We sit down with an inspiring man whose dream is to visit all 197 countries around the world. Ken is 71 years old who unfortunately has a significant vision impairment. But it doesn’t slow him down. His commitment to travel means so much more than just his next trip. He purposefully keeps his mind and body in shape so that he can continue his quest to see all of the countries in the worl. Ken shares some of his favorite travel experiences to date and what the difference is between and tourist and a traveler and how traveling opens up so many more opportunities to have meaningful experiences. He shares travel tips and inspiring words that will hopefully encourage others to follow their passions as well. If you love to travel, admire determination or just enjoy a great story, this is a fun journey not to miss. 

I truly enjoyed my conversation with Dita Dow. She starts off talking about her love for archaeology and what she saw and experienced while on a recent trip to Chaco Canyon in New Mexico. Dita then relates a truly remarkable story about a supernatural experience she had while walking her dog in the petroglyph monument area in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is one of the most interesting stories I have ever heard and truly something amazing to hear. She finishes up the podcast talking about the books she has written and where she finds inspiration for her stories. She also shares why she likes to publish her wonderful stories in the short story format. 
To find out more about Dita:  https://www.ditadow.com/
New release on Amazon: The Haunting Feast of All Hallows Eve: A Tale of Magic and Mystery: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D5W41P3R/

Carolyn Meyer is truly an inspiration. She talks about reinventing herself in her 80's and how it all started with going to an improvisational class in Albuquerque New Mexico. This experience led her to start telling stories in front of audiences and then to having the confidence to take her story telling to new levels by putting on solo performances. She has also performed with The Moth many times around the world telling a story of what it is like to online date in your 80's. Her story called Don't Call Me Young Lady is also part of The Moths compilation book The Moth Presents: A Point of Beauty: True Stories of Holding On and Letting Go.  She is a remarkable story teller with an amazing sense of humor. 

Jim talks about becoming a Naval Aviator including what it is like to land and take off from aircraft carriers. He also talks about one of this proudest accomplishments for how he helped lead an effort to put together a book that became Holes In Our Hearts. He talks about the military members that had their own Stories to Tell and how the process of writing helped in their healing. Jim is a prolific author and has won seventy-seven awards to date. We talked about his creative process and he encourages other authors with tips on how to get started and keep improving their own writing skills. Jim also talks about his son and daughter receiving the Papal Blessing by the Pope in Rome. 

Jim retired after a forty-four-year career with the Department of Defense, including duty as a carrier-based naval aviator. He holds advanced degrees from the University of Southern California and formerly served as a faculty member and National Security Affairs department chair at the Naval Postgraduate School. Dr. Tritten’s publications have won him seventy-seven writing awards, including the Alfred Thayer Mahan Award from the Navy League of the U.S., the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) Writer of the Year and the Parris Award from SouthWest Writers (SWW) – both of these in 2023. He has published thirteen books and over four hundred chapters, short stories, essays, articles, and government technical reports. Jim was a frequent speaker at many military, arms control, and international conferences and has seen his work translated into Russian, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Title: Holes in Our Hearts: An Anthology of New Mexican Military Related Stories and Poetry
Publisher: Independently published (May 29, 2023)

“Introduction”
“Adjusting to New Realities”
“Thank you for your service”
This collection of prose and poetry was gathered and created by SouthWest Writers and funded through a grant from the State of New Mexico Arts Agency. These stories were written and contributed by New Mexican Veterans, their family members and caregivers including: Rosa Armijo-Pemble, Joseph Badal, Rebecca Black, Steve Borbas, E. Joe Brown, Laurel Burnett, Sherri Burr, Ivan Calhoun, John J. Candelaria, Judy Castleberry, Brenda Cole, Brinn Colenda, Joshua Colenda, Mark Fleisher, Paul David Gonzales, Linda G. Harris, M. Elder Hays, A. Michael Hibner, Carl Hitchens, KE Hopkins, James Houston and Molly Houston, Carol Kreis, Caroline A. LeBlanc, Jacqueline Murray Loring, Butch Maki, Elaine Carson Montague, Sam Moorman, Evelyn Neil, Thomas Neiman, C.L. Nemeth, Paula Nixon, Harper O’Connor, Jeffrey Otis, Donna Pedace, W. Howard Plunkett, Léonie Rosenstiel, Earl W. Rugen, Lynne Sebastian, Barb Simmons, Ted Spitzmiller, Dale Swetnam, Jasmine Tritten, Jim Tritten, Lawrence Trujillo, Vicki Turpen, KL Wagoner, Regina Washington, Dan Wetmore, Ben White, Josephine White, J. Allen Whitt, Circe Olson Woessner, Norbert Wood, Kay Yoest.

