Let’s Talk About Love Stories from Everywhere

Episode 49: What Happens When You Say Yes to Something You’re Sure You’re Not Good At?

In this episode of Stories from Everywhere, Jill L. Ferguson sits down with Trish Azar, children’s book author, estate sale business owner, world traveler, and proud dog mom to the unforgettable Lola, for a conversation about creativity, courage, and stepping outside your comfort zone.
Trish never planned to write a book. In fact, she was convinced she couldn’t. But one small nudge to join a writing group set off a chain reaction that led to her upcoming children’s book series, The Adventures of Lola, inspired by her confident (and slightly diva-like) Pomeranian. What began as discomfort turned into joy, creativity, and an entirely new direction in life. 
But that’s just one chapter of Trish’s story.
From traveling the world for work to living in Turkey during COVID lockdowns, to building a business that helps families navigate loss through estate sales, Trish shares how every unexpected turn has shaped her perspective and her purpose.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
How trying something “you’re bad at” can unlock hidden talents
The surprising difficulty (and magic) of writing children’s books
Building a brand and a following through joyful, creative social media
What estate sales reveal about people, memory, and the stories we leave behind
Life lessons from living abroad and connecting across cultures
The unexpected power of a dog to inspire confidence, kindness, and storytelling
Why movement, play, and presence (hello, pickleball!) can quiet the noise in your mind
At its heart, this episode is about reinvention, about discovering that you don’t need to have it all figured out to begin. Sometimes, the best things in life start with: “I’m not good at this… but I’ll try anyway.”

Episode 48: Pressure, Purpose, and People: From Football Fields to Fundraising with George Barron

What do football, fundraising, reggae music, and champion show dogs have in common? For George Barron, Vice President of Advancement at La Roche University, a small Catholic university near Pittsburgh, they all come down to one thing: thriving under pressure and building meaningful relationships.
In this engaging and often surprising conversation, host Jill L. Ferguson sits down with George to explore his unconventional journey from “majoring in football” to leading advancement efforts in higher education. Along the way, George shares how mentorship changed the course of his life, why he believes pressure is a privilege, and how a single question helped him refocus his future.
You’ll also hear behind-the-scenes stories from his time in nonprofit leadership, his experiences as a percussionist playing alongside nationally recognized artists, and how music shaped the way he learns and thinks. And just when you think the conversation couldn’t take another turn, George dives into the world of dog showing—complete with championship ambitions, breed insights, and an unforgettable raccoon encounter.
But at the heart of it all is a powerful message: success isn’t about transactions; it’s about trust. Whether raising funds, mentoring a team, or connecting with others, George reminds us that people and relationships still matter most.
This episode is a rich blend of humor, heart, and hard-earned wisdom you won’t want to miss. 

Episode 47: Passion, Purpose, and the Power of Education with Marcos Redondo

What does endurance running, Cuban heritage, servant leadership, and the future of education have in common? In this inspiring episode of Stories from Everywhere, host Jill L. Ferguson sits down with Marcos Redondo, President of Zenith Prep Academy, for a conversation that explores the power of passion, perseverance, and authentic learning.
Marcos shares the remarkable journey that shaped his life—from overcoming childhood obesity through marathon and ultra-distance running to building a career devoted to education and helping students discover their true passions. Along the way, he recounts unforgettable moments: running hundreds of miles for charity, meeting his future wife while buying a baby stroller for a race, and how endurance sports became both a meditation and a metaphor for life.
The conversation also dives into Marcos’s Cuban-American roots and the complex emotions many immigrant families hold about their homeland. He reflects on identity, opportunity, and why education has always been central to his mission—an influence that began with his mother, a teacher who showed him how learning can change lives.
As president of Zenith Prep Academy, Marcos is helping reshape how students prepare for college and careers. Instead of “checking boxes” for admissions, Zenith focuses on helping young people identify their authentic interests and build meaningful experiences around them. The company now works with students as early as fifth grade, and its growing programs—including partnerships connected to the United Nations—aim to empower the next generation with both purpose and global awareness.
Marcos also discusses leadership, speaking at the World Economic Forum, preparing students for an AI-driven future, and why he believes passion—not prestige—is the real key to long-term success.
This episode is a powerful reminder that the most meaningful journeys—whether in running, education, or life—don’t really have finish lines.
Listen in for a conversation about resilience, authenticity, and helping the next generation discover who they truly are.

Episode 46: The Healing Power of Sound with Guest Nav Kaur

What if the sounds you hear could help rewire your brain, calm your nervous system, and unlock your body’s ability to heal?
In this fascinating episode of Stories from Everywhere, host Jill L. Ferguson sits down with sound healing practitioner and founder of Sound Ascent, Nav Kaur, to explore the science, and the deeply personal journey, behind sound therapy and brainwave entrainment. 
Blending ancient wisdom with modern neuroscience, Nav explains how specific sound frequencies can shift brainwave states, helping people move from stress and overthinking into calmer, more creative, and restorative states. From supporting post-operative patients and individuals in recovery programs to helping high-performing professionals and athletes sharpen focus and decision-making, sound medicine is emerging as a powerful tool for emotional regulation and neurological health.
But Nav’s work isn’t just professional—it’s personal. After experiencing a neurological health challenge during a high-stress healthcare career, she returned to the meditation and sound practices she had learned earlier in life. The results changed everything and led her to create Sound Ascent, a company dedicated to bringing evidence-based sound healing to individuals, institutions, and communities. 
In this episode, Jill and Nav discuss:
How sound frequencies influence brainwaves and nervous system regulation
The surprising role sound therapy plays in clinical and rehabilitation settings
Why visualization and repetition can reshape the brain
The connection between energy, emotions, and the stories we tell ourselves
Practical tools—from meditation apps to frequency-based sound sessions—that anyone can use to improve focus, creativity, and well-being
Along the way, Nav shares insights from her work as a neuro coach, trauma-informed practitioner, and mother, offering a thoughtful reminder that healing often begins with small shifts in awareness.
If you’ve ever been curious about meditation, brainwave science, or the growing field of sound medicine, this episode opens the door to a fascinating intersection of science, wellness, and human potential.
🎧 Tune in and discover how sound, something we encounter every day, may hold the key to calmer minds, clearer thinking, and deeper healing.

Episode 45: A Pound of Kindness: The Story that Changed a Life and Launched a Movement

What can one small act of kindness do?In this powerful episode of Stories from Everywhere, host Jill L. Ferguson sits down with Doug Cornfield and Dave Clark, the founders behind the Disability Dream & Do movement and the organization behind D3D camps. Their story begins with adversity, but grows into a mission that is transforming lives across the country.Dave Clark’s journey started when he contracted polio as a baby and doctors told his parents he would never walk or use his muscles. Instead, he grew up playing sports, competing against able-bodied athletes, and eventually pitching ten years of minor league baseball on crutches. Along the way, a moment from his childhood shaped the path of his life: a classmate named Ernie who pulled him in a wagon during a school field trip so he wouldn’t be left behind. That simple gesture became a lifelong reminder of the power of inclusion—and inspired a children’s book, a national speaking message, and an award honoring everyday heroes who “pull others along.” Doug Cornfield, a former scholarship athlete at the University of Georgia and the father of a son born without arms, found deep inspiration in Dave’s story. Together, they created camps where children and adults with disabilities can experience sports at the highest level—playing on professional fields, learning from elite athletes, and discovering what they are capable of.In this episode, you’ll hear:How a boy who was told he’d never walk became a professional baseball playerThe life-changing power of kindness and inclusionWhy parents should never project their doubts onto their childrenThe mission behind Disability Dream & Do camps across the United States (www.d3day.com)How professional athletes, families, and communities come together to create unforgettable experiencesFrom emotional reunions decades in the making to inspiring stories of resilience, this conversation reminds us that sometimes one small act of kindness can echo across an entire lifetime.

