personal relationship with God. We talk about deconstructing and rebuilding faith, hearing God’s voice, unanswered prayer, waiting on God’s timing, and what it means to truly know God rather than simply know about Him.

If you’ve ever questioned your faith, felt distant from God, or wondered what to hold onto when life doesn’t make sense, this conversation is for you.

🎙️ Real Talk with Dede — honest, unfiltered conversations about life, faith, relationships, growth, and everything in between.

Because if it’s part of life, it’s part of the conversation.

What really drives success and what happens when we take a closer look at the person behind it?

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I’m joined by Jay Izso, a psychologist, performance enhancement coach, business strategist, author, and speaker, for a meaningful conversation about the mindset behind success.

We talk about how our personal challenges can show up in our businesses, why changing our mindset can be so difficult, finding purpose, building resilience, learning from failure, and redefining what success really means.

Jay also shares lessons from his own journey and the experiences that shaped the way he approaches psychology, performance, and personal growth.

It’s an honest conversation about looking inward, asking better questions, and understanding how the person we become can shape the life and success we create.

If it’s part of life, it’s part of the conversation.

Life doesn’t always go the way we planned, and sometimes the storms we face are the ones we never saw coming.

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I’m joined by Bill Derrick, businessman, speaker, author, and someone who has spent more than five decades navigating both the highs and challenges of life and business.

We talk about resilience, faith, family, leadership, and what happens when life brings circumstances we simply cannot control. Bill shares how unexpected seasons shaped his perspective, changed his relationship with control, and taught him to find gratitude even in difficult moments.

We also talk about what it means to “live in between” , those seasons when you’re waiting, uncertain about what comes next, and learning to keep moving forward anyway.

If you’re going through a difficult season, facing the unexpected, or simply trying to make more sense of life’s storms, this conversation offers a reminder that even when we can’t control what happens, we can still choose how we respond.

🎙️ Tune in for an honest conversation about resilience, faith, gratitude, and finding your way through the storms of life.

Because if it’s part of life, it’s part of the conversation.

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I’m joined by Mr. Whiskey, U.S. Navy veteran, podcaster, speaker, author, preacher, addiction recovery coach, and comedian.

We have an honest conversation about the things people often struggle to talk about: mental health, suicide prevention, addiction, recovery, faith, trauma, identity, and finding purpose after difficult experiences.

Mr. Whiskey shares perspectives shaped by his own journey, military experience, recovery work, and his passion for helping people face the parts of life they may otherwise keep hidden. We also talk about church trauma, the difference between faith and religious performance, the role of humor in difficult conversations, and what social media is doing to the way younger generations understand identity and masculinity.

This conversation is a reminder that sometimes breaking the silence is where healing and change can begin.

If it’s part of life, it’s part of the conversation.

What happens when a childhood friendship grows into a love story that lasts for more than 30 years of marriage?

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I’m joined by Frank E. Coursey IV, whose story with his wife, Eugenie, began when they were just kids in 1982. From old letters written when they were young to building a life together, Frank shares what it has meant to grow, change, and continue choosing each other through the different chapters of life.

We talk about what lasting love really looks like, why sometimes we have to “fall in love with a different person who is still the same person,” and the importance of making room for change in a long term relationship.

Frank also opens up about becoming a published author at 56 after spending most of his life outside the writing world, what happened when he began putting his memories and experiences into words, and how writing his story changed the way he sees his past, present, and future.

This is a conversation about love, friendship, growth, positivity, new beginnings, and the courage to start something new at any stage of life.

If it’s part of life, it’s part of the conversation. ❤️

Motherhood is often celebrated for all the love it brings, but what about the moments when mama is overwhelmed, exhausted, struggling, or simply not okay?

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I’m joined by Tammy Powder, an author, mama, mental health advocate, parent advocate, mindfulness and meditation practitioner, and Peer Support Worker.

Tammy and I have an honest conversation about the realities of motherhood and the pressure so many mothers carry while trying to care for everyone around them. We talk about self compassion, guilt, shame, feeling alone, and why mothers need support and connection just as much as the people they care for.

We also talk about helping children navigate anxiety and big emotions, creating safe spaces for children to talk about their mental health, and making mental health conversations a normal part of family life.

Tammy shares the heart behind her book Mamas Need Love and Compassion Too and her Bella book series, along with the message she hopes every mother and family can take away: you don't have to do this alone.

If you've ever felt like you needed to be Wonder Woman while secretly wondering if you're doing enough, this conversation is for you.

🎙️ Real Talk with Dede — a podcast about life unfiltered.

If it’s part of life, it’s part of the conversation.

What if the answers you’re looking for aren’t always outside of you?

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I’m joined by Shantana Telise, a spiritual teacher, multidimensional healer, and channel, for an honest conversation about channeling, self trust, healing, and the ways our inner identity can shape what we experience in life.

We talk about what channeling actually means, how to distinguish intuition from fear and our own thoughts, and why people can spend years working on themselves while still repeating the same patterns. Shantana also breaks down wealth identity, why receiving can feel uncomfortable, and how self trust can influence everything from relationships and purpose to business and money.

We also explore what happens when you outgrow an old version of yourself, how deeper healing can create change beyond the conscious mind, and whether technology like AI could ever replace the depth of human connection.

A thought-provoking conversation about knowing yourself, trusting yourself, and becoming more comfortable with the person you’re becoming.

Because life doesn’t come with a script and sometimes, the most important conversations are the ones that bring us back to ourselves.

Listen now on Real Talk with Dede.