Stories from a Stranger

S E15: Falling in Love is Beyond My Control

Hunter speaks with three strangers about meeting partners who changed the course of their lives. Meet this week's strangers:- Niko is a school teacher from New York City who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. During treatment he grew closer to his long-time friend Lauren who gave him gift packages, which became a catalyst for rekindling their relationship and eventually dating. He describes Lauren’s support as essential, saying he would not have gotten through cancer or remained mentally okay without her; she showed up early, handled everything with grace, gave him hope, and made him feel handsome and normal even when he had lost his eyebrows and eyelashes. He explains that falling in love with Lauren during treatment meant everything; she became the person he wanted around when he felt worst, and he now sees her as his life partner, having already bought a diamond with plans to propose.- Selene's greatest love is Ethan, whom she first met in 2010 through her cousin on the day of the World Cup final; he is half Spaniard, and they initially connected over rooting for Spain. Their relationship unfolded over years of near-misses: she moved to California and he dated someone else; later they reconnected while she was in another relationship; then again as friends in a group when both had other partners, with him repeatedly “popping out of nowhere.” Eventually, after both had ended other relationships, Ethan directly expressed that he still had feelings and wanted marriage, and despite her hesitance, his clarity led her to give the relationship a serious try, including moving in together earlier than planned. She recalls the relationship feeling easy and largely conflict-free, later wondering if they didn’t argue enough; the turning point came when a disagreement over her wanting to attend a concert prompted him to admit he hadn’t felt the same for some time, which shocked her. They still went on a planned trip to Spain, where she had once imagined getting engaged, but despite trying, he couldn’t rekindle his feelings, leading her to conclude that two good people aren’t always a good long-term fit and that some loves aren’t meant to last forever.- Kyle’s greatest love is his wife, Bethany, whom he met in Long Beach, New York, during a grassroots effort to petition the city to reinstate the music portion of a surf contest that had been canceled after Hurricane Irene. They first met at City Hall while working with mutual friends to gather signatures; later that night he visited her house, met her family, and, too nervous to ask for her number, wrote his number on her hand at her request. They first said “I love you” about a month into dating while sitting on a couch with friends, describing it as something that felt natural to say. Now married nearly 13 years, Kyle reflects that love has evolved: he feels most loved when he feels truly seen, especially through life’s challenges, and emphasizes that marriage is not easy but that growing up together and sharing those struggles is something special. Chapters:00:00:00 Unexpected love stories from strangers00:03:28 Niko faces a cancer diagnosis at twenty nine00:06:05 Reconnecting with childhood crush during chemo00:08:56 Celebrating remission and ringing the bell00:12:08 How unconditional love provided strength00:15:37 Realizing she is the person I want to marry00:21:11 Selene shares her story of an old flame00:24:38 Trying to make a relationship work through timing00:28:39 When two good people still grow apart00:32:06 What lost love teaches us about self focus00:35:30 Kyle on meeting his wife while petitioning00:39:27 How love evolves through thirteen years of marriage Topics: Finding love during cancer treatmentThe power of a gratitude journalProposing after beating cancer Reconnecting with childhood friendsWhy relationships end for good peopleLearning to prioritize yourselfMeeting during a hurricane relief workShooting your shot and giving your numberHow love evolves over 13 yearsLong term marriage and connectionFOLLOW 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 E14: Still Thinking About Them: Stories of Love, Loss, and Legacy

Hunter talks to strangers who are carrying on the memories of loved ones that were taken too soon.Meet this week’s strangers:- When Yauri was introduced to Matthew by a mutual friend they immediately became close friends. Matthew was a chubby, goofy friend who would always crack jokes and let Yauri practice her hair styling skills on him. Unfortunately, Matthew had one foot in the gang world and was tragically shot and killed. The loss of Matthew rocked Yauri. She describes the depression that followed, and how she still thinks about him all of the time, and the neighborhood day that honors his memory.- John lost his mother Barbara earlier this year. She had John at the age of 16 and he felt like they really grew up together. Her remains were buried in Indiana just three days before the conversation, making the grief fresh; this process allowed John to relive their shared history and reflect on their relationship. He carries a picture of her and has taken her ashes on a “tour” to places like Hawaii and Indiana, continuing to include her in family journeys.-Sean’s grandfather, Paul, died in June and was one of Sean’s biggest inspirations, especially in motivating him to pursue engineering. Paul served in the army during the Korean War but was stationed in France, where he “ate his way across Europe,” and was known for always having a funny story or trick to make people smile. He now sees Monarch butterflies as signs that his grandfather is with him, which helped him move through the main stage of grief; seeing them makes him happy rather than sad. Chapters:00:00:00 - Finding Light in the Darkness of Grief00:04:54 - Yauri and Matthew: Unexpected Tragedy and Loss00:09:30 - Processing Sudden Loss Far Away From Home00:14:15 - Honoring Legacy, Community, and Lasting Impacts00:19:10 - Navigating Peer Influence and Complex Relationships00:23:15 - John and Mom: Growing Up Together and Navigating Grief00:28:00 - Crafting Eulogies and Fulfilling Final Requests00:32:45 - Sean and Poppy: Finding Meaning and Signs from Loved Ones00:37:15 - Cherishing Fond Memories and Unconditional LoveTopics:Yauri remembers her best friend MatthewImpact of street violence in HarlemStruggling with best friends death far from homeHonoring a legacy through communityInfluence of peer pressure on youthJohn reflects on losing his motherWriting her eulogy and honoring her wishesSean and close relationship with grandfatherLosing your biggest inspirationFinding comfort in signs from aboveGrandson shares how he’s honoring his legacyFOLLOW 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 E13: Lost Time, Found Compassion: Healing My Teenage Self

Hunter talks to three strangers who had moments in their youth that changed the shape of their lives going forwards. Even though they’re adults now, they still feel their young selves inside. Meet this weeks strangers:- Mia shares how being called “weird” and told she couldn’t sing deeply hurt her as a child, especially as a quirky, ADHD kid who once went to school dressed as a clown. She describes a traumatic recess incident where popