Stories from a Stranger

S E11: Saying Goodbye to My Father: Stories of Love and Loss

Hunter interviews three individuals who were sent reeling after the losses of their fathers. Meet this episode’s strangers:-Koi’s describes her father as “the perfect person”. Tragically he was taken one day in a freak hit and run accident while riding his bicycle through Los Angeles. She recounts finding out about his death and the emotional toll it took on her. While she initially turned to substances to cope with his loss, she has since found religion and has pulled herself back onto her feet.-Brittany’s father died of a heart attack. She describes the moment she felt his spirit leave this Earth. She wishes that she could still call her father everyday and share her life’s milestones with him, but after a period of darkness she realized that she can still speak with him anywhere and anytime. -Vanessa grew up without knowing who her father was. As an adult she did some internet sleuthing and found him in Mexico. Reconnecting with her father was a wonderful experience that they both appreciated. Sadly, after three years, he passed away, but she still cherishes the short amount of time they had together. Chapters:00:00:12 Saying goodbye to your father00:01:20 Koi: my father was killed in a tragic hit-and-run accident00:04:02 Why the stages of grief are a myth00:07:23 Receiving the news "He's gone. It's final."00:11:31 Brandon’s legacy: perfect memories and LA hidden gems00:15:15 Finding faith and resilience after tragedy00:18:08 A daughter’s final letter: "I get it now"00:20:15 Angel Brittany: the hardest call of my life00:22:46 Learning how to talk to your dad when you can’t call 00:28:18 Vanessa: meeting my biological father at age 4000:33:54 Hearing "I love you" for the first time, finding self-worth00:41:35 The bittersweet honor of picking his final funeral suitTopics:Coping with the loss of a fatherNavigating sudden parental tragedyHealing after an unexpected deathMeeting your biological father at 40Turning grief and anger into peaceCaring for a sick parent near the endRemembering a parent's legacy dailyPreparing a loved one's final funeralFOLLOW THE SHOW►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiesfromastrangerpod ►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@storiesfromastrangerpod ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storiesfromastrangerpodcast FOLLOW HUNTER PROSPER►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunter_prosper/ ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hunterprosper See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

S E10: I Am Different, But No Less: Accepting Your Disability

Hunter talks to three people who are living with disabilities, and how it’s effected them.Meet this episode's strangers:-Gabriella was diagnosed with profound hearing loss when she was a baby. She received cochlear implants, and after attending a preschool for the deaf, she transitioned to “mainstream” schools where most people didn’t realize she was deaf. To this day, she takes her implants off when she wants to feel grounded and at peace. Now, as an adult, she wouldn’t choose to be any other way.-Anthony was extremely offended when RFK Jr. made hurtful remarks towards people with autism. Anthony was diagnosed with autism at age three and has spent a lifetime learning to cope with it. He finds love and support from his mother, who has modeled behavior and advocated for him. Anthony emphasizes that no one can do life entirely alone, and people like his mother can help him push through challenges.-Nathalia has visible scars on her face that made her feel like an outcast growing up. When she was young she experienced bullying and feelings of low self worth. But one day she was told by a boy she had a crush on that if it weren’t for her scars she wouldn’t be so pretty, and it changed the way she felt about herself. Today she lives a normal, fruitful life and accepts her scars as part of herself.Learn more about Nathalia's story here 👉 https://www.instagram.com/lovingmydots Chapters:00:00:00 Embracing Physical and Mental Differences00:00:52 Nathalia: My Scars are Essential to My Identity00:07:53 Finding Love and Feeling Normal for the First Time00:12:19 Overcoming the Trauma of School Bullying00:15:13 Why I Refuse to Camouflage My Scars00:19:49 Anthony: Reacting to Autism Misconceptions00:23:41 Navigating Sensory Overload and Invisible Disabilities00:25:41 The Life-Changing Power of a Mother’s Support00:29:21 Why You Can't Do Anything Alone00:33:14 Gabby: Growing Up Between the Deaf and Hearing Worlds00:39:21 The Healing Peace of Total Silence00:45:21 Radical Self-Acceptance: Choosing to Be MeTopics:Embracing physical differencesGrowing up with deafnessLiving with cochlear implantsFinding peace in silenceDebunking autism stereotypesPower of maternal advocacyOvercoming childhood bullyingBeauty beyond the scarsRejecting societal standardsChoosing yourself every daySupport Our Sponsors:If you're struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help. Book a free 15 minute call to get started: https://learn.nocd.com/storiesFOLLOW THE SHOW►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiesfromastrangerpod ►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@storiesfromastrangerpod ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storiesfromastrangerpodcast FOLLOW HUNTER PROSPER►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunter_prosper/ ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hunterprosper See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

