In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I’m joined by Dr. Gerald Robison for a conversation about God, faith, purpose, joy, and what it really means to live a meaningful life.

We talk about everything from the strange and fascinating animals God created, to those moments when we know what we should do but struggle to actually do it. Gerald also shares about a time when he thought he was going to die and how that experience changed the way he looked at life.

We talk about finding real joy when life doesn’t go the way we planned, the questions we have about God and faith, and what Gerald has learned from traveling around the world and listening to people from different backgrounds.

It’s an honest conversation about faith, purpose, joy, mortality, and learning to live more intentionally while we’re here.

What happens when we begin to question what we think we know about ourselves, spirituality, and consciousness?

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I sit down with Doug Red Hail Pineda, founder of The Church of Psychedelics, for an open and thought provoking conversation about psychedelics, spirituality, consciousness, and personal transformation.

Doug helps clear up some of the common misconceptions surrounding psychedelics and shares his perspective on plant medicine, mystical experiences, microdosing, self awareness, and what these experiences can reveal about the way we see ourselves and the world around us. We also explore nature, spirituality, and what it means to be a spiritual being having a human experience.

This conversation isn't about having all the answers. It's about being willing to ask deeper questions, challenge what we believe, and become more aware of ourselves and the world we live in.

Listen in and decide what you think.

What happens when you discover that someone you once admired in your family history was involved in a deeply troubling part of America’s past?

For Steve Jensen, that discovery changed much more than the way he saw an old family photograph. It led him to confront his family’s history, examine his own beliefs, and ask what responsibility looks like when we inherit a past we didn’t create.

A trial lawyer for 23 years, Steve took an unusual approach to understanding his ancestor: he researched the historical record, then imagined sitting across from him and cross-examining him about the choices he made.

But this conversation goes beyond genealogy. Steve shares how his journey became deeply personal, especially as a father and grandfather, and why confronting racial history has become a lifelong commitment for him.

We talk about family, race, responsibility, difficult truths, and what it means to decide what we carry forward and what we choose to change.

The past may be something we inherit. But the future is something we choose.

What happens when struggling to learn starts to change the way a child sees themselves?

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I’m joined by Russell Van Brocklen, also known as the Dyslexia Professor, for a conversation about dyslexia that goes beyond the academic struggle.

We talk about how years of frustration can affect a child’s confidence and identity, why dyslexic learners can be “specialists, not generalists,” and how understanding a child’s strengths can change the way they learn.

Russell also shares his approach to working with struggling learners, what parents can do when a child begins to shut down, and what it can look like when a child moves from frustration to genuine confidence.

This conversation is for parents, educators, and anyone who wants to better understand the person behind the struggle.

Because struggling with something doesn't mean you're incapable. Sometimes, you just need to find the way that works for you.

What happens when healing doesn’t feel like progress?

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I’m joined by Laura Sharp-Waites, licensed minister, pastoral counselor, author, and host of At the Counter with the Baking Pastor, for an honest conversation about faith, healing, grief, rest, and finding God in the ordinary moments of life.

We talk about why healing isn’t always linear, what it means to trust God when life doesn’t look the way we expected, and the hidden forms of grief we may carry without even realizing it.

Laura and I also explore why rest can feel so difficult, what genuine soul care looks like, and what to do when you’re spiritually tired, tired of praying, waiting, or trying to make sense of everything.

This conversation is a reminder that healing doesn’t have to look perfect, faith doesn’t require us to have all the answers, and sometimes God meets us right in the middle of the ordinary.

What actually keeps a relationship together?

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I’m joined by Eric Williams, a U.S. Army veteran and former 82nd Airborne paratrooper, relationship educator, author, and father.

We talk about building vs. restoring relationships, the communication patterns that create disconnection, healthy conflict, and what it really takes to build lasting connection.

Eric also shares practical insights from his 20+ years of marriage, parenting, and his work helping people understand the deeper patterns behind their relationships.

What happens when you stop seeing a diagnosis as the end of your story and start seeing it as part of your journey?

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I’m joined by Reza Ghaemi, author of Bipolar Is My Superpower: How Acceptance Changed My Life, for an honest and deeply personal conversation about living with bipolar I disorder.

Reza opens up about his diagnosis, the struggle with denial, and what ultimately helped him move toward acceptance. We talk about the realities of mania and psychosis, misconceptions surrounding bipolar disorder, medication, self awareness, personal responsibility, family support, creativity, music, and finding the courage to share your story publicly.

Most importantly, Reza shares a message of hope for anyone who has recently been diagnosed and is afraid that their diagnosis will define the rest of their life.

This is a conversation about acceptance, resilience, identity, and finding strength beyond the diagnosis.

Real Talk with Dede
If it’s part of life, it’s part of the conversation.

What happens when success on the outside doesn’t quiet the doubts on the inside?

In this episode of Real Talk with Dede, I’m joined by Steve Barton for an honest conversation about fear, self doubt, guilt, shame, and the pressure to prove ourselves. We explore his Game of Ten® and Game OFTEN Played©, what keeps us stuck in old patterns, and what it means to move toward greater awareness, clarity, and confidence.

At the heart of our conversation is a simple but powerful question: What changes when we truly believe, “I Am Enough”?

A real conversation about success, self worth, and learning to stop living from fear and start living with greater intention.

Every great conversation starts somewhere, and this is ours.

In this first episode, I’m opening the door to a space where we can have honest conversations about the realities of life. No topic is off limits, from health and fitness to relationships, career, personal growth, and everything in between.

I hope you’ll join me for the conversations, share your thoughts, and be part of this growing community.

Welcome to Real Talk with Dede.