What happens when a childhood fascination becomes a dream—and that dream survives failure, setbacks, and uncertainty?

On this episode of The Story Seat, Irene Chan shares the remarkable story of her journey from growing up in East Los Angeles as the daughter of an immigrant family to becoming a Flight Planning Engineer supporting NASA's International Space Station and Artemis programs.

Her story is one of curiosity, resilience, mentorship, and refusing to let difficult beginnings define what is possible. From academic probation and losing her first engineering job to helping support missions that advance human space exploration, Irene reminds us that sometimes the path to an extraordinary future begins simply with the courage to keep going.

A story about perseverance, possibility, and believing you belong—even before you know exactly where you're going.

Confidence, relationships, identity, and personal growth are deeply connected. Before we can build meaningful relationships with others, we often have to learn how to understand ourselves, grow in confidence, and become comfortable with who we are.

In this episode of The Story Seat, Lopaze Lasane shares how his experiences in the U.S. Navy, traveling across different cultures, and years of studying relationships shaped his perspective on confidence, attraction, purpose, and personal responsibility.

This conversation goes beyond dating advice. It's about becoming a stronger, more authentic version of yourself—and understanding how that growth can transform the way you connect with others.

Because sometimes, the most important relationship we have to work on first is the one we have with ourselves.

What if meaningful change begins not with winning an argument, but with being willing to listen?

In this episode of The Story Seat, Teddy Bloom shares the story behind Ride4Rights—a cross-country bicycle journey born from his concern about political division and his belief that respectful dialogue, civic education, free speech, equal justice, and national unity still matter.

From extreme weather and physical challenges to thousands of miles of conversations with strangers across America, Teddy's journey became about far more than cycling. It became an exploration of what happens when we step outside our comfort zones, meet people where they are, and choose conversation over division.

This is a story about conviction, courage, citizenship, and the belief that ordinary people can create meaningful change—one conversation at a time.

Some chapters of life are written through loss, unanswered questions, and moments we never would have chosen. But sometimes, those same chapters become the place where we discover faith, resilience, purpose, and a voice of our own.

In this episode of The Story Seat, we sit down with Dara V. Rose—author, speaker, Bible study teacher, and founder of 12 Cups of Grace—to explore grief, faith, identity, motherhood, and the quiet journey of healing.

Dara shares how profound losses and difficult seasons shaped her relationship with God and ultimately inspired her to help other women navigate their own grief and rediscover their voices.

This is a conversation about carrying pain without allowing it to define you—and discovering that even the hardest chapters can still become part of a story filled with grace, hope, and purpose.

What if you stopped waiting until you felt old enough, ready enough, or experienced enough—and simply started?

In this episode of The Story Seat, we sit down with Shanti Hershenson, a remarkable young author, poet, and anti-bullying advocate whose love for storytelling began with childhood drawings and scribbles and grew into a published writing career while she was still in sixth grade.

Shanti shares the story behind her passion for writing, what it was like to publish at such a young age, the challenges of being taken seriously as a young creator, and how she uses storytelling and poetry to speak about bullying and experiences many young people struggle to express.

Her journey is a powerful reminder that purpose doesn't always wait for adulthood—and sometimes the most important thing you can do is simply begin.

We often celebrate the films that make it to the screen, but what about the ones that never do?

In this episode of The Story Seat, we sit down with Alan Katz—writer, producer, podcaster, and storyteller—to explore the unexpected stories behind creativity, failure, rejection, and success. From his work in television and film to creating The How NOT To Make A Movie Podcast, Alan has spent decades discovering that some of the most fascinating stories happen behind the scenes.

We talk about unfinished projects, creative disasters, lessons from failure, the unpredictable nature of Hollywood, and what decades of storytelling have taught Alan about success and meaningful conversations.

Because sometimes, the stories of what went wrong aren't failures at all—they're the stories that teach us the most.

What does it really mean to become a man others can trust, respect, and follow? In this episode of The Story Seat, Mike Van Pelt shares his journey from achievement and leadership to a deeper understanding of purpose, character, faith, and intentional living. We explore healthy masculinity, vulnerability, family, leadership, and the experiences that shape the kind of legacy we leave behind. Mike’s story is ultimately a reminder that true leadership begins from the inside—and that the most meaningful legacy is found in the lives we influence.

In this episode of The Story Seat, Sylvia Worsham shares a deeply personal story of a life-changing medical complication, stepping away from a successful corporate career, and awakening to a deeper sense of purpose. She reflects on faith, turning points, doubt, and the courage it takes to listen when life begins calling you in a new direction.

It’s a heartfelt conversation about transformation, spiritual awakening, and discovering that sometimes the moments that disrupt our lives can ultimately lead us closer to who we’re meant to become.

In this episode of The Story Seat, Robert Raymond Riopel shares his powerful journey from $150,000 in debt to financial freedom by the age of 32. He opens up about the mindset shifts, lessons, and turning points that changed the direction of his life and inspired his book, Success Left A Clue.

It’s an energizing conversation about recognizing the opportunities hidden in our experiences, overcoming financial struggles, and taking the steps that can turn a difficult chapter into a breakthrough.

In this episode of The Story Seat, Jim Marshall takes us on a fascinating journey through decades of exploring human potential, philosophy, psychology, science, and consciousness. As the creator of Septemics, Jim shares how his curiosity led him to develop new ways of understanding human behavior, personal growth, and the patterns that shape our lives.

It’s a thought-provoking conversation about curiosity, self-understanding, and why sometimes the path to growth begins not with finding answers, but with asking better questions.