Sonja Dewing is a multi award winning and best selling author. She is the:

•  CEO, Plot Duckies Publishing
• Founder, Women's Thriller Writers Association
• Podcast: The 5 Minute Author

Her books include Thrillhers, the exciting Idol Maker series which includes Toy of the Gods, Gamble of the Gods, Castoffs of the Gods and Relic of the Gods and many more. In this episode we get to talk about her unique publishing company that focuses on books that have strong female characters, how its creation came about and why it is important to her. We also hear about her amazing trip where she put all aside to take a 7 week adventure to Costa Rica, Panama and Peru and about her time in the Amazon jungle. The last story is about how she got outside her comfort zone to try something completely new - roller derby - and absolutely fall in love with it. I think you will really enjoy Sonja Dewing's Stories to Tell. 

In this edition of the Stories to Tell Podcast, our special guest is Tibbany Ho. Tibbany is quite an inspiring person with a true spirit of adventure that is ever present through her life and also carries forward into her art. In this episode, Tibbany relates some great stories from the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta including being on a balloon crew and getting her first ride in a hot air balloon.  She also has a great story about what it is was like to face her fears at the Bosque Del Apache as thousands of Sandhill Cranes came flying in. She also describes where she finds inspiration and creativity in her art. Tibbany shares the thing she is most proud of in her life is her kids. She shares a remarkable and loving way she gets them up in the morning and how becoming an early riser has impacted her life in a positive way. The episodes start off with a camping adventure in New Mexico to Cochiti Lake with the Girl Scouts that did not go quite as planned!
Places discussed in this episode:
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Bosque Del Apache
Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Cochiti Lake New Mexico
Topics Covered:
Riding in a hot air balloon
Crewing for a hot air balloon team
Attending the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Viewing the migration of thousands of Sandhill Cranes at the Bosque Del Apache
Getting lost in the New Mexico desert 
Finding inspiration to produce wonderfully creative art
Getting up early and the impact on daily life

In this episode, our special guest is Gary Herron. Gary is a local icon in the greater Albuquerque New Mexico area having had a media career that has spanned over 40 years including time at the Albuquerque Journal and Rio Rancho Observer. In this episode, we focus on Gary’s love of sports – especially baseball. Gary tells stories about some of his favorite interactions with famous players including Maury Wills and Bob Feller, how he put together an incredible collection of memorabilia which includes over 100,000 baseball cards and nearly 2,000 books on baseball– and we finish up with a new passion of Gary’s which is the history of Route 66.  We start things off with how Gary developed his passion for baseball.  Thank you for listening to this edition of the Stories to Tell podcast. If you have Story you would like to Tell, please reach out. It will be fun to connect with you. All the best. 

In this episode of Stories to Tell, join us as we dive into the inspiring and multifaceted life of Andres Trujillo. A loving new father, Andres shares heartfelt stories about navigating the challenges and joys of parenthood, offering a glimpse into the magical journey of raising a family.

But that's not all—Andres has a unique tale of how he came to becoming the proud owner of a professional indoor soccer team in the Major Arena Soccer League 2 - MASL2 called the New Mexico Runners. It is located in Rio Rancho New Mexico which is just ouside of Albuquerque New Mexico. Get ready to be motivated and intrigued as he takes us behind the scenes of his journey, unveiling the passion and determination that keeps him going.

We also discover the individuals who serve as his pillars of inspiration. We hear about different people who have played a pivotal role in shaping Andres's values and mindset.

And, of course, get ready for some laughs as Andres bravely shares his most embarrassing moment. It's a hilarious anecdote that will have you nodding in solidarity and chuckling at the relatable mishaps we all encounter in our daily lives.

Tune in to this episode of Stories to Tell for motivational insights and a good dose of humor. 

Judi story is profoundly heartwarming and inspirational, stemming from her willingness to embrace a moment of uncertainty. By taking a chance, she experienced a miraculous turn of events in her life. This incredible journey led her to the discovery of her birth family, including her biological father, who was previously unaware of her existence. This Story to Tell highlights the power of embracing the unknown. 

In this episode of the Stories to Tell podcast, guest David Ruiz shares some great stories. The first story is about his time on a cooking competition TV show. If you ever wondered what the contestants go through, David describes it great detail. The second story is about the early days in his culinary career and how a chef took a chance on him. This journey developed a passion or plating and his desire to pay kindness forward. The third story is about having a dream and it becoming true. The final story is hilarious tale about what can happen when you transport 15 gallons of soup over an uneven floor! Thank you for listening.