Episode 45: A Pound of Kindness: The Story that Changed a Life and Launched a Movement with Doug Cornfield and Dave Clark

What can one small act of kindness do?
In this powerful episode of Stories from Everywhere, host Jill L. Ferguson sits down with Doug Cornfield and Dave Clark, the founders behind the Disability Dream & Do movement and the organization behind D3D camps. Their story begins with adversity, but grows into a mission that is transforming lives across the country.
Dave Clark’s journey started when he contracted polio as a baby and doctors told his parents he would never walk or use his muscles. Instead, he grew up playing sports, competing against able-bodied athletes, and eventually pitching ten years of minor league baseball on crutches. 
Along the way, a moment from his childhood shaped the path of his life: a classmate named Ernie who pulled him in a wagon during a school field trip so he wouldn’t be left behind. That simple gesture became a lifelong reminder of the power of inclusion—and inspired a children’s book, a national speaking message, and an award honoring everyday heroes who “pull others along.” 
Doug Cornfield, a former scholarship athlete at the University of Georgia and the father of a son born without arms, found deep inspiration in Dave’s story. Together, they created camps where children and adults with disabilities can experience sports at the highest level—playing on professional fields, learning from elite athletes, and discovering what they are capable of.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
How a boy who was told he’d never walk became a professional baseball player
The life-changing power of kindness and inclusion
Why parents should never project their doubts onto their children
The mission behind Disability Dream & Do camps across the United States (www.d3day.com)
How professional athletes, families, and communities come together to create unforgettable experiences
From emotional reunions decades in the making to inspiring stories of resilience, this conversation reminds us that sometimes one small act of kindness can echo across an entire lifetime.

Episode 44: From Cult Survivor to Global Storyteller — Evan Grae Davis on Truth, Trauma, and the Power of Documentary

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of Stories from Everywhere, host Jill L. Ferguson sits down with documentary filmmaker Evan Grae Davis for a conversation that spans human rights, personal transformation, and the courage it takes to question everything you were taught to believe.
Evan spent more than two decades traveling the world creating documentary films that highlight urgent global issues. His groundbreaking film It’s a Girl exposed the devastating reality of gendercide in India and China—where cultural pressures, economic forces, and long-standing traditions have contributed to the disappearance of hundreds of millions of girls. The film reached audiences in more than 20 countries and sparked global conversations about human rights and the value of women and girls. 
But Evan’s own story is just as compelling as the ones he films.
Raised in an isolationist religious cult, Evan grew up believing he had a divine duty to save the world. As an adult, traveling internationally and witnessing different cultures challenged everything he had been taught. When he finally began questioning those beliefs, it cost him his career, community, and family support system—forcing him to rebuild his life from the ground up. 
In this candid conversation, Jill and Evan explore:
The shocking realities uncovered while filmingIt’s a Girl
The difficult moral questions surrounding cultural practices and human rights
Growing up in a religious cult and breaking free from deeply ingrained beliefs
How childhood trauma can shape our identities, relationships, and careers
The struggle—and freedom—of reclaiming your voice and purpose
Why authentic, relationship-driven storytelling matters more than ever in the digital age
Now a filmmaker, speaker, and marketing strategist helping others tell meaningful stories, Evan shares how understanding our past can become the key to building a more honest and impactful future.
This episode is a deeply human conversation about identity, justice, culture, and what it means to live—and tell stories—with authenticity.

Episode 44: From Cult Survivor to Global Storyteller — Evan Grae Davis on Truth, Trauma, and the Power of Documentary

