Peter Muyshondt climbed the ranks of the Belgian police force fighting the war on drugs. But after his younger brother succumbs to a life of addiction and crime, he starts to wonder whether police culture and policy could use a makeover.

At the height of the housing crisis, HR professional Michelle Berg hit her career high as a corporate downsizer, flying across the country firing thousands of workers. But she gains a whole new perspective when she gets the boot herself.

Reporter Jana Pruden stumbled upon one of her newspaper articles embedded in the design of a random scarf while at a trade show. This little fashion faux pas led her on a worldwide investigation of epic proportions.

Taryn Wright has always been a very curious person. When an injury forced her to take some time off from her job as a futures trader, her side-project led her into an accidental career identifying fake online profiles, leaving her with new friends, and a few enemies, along the way.

An engineer-turned-lawyer-turned-open-source software champion is diagnosed with a life-threatening heart disease, but she's not convinced her pacemaker is the most secure cure.

Madelon Guinazzo is a professional cuddler who practices the art of respectful touch while fulfilling a modern day need for genuine human connection.

Sean Mann carried out his father's dying wish to study Kung Fu and start a school dedicated to the martial art in the family name. He's hoping his kids will take over one day... if he can manage to avoid repeating his father's mistakes.

A musician experiencing existential angst has a chance encounter with a wise man at a bakery, only to discover he's met the mentor he didn’t realize he needed.

Gustavo Diaz can't return to the country he loves, but that doesn't mean the former army colonel is done fighting for his people. Now he resides in Hoover, Alabama, where he does double duty as a hardware store clerk and, during his work breaks, political agitator. Follow along at [slack.com/podcast](https://slack.com/podcast/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=Simplecast&utm_campaign=podcastWIPshownotes) and [@slackstories](https://twitter.com/slackstories)

Muddy Matches is a dating site made for country folk, by country folk. Meet Lucy Reeves, the industrious farm girl who started it all. Follow along at [slack.com/podcast](https://slack.com/podcast/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=Simplecast&utm_campaign=podcastWIPshownotes) and [@slackstories](https://twitter.com/slackstories)