Unpacked In Santa Cruz
By Mike Howard
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Category: Society & Culture
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Episodes: 87
Description
"Unpacked in Santa Cruz" is a homegrown podcast hosted by Michael Howard that dives into the lives, stories, and salty moments of people who call this coastal community home—or have been shaped by it in some way. Whether it's a deep conversation with local surfers opening up about mental health, or a peek behind the curtain of someone who started a one-of-a-kind food spot right here in town, every episode brings something real.
You’ll hear from folks who found healing behind the lens, built businesses from scratch, or chased massive waves thanks to a lifetime spent around our local waters. These aren’t just interviews—they’re conversations that reflect the heart and soul of Santa Cruz. Raw, reflective, and rooted in community, Unpacked in Santa Cruz brings local voices to the surface.
| Episode | Date |
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Episode 91: Coaches Corner With Coach Stephan: A Conversation About Learning to Adapt to New Dynamics and Demands For Coaching Resilience in Our Young Men
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Jul 16, 2026 |
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Episode 90: “Coaches Corner" With Todd Kent: Above the Line-Below the Line But Make No Mistake. The Line is Expectations: Ted Lasso Energy With Real World Consequences
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Jul 15, 2026 |
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Episode 89: Bonnie Carver: The “Shadow Type A” Culture We Live In and The Art of Choosing People in Your Now
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Jul 09, 2026 |
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Episode 88: Mitch Riley: A Fresh Start Is Possible When You Choose It
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Jul 01, 2026 |
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Episode 87: Chapter XVI:My Politics: What Is and Is Not, Social Capitalism, Democracy, and Tech; Don’t Become The Gorillas (A Soliloquy That Sounds More Like a Lecture)
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Jun 26, 2026 |
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Episode 86: John Barrs: A Santa Cruz Housing Reality Check, What Affordable Housing Really Costs A Community
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Jun 25, 2026 |
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Episode 85: David McIntosh: What Happens When You Find Yourself In The Images You’ve Held About Life? We Are All About To Find Out.
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Apr 30, 2026 |
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Episode 84: Mark Allen: The GOAT Speaks: There Is No Pressure When You’re Being Yourself-But You Might Want To Pick That Jacket Off The Couch and Hang It
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Apr 18, 2026 |
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Episode 83: Hannah Selden: The Creative Crossroads, and Making Art In Santa Cruz Without Selling Your Soul-Why Avocado Toast Speaks To The Economics of Artists
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Apr 18, 2026 |
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Episode 82: James Reitano: Imposter Syndrome Pays Rent In Los Angeles, And What If The Future Depends On Who Lives 100 Feet From You
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Apr 03, 2026 |
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Episode 81:Brian DeDeigo: Santa Cruz, Money, And Meaning: A Santa Cruz Realtor On Community, Wealth, and Growing Up Without Losing Yourself
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Apr 03, 2026 |
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Episode 80: James Everingham: From Small Town Pennsylvania to The Most Important Business Hub The Last 30 Years, Facing A Reality That Life Might Be Moving Faster Than Humans Can Adapt
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Mar 21, 2026 |
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Episode 79: Andre Gioranelli: The Reality in Asymmetry: What Happens When Santa Cruz is a Choice To Let Go of Everything You Know? How to Quit Chasing Medals Without Quitting Life.
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Mar 17, 2026 |
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Episode 78: Jefferson de Paula: Every Little Step Matters: How A Near Miss And A New Coastline Changed A View on Life
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Mar 13, 2026 |
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Episode 77: Dan Hammer: Come Back Tuesday: Identity Swaps and Finding Your True Self
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Mar 09, 2026 |
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Episode 76: Guerin Myall: Unfiltered; About That Punk Rock Thing We All Feel, The Red Dot, Vampires, The Boardwalk, And Why Country Music Makes Us Itchy
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Feb 06, 2026 |
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Episode 75: Anthony Capriccio: When Sanctuary Meets Survival: Who Gets To Use The Sea
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Feb 06, 2026 |
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Episode 74: Brian Upton: Hope And The Human Microphone, A Conversation About Community And Why Story Still Matters
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Jan 30, 2026 |
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Episode 73: Jay Brown: What Happens When A City Teaches You About Who You Really Might Be
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Jan 20, 2026 |
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Episode 72: Braden Coolidge: What If Small Acts Are The Only Things That Can Change Things?