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of Stories from Everywhere, host Jill L. Ferguson sits down with documentary filmmaker Evan Grae Davis for a conversation that spans human rights, personal transformation, and the courage it takes to question everything you were taught to believe.
Evan spent more than two decades traveling the world creating documentary films that highlight urgent global issues. His groundbreaking film It’s a Girl exposed the devastating reality of gendercide in India and China—where cultural pressures, economic forces, and long-standing traditions have contributed to the disappearance of hundreds of millions of girls. The film reached audiences in more than 20 countries and sparked global conversations about human rights and the value of women and girls. 
But Evan’s own story is just as compelling as the ones he films.
Raised in an isolationist religious cult, Evan grew up believing he had a divine duty to save the world. As an adult, traveling internationally and witnessing different cultures challenged everything he had been taught. When he finally began questioning those beliefs, it cost him his career, community, and family support system—forcing him to rebuild his life from the ground up. 
In this candid conversation, Jill and Evan explore:
The shocking realities uncovered while filmingIt’s a Girl
The difficult moral questions surrounding cultural practices and human rights
Growing up in a religious cult and breaking free from deeply ingrained beliefs
How childhood trauma can shape our identities, relationships, and careers
The struggle—and freedom—of reclaiming your voice and purpose
Why authentic, relationship-driven storytelling matters more than ever in the digital age
Now a filmmaker, speaker, and marketing strategist helping others tell meaningful stories, Evan shares how understanding our past can become the key to building a more honest and impactful future.
This episode is a deeply human conversation about identity, justice, culture, and what it means to live—and tell stories—with authenticity.

Episode 43: Turning the Tables — Jill L. Ferguson on Why Love Is the Boldest Movement of Our Time

As Stories from Everywhere approaches its one-year anniversary, Episode 43 flips the (no)script in the most heartfelt way.
Board member Danielle Brooks takes the host seat and interviews Jill L. Ferguson about the deeper “why” behind Let’s Talk About Love — the social purpose corporation and global movement Jill felt called to create.
In this candid, unscripted conversation, Jill opens up about:
The healing journey that led to a powerful vision of Truth and the message that “love is the way” 
Launching a grassroots love movement in a time when fear and division dominate headlines 
Why love is not soft — but one of the strongest forces on the planet
How trust, truth, and vulnerability form the foundation of real connection
The personal cost of starting something meaningful while navigating family illness 
The small, everyday acts of kindness that ripple outward and change lives
Jill shares a moving story about listening to an inner nudge to buy a meal for a stranger — and how that simple act became a profound moment of human connection on one of the hardest days of his life’ 
It’s a reminder that love is not theoretical. It’s practical. It’s relational. It’s brave.
You’ll also hear Jill speak vulnerably about where she still struggles — especially around romantic vulnerability — and why choosing love anyway is worth the risk.
Together, Jill and Danielle explore:
What it really means to “lead with love”
How to respond to hate without becoming hateful
Why community and collaboration are the only path to lasting change
How you can participate in spreading love — through storytelling, meditation, conversation, and everyday courage 
This episode is personal. It’s philosophical. It’s practical. And it’s an invitation.
If you’ve ever wondered whether love can truly change systems, businesses, relationships — or even the world — this conversation will challenge and inspire you.
Because in the end, as Jill reminds us, we are here for such a short time. And when everything else fades, what remains is love.
Listen in. Then go start your own ripple.

Episode 42: When Money Meets Meaning: Navigating Life’s Biggest Transitions with Joshua Dunlop

What if money isn’t just about numbers but about grief, identity, purpose and how we move through life’s biggest changes?
In this deeply human and surprisingly soulful conversation, host Jill L. Ferguson sits down with Joshua Dunlop, founder of Even Path and a purpose-driven financial planner who works at the powerful intersection of money and emotion. Together, they explore why financial decisions are often hardest during moments of loss, divorce, retirement, or major life transitions—and why spreadsheets alone can’t guide us through them.
Joshua shares his philosophy on emotionally informed financial planning, why shame keeps so many people from seeking help, and how true financial clarity can free us to grieve, heal, and reimagine what comes next. From redefining retirement as a lifestyle transition (not a financial event), to unpacking our complicated relationship with money, relevance, and self-worth, this episode challenges everything we’ve been taught about success and security.
You’ll hear about:
Why emotions—not investments—derail financial plans
The six non-financial pillars that predict a fulfilling retirement
How grief, identity, and money collide during major life changes
Letting go of shame around finances (no matter how much—or little—you have)
Why purpose-driven planning may be the future of financial guidance
This episode is for anyone navigating change, questioning old definitions of success, or wondering how to build a life that feels meaningful—not just financially “sound.”
💛 Because when money meets clarity, life gets lighter.