In this episode of Life Stories, Shara sits down with filmmaker, author, teacher, and global traveler Craig D. Forrest, whose career has taken him across the world to tell stories through television, film, and now books.

Craig shares how he discovered his calling at just 22 years old while living in Brussels , a moment that set the course for a lifetime of directing, traveling, and storytelling. From working on major television productions like The Amazing Race to filming documentaries overseas, Craig opens up about what life behind the camera really looks like, including the long nights, the solitude, and the deep connections formed along the way .

He also talks about his love for teaching and mentoring, why it matters to pour into the next generation, and how patience, listening, and perseverance shaped his career. Craig gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at writing his memoir Night Train to Cairo, sharing how years of experiences from Paris cafés to traveling with his children became a powerful story of a life lived fully.

To find out more about Craig and his work, visit: craigdforrest.com and matchstickmedia.org.

Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast?Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1718977880777072342a16683

In this heartfelt and honest episode, Shara sits down with Rick and Clancy, the hosts of The Loud Quiet, a podcast created to help couples navigate the often emotional transition into the empty nest.

What began as a single vulnerable conversation, “What if we don’t like each other when the kids leave?” turned into a life-changing realization that this season requires intention, not just endurance. Rick and Clancy share how that moment sparked their podcast, their book, and a renewed commitment to each other.

Together, they talk openly about:

*Why the empty nest can feel painfully quiet — and why that quiet can be “loud”*How moms and dads experience this season differently*What happens when your parenting identity suddenly shifts*Why intentional connection is essential when the kids move out*How travel, community, and spontaneity helped them rediscover each other*How to emotionally prepare when your last child is about to leave*Why feeling everything — sadness, joy, fear, and excitement — is not only normal, but healthy

They also share touching stories about launching their children into adulthood, the emotional moments that surprised them most, and how watching their daughter confidently step into independence gave them peace and hope for the future.

Rick and Clancy also introduce their podcast The Loud Quiet and their upcoming book, both designed to help couples not just survive the empty nest but truly thrive in it.

To find out more about Rick and Clancy's work, visit https://www.theloudquiet.com/

Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1718977880777072342a16683

In this episode of Life Stories, Shara sits down with Candi Rose, author, TEDx speaker, real estate investor, and single mom, to talk about healing, shame, faith, and the courage it takes to tell the truth about your past.

Candi shares:

*Why she wrote her memoir, Naked
*How toxic shame nearly cost her her life
*What growing up bullied and hurting led her to seek escape through drugs and risky behavior
*How success didn’t bring healing — and why she walked away from everything to find herself
*How moving to Spain changed her life
*The journey from hiding for decades to speaking on a TEDx stage
*Why telling the truth sets you free
*How God can turn your deepest pain into your greatest purpose

You’ll also hear her wisdom for parents, for those walking through shame, and for anyone who feels stuck in their past and unsure how to move forward.

This episode is raw, faith-filled, honest, and deeply hopeful.

To find out more about Candi and her work, visit https://www.candirose.com/

Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1718977880777072342a16683

::CONTENT WARNING:: In this episode, the subjects of mental health and suicide are discussed.

In this deeply moving episode of Life Stories, Shara sits down with Jessica Domingos, co-founder of The Evie Effect, a nonprofit born from the unimaginable loss of her 12-year-old daughter, Evie.

Jessica shares Evie’s story with honesty, compassion, and courage and talks about childhood anxiety, the pressures of middle school, and the heartbreaking reality that so many families quietly face. Out of her family’s grief came a powerful mission: to make sure no one has to face mental health struggles or suicide alone.

You’ll learn how The Evie Effect is creating change through:

*Holding Space, a suicide-prevention workshop that teaches people how to recognize warning signs and have life-saving conversations
*Beyond the Darkness, their podcast that brings hope through honest storytelling
*Community events like their 5K and Evie Rocks Tyler, a powerful suicide-awareness concert
*Support for those who’ve lost someone, including healing retreats for survivors of suicide loss


This episode is not just about grief. It’s about connection, courage, and what happens when love becomes a lifeline. Jessica reminds us that small acts of kindness, honest conversations, and simply showing up for one another can truly save lives.