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Jan 16, 2026 |
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Episode 71: Michael Dunn: This Is Not The Story: Prototypes, Failure, and Faith is Where Ambiguity Is
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Jan 06, 2026 |
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Episode 70: Chris Buich: And Here We Are: The Santa Cruz Myth vs. Reality: Money, Identity, And Quiet Ambition
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Jan 02, 2026 |
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Episode 69: Alvin Medina: From Watsonville To The Mat; Coaching, Anxiety, and Finding Belonging
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Dec 17, 2025 |
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Episode 68: Nathan Tall: What The Ocean Teaches Us About Community, Courage, And Mental Health
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Dec 13, 2025 |
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Episode 67:Collin Brown on What Might Be The Real Problem of AI, From Faith and Hope to Wally
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Dec 12, 2025 |
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Episode 66: Chapter XV: The Problem of Love in Christianity, and Keeping My Faith: A Soliloquy
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Dec 07, 2025 |
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Episode 65: Chris Balthasar: From Hollywood Sets To Hexavalent Chromium: A Life Rewritten By Santa Cruz, Service, and Resilience
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Oct 25, 2025 |
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Episode 64: Raffael Eboli: From Sao Paulo To Santa Cruz; Mercy, Trust, and Unity on the Mat
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Oct 23, 2025 |
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Episode 63: Claudio Franca: From Rio to Santa Cruz: How Jiu-Jitsu Built a Community of Mercy, Humility, and Embracing How to Lose
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Oct 13, 2025 |
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Episode 62: Nathan Mendelsohn: Homegrown With Global Bonds
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Oct 10, 2025 |
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Episode 61:Graseilah Coolidge :From a Life of Intelligence Work to Emotional Intelligence and the Pursuit of Peace-Why the Forest Matters More Than You Think
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Oct 02, 2025 |
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Episode 60: Matt Kuhn and Frank Schonig on Ted Lasso and What It Means To Be A Goldfish
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Sep 18, 2025 |
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Episode 59: Neil Sprenkel Bubbles Inside of Bubbles and How To Get Beyond The Bubble
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Sep 13, 2025 |
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Episode 58, Chapter XIIII: What Are You Waiting For? A Soliloquy
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Sep 05, 2025 |
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Episode 56: Natalie Wegrich: The Journey From Childhood Dreams to Jewelry Entrepreneur
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May 29, 2025 |
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Episode 55: Brady Muller: From Volleyball Courts to Racing Cars: One Man's Search for Peace in America's Most Beautiful Town
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May 27, 2025 |
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Episode 54: Breaking the Silence: Men Talk Depression: Jack Akrop, Neal Kearney, Nick Borelli
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May 13, 2025 |
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Episode 53: Cam Meyers; Bread & Belonging: A Chef's Journey Home
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Apr 15, 2025 |
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Episode 52: Nick Borelli: Finding Peace Behind the Lens After Years in the Shadows
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Apr 08, 2025 |
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Episode 51: From Baseball to Big Waves: Jack Akrop's Evolution Into The Art of Life
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Mar 30, 2025 |
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Episode 50: Steve Schwinn: From 14 Schools to 1 Coastal Haven: A Furniture Man's Tale
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Mar 25, 2025 |
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Episode 49: Joe Schirmer: The Stakes Are Higher Than You Think: The Mission to Transform Our Food Systems
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Mar 19, 2025 |
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Episode 48: Moana: The Coffee House Connection: How Small Communities Shape Our Lives
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Mar 17, 2025 |
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Episode 47: Chris Yeh: Balancing Innovation and Humanity
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Feb 21, 2025 |
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Episode 46: Nick Mari, From Wyoming to Santa Cruz, With a Few Stops In Between: A Journey of Recovery, Introspection, and Empathy
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Feb 13, 2025 |
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Episode 45:Rueben Case-Gabbard, From a Soquel Childhood to Santa Cruz's Unique Spirit: A Story of Freedom and Empathy From The View On The Corner
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Feb 11, 2025 |
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Episode 44: Brennan Howard, From Growing Up, To Building Community, And What It Might Mean To Be A Leader
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Feb 06, 2025 |
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Episode 43: Michael Chavez, From Ken's Top Notch Produce to Community Love: Harvesting More Than Just Fruit
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Feb 04, 2025 |
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Episode 42: Caleb Howard and The Waves of Change: A Lifeguard's Journey Back Home
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Jan 30, 2025 |
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Episode 41: Paul Locatelli, From The Challenges of Being The OG Zoolander, to Triumphs: A Personal Odyssey
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Jan 28, 2025 |
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Episode 40: Maddy Keith Owner of Pointside Market, Putting the Local in Local
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Jan 24, 2025 |
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Episode 39: Lucas Salles-Cunha, Quicksilver Santa Cruz Director, and Owner of The Rise Collective