S E9: Stories of Motherhood and Home

Hunter interviews four powerful women about their relationships with their mothers and their experiences as mothers themselves.Meet this episode's strangers:- Rosabella was adopted from Ukraine by a single mother and raised in Los Angeles. Her adoptive mother located her biological mother through a private investigator. She reached out and traveled across the world to the war-torn Ukraine to meet her biological sister. She is so grateful for this experience, which gave her not one but two loving mothers.- Michelle Obama chats with Hunter about how beautiful it has been to watch her daughters grow, and her own mother, who told her to "Come home, we'll love you here", which has always helped ground her.- Brenda is the single mother of an autistic son. Through him, she's learned how fulfilling it is to be a mother and is doing whatever she can to make his dreams come true. She's even started a quesadilla cart in order to give him a job and make ends meet. - Sharron tells the story of her late mother, who was her best friend. Sharron herself is the mother of 10 children, fulfilling her lifelong dream of having lots and lots of kids. She wishes her mother were alive to see how full the family tree has gotten. Topics: - Michelle Obama's parenting advice- The wisdom of Marian Robinson- Finding biological roots in Ukraine- A teen mother's path to purpose- Raising a child with autism- The reality of raising ten kids- Healing from the loss of a mother- Presence over material things- Breaking the silence of grief- The strength of maternal bondsChapters: 00:00:00 Parenting is the Hardest Job on Earth00:01:23 Michelle Obama on The Bond her Daughters00:03:39 Come Home: Wisdom from Marian Robinson00:06:57 Finding Your Voice at the Family Table00:10:28 Advice for Anyone Scared to be a Parent00:12:47 Rosabella: Searching for Biological Roots in Ukraine00:19:14 The Reality of Being a Chosen Child00:25:13 Finding Birth Parents with a Private Investigator00:33:22 Bri on Finding Purpose through Motherhood00:37:27 Coping with the Fear of Not Being Enough00:43:33 Sharron on Healing from the Loss of Your Mother As A Mother00:50:51 Raising 10 Children and 16 GrandkidsSupport Our Sponsors:If you're struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help. Book a free 15 minute call to get started: https://learn.nocd.com/stories FOLLOW THE SHOW►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiesfromastrangerpod ►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@storiesfromastrangerpod ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storiesfromastrangerpodcast FOLLOW HUNTER PROSPER►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunter_prosper/ ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hunterprosper See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

S E8: Meeting Your Soulmate Feels Like Coming Home

Hunter speaks with four strangers who recount their stories of falling in love with their soulmates.Meet this episode's strangers:- Marylou and Arthur met in New York City in the 80s after they'd both been recently dumped. At first, it seemed like they'd never work, but they soon fell madly in love with each other. Marylou describes curling up with Arthur on his mattress on the floor as feeling like the safest place in the world. All these years later, they're still together, and their relationship is stronger than ever.- Pinar describes feeling alienated and lonely after moving to Los Angeles from Istanbul, Turkey. She talks about how hard it currently is for immigrants moving to the United States these days, and how everything changed for her when he met her husband, who also immigrated from Turkey.- Brenda glows as she talks about meeting her partner, whom she describes as "her greatest love". What started as a friendship blossomed into a romantic relationship 5 months ago, and being with her partner makes her feel at home. Chapters:00:00:00 What finding your soulmate really feels like00:01:11 Mary Lou and Arthur on finding home00:02:53 The origin of a unique blind date00:05:20 A song on the answering machine00:09:50 First impressions and meeting with flowers00:14:02 Falling in love in overwhelming circumstances00:20:10 The secret to seventeen years of love00:24:50 Brenda on emotional safety and peace00:26:02 Upgrading from a six year friendship00:37:13 Advice for sharing feelings with a friend00:40:11 Pinar on moving from Istanbul to LA00:46:23 Advice for immigrants on finding communityTopics:- Defining true soulmate connections- Finding safety in relationships- Moving from friendship to romance- Building home in a new country- Secrets to long term marriageFOLLOW THE SHOW►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiesfromastrangerpod ►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@storiesfromastrangerpod ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storiesfromastrangerpodcast FOLLOW HUNTER PROSPER►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunter_prosper/ ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hunterprosper See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

S E7: A Second Chance on Life

Hunter talks to three strangers who were brought to the brink of death, only to be given a second chance at life. Meet this episode's strangers:- David recounts his close relationship with his mother, whom he sadly lost recently. It's a loss that is still fresh and painful. Before her passing, she had gotten him through his own catastrophic medical issue. While playing softball, David collapsed on the field, struck with a sudden cardiac arrest. Thanks to the help of a total stranger, David pulled through this harrowing event.- Art was drafted into the Vietnam War at the age of 19. He gives a tense and emotional account of his time in the war, of the friends he lost, and what it was like to come back home and deal with the immense trauma he experienced. - Karan was a seemingly healthy young person when he was suddenly diagnosed with end-stage liver failure in 2019 due to an undiagnosed, rare condition. Karan tells Hunter about the life-saving last-minute transplant and the long recovery process that saved his life.Chapters:00:01:21 David remembers his mother Debbie and their bond00:05:24 Navigating the rollercoaster of grief and final goodbyes00:09:32 The sudden cardiac arrest that stopped a baseball game00:13:32 Why some people survive fatal events and others don't00:17:21 Finding gratitude in pain and shattering daily anxiety00:21:25 Art is drafted at 19 to Vietnam to fight in war00:25:21 Surviving a year of monsoon season in the Vietnam jungle00:29:29 The reality of firefights and healing through brotherhood00:33:31 Karan in organ failure after rare disease diagnosis00:37:33 Trading the hustle for grandma walks and valuable time00:41:38 Learning that a mother knows how to give life twice00:45:35 Receiving a miracle organ transplant on the final dayTopics:- Surviving a sudden cardiac arrest- Life after a miracle organ transplant- True memories of the Vietnam War- Finding hope through deep grief- The support of a mother - Recovery from autoimmune disorder - The unique bond of veterans Stories from a Stranger is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions in partnership with Higher Ground and AND Media. Music by Jackie Miclau.FOLLOW THE SHOW►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiesfromastrangerpod►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@storiesfromastrangerpod►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storiesfromastrangerpodcastFOLLOW HUNTER PROSPER►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunter_prosper/►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hunterprosper See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.