To find out more about The Evie Effect, visit https://evieeffect.org/

Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1718977880777072342a16683

In this moving episode of Life Stories, host Shara Goswick sits down with Mick Wienholt, the founder and host of the powerful video podcast When You Look. Mick shares how two life-altering events (a miraculous survival after triggering his own avalanche and the devastating loss of his son Luke at 39 weeks) became the foundation for his deep relationship with God and his calling to share testimonies.

Mick opens up about growing up around religion but without a real relationship with Jesus, until heartbreak and helplessness brought him to his knees in a hospital hallway where he cried out to God for the first time. From that moment on, everything changed—not only his life, but the legacy of his family. Today, Mick and his wife are parents to three living children, and their family is rooted in faith that began through loss.

Listeners also hear how God placed the word “testimonies” in Mick’s heart years before When You Look ever existed, and how a season of unemployment, fasting, and complete surrender led him to finally launch the show in April 2025. Now with dozens of episodes recorded, Mick hosts everyday people sharing extraordinary stories of redemption, healing, and God’s unmistakable presence.

This episode is a reminder that God often reveals Himself most clearly in our hardest moments and that when we take time to look, His fingerprints are everywhere.

To find out more about Mick and When You Look, visit https://www.whenyoulook.com/

Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1718977880777072342a16683

In this episode of Life Stories, Shara sits down with Australian author, philosopher, and happiness researcher Adam Brownlie, whose book Happypedia challenges everything we think we know about happiness.

Adam explains why happiness is not something we can simply choose, but something we must cause, much like how light causes our eyes to adjust. Drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy, Adam introduces the six pillars of happiness—good food, sleep, exercise, social connection, novelty, and hope and shows how they drive the brain chemicals that create emotional wellbeing.

He also shares powerful personal stories, including how a childhood medical misunderstanding deeply affected his emotional outlook and led him to seek deeper understanding of stress, fear, and forgiveness.

At the heart of Adam’s work is a profound truth: forgiveness is one of the most powerful tools for happiness. When we understand that people, including ourselves, are shaped by experiences, biology, and circumstances, forgiveness becomes easier and emotional freedom becomes possible.

This thoughtful and hope-filled conversation will leave you with a clearer understanding of why you feel the way you do and what you can do to gently move toward more peace, energy, and joy.

To find out more about Adam and his work, visit https://adambrownlie.com.au/

#happiness #happy #choices #life #peoplehelpingpeople #science #health #books #author #sharagoswick #lifestoriespodcast #lifestories #podcast #podcastingWant to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1718977880777072342a16683

Carrie Ducote is a nonprofit executive, strategist, and animal-welfare leader with over 15 years of experience helping shelters transform their operations, culture, and community impact. In this episode, Carrie shares her journey from volunteering at a small rural shelter to leading national animal welfare initiatives and founding her consulting company, Shelter Savvy.

We talk candidly about what really happens inside animal shelters, why euthanasia is often misunderstood, and how community-centered solutions can dramatically reduce suffering for both animals and staff. Carrie explains the difference between municipal and nonprofit shelters, why staff morale is the backbone of lifesaving work, and how access, not apathy, is often the biggest barrier to spay and neuter services.

This conversation is eye-opening, compassionate, and practical, offering listeners a deeper understanding of animal welfare and clear ways they can make a difference in their own communities.

In this episode, we discuss:

*Carrie’s path into animal welfare and shelter leadership
*What shelter assessments actually evaluate
*The emotional toll on frontline shelter staff
*Why euthanasia is a systems problem, not an individual failure
*The importance of community outreach and support
*Why spay and neuter access matters more than blame
*How fostering, volunteering, and adopting adult dogs saves lives

To find out more about Shelter Savvy, visit https://www.animalsheltersavvy.com/

Want to be a guest on Life Stories Podcast? Send Shara Goswick a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1718977880777072342a16683