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Jan 21, 2025 |
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Episode 38: Mike Rodriguez From Woodhouse Brewery, Crafting Legacy and Resilience in Life's Journey
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Jan 16, 2025 |
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Episode 37: Reboot, With Brian Upton, And The Healing Power of Voices
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Jan 12, 2025 |
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Episode 35: Stacey Upton: Navigating the Spiritual Journey of Marriage: Connections, Growth, and Future Generations
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Oct 15, 2024 |
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Episode 36: Neal Kearney: Finding Balance in Turbulent Waters: A Surfer's Tale of Life In Santa Cruz
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Oct 15, 2024 |
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Episode 32:Michael Yankaus: Discovering Inner Tranquility: Unveiling the Spiritual Benefits of Transcendental Meditation
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Sep 19, 2024 |
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Episode 33: Collin Brown: Challenging Sin: A Journey Through Consciousness and Theology
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Sep 19, 2024 |
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Episode 30: Michael Yankaus: Echoes of Surf Culture and Spirituality
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Sep 19, 2024 |
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EPISODE 28: Michael Painter: A Journey Through Friendship, Spirituality, and Healing Conversations
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Sep 19, 2024 |
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EPISODE 29: Jen Selden Friendship, Life, and Being a Liberal Christian
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Sep 19, 2024 |
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EPISODE 25: Collin Brown: There Is A Misalignment; Unveiling the Depth of Spiritual Hope
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Aug 28, 2024 |
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EPISODE 26: Walter Stauss: From Tech Paths to Heartfelt Homes: Transitions and Reflections
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Aug 28, 2024 |
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EPISODE 27: Collin Brown: Embracing Love: Secular Insights and Sacred Lessons
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Aug 28, 2024 |
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Episode 24: Reconnecting w/Brian Upton
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Aug 07, 2024 |
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EPISODE 21: Collin Brown: Exploring the Multidimensions of Faith and Trust
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Apr 22, 2024 |
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EPISODE 22: Brian Dueck: The Emotional Landscape of Longstanding Friendships
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Apr 22, 2024 |
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EPISODE 23: Kevin Dueck: Through the Prism of Time and Companionship
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Apr 22, 2024 |
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EPISODE 20: Danielle DeWitt: Laughter and Loss in the Quest for Purpose
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Mar 13, 2024 |
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EPISODE 19: Collin Brown: Wisdom from a Journey Through Humility
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Mar 13, 2024 |
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EPISODE 18: Doug Byrd: From the Mat to Meaning in Life's Grappling Match
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Feb 21, 2024 |
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Chapter XIII: Journeys Through Pain, Patience, and Perspective
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Feb 10, 2024 |
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EPISODE 14: Daniel Corry: Chapter on Friendship, Finance, and Redefining Spirituality
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Feb 10, 2024 |
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EPISODE 15: Daniel Corry: Unpacking Decades of Camaraderie Amidst Life's Tumult
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Feb 10, 2024 |
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EPISODE 16: Lori Corry: Navigating Grief, Faith, and Love Through Friendship
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Feb 10, 2024 |
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Chapter XII: Confronting the Cosmos Within and Without
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Feb 03, 2024 |
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Chapter XI: Leadership, Faith, and the Journey to Self-Truth
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Jan 12, 2024 |
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Chapter X: A Candid Exploration of Church Leadership Struggles
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Dec 19, 2023 |
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Chapter IX: Navigating Self, Society, and Vulnerability in the Church
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Dec 05, 2023 |
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Chapter VIII: Navigating Through Life: Music, Depression, and Self-Identity
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Nov 15, 2023 |
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Chapter VII
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Oct 20, 2023 |
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Chapter VI: The Complexities of Power, Corruption and Accountability in Churches
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Oct 05, 2023 |
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Chapter V: Pastoral Responsibility and Youth Engagement in the Modern Church
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Sep 14, 2023 |
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Chapter IV: Challenging Authority, Embracing Responsibility
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Aug 30, 2023 |
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Chapter III:Baring Our Souls through Music, Faith, and Forgiveness
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Jul 08, 2023 |
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Chapter II: The Human Spirit in the Cosmic Dance: Science, Religion, and Beyond
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Jun 24, 2023 |
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Chapter I
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Jun 17, 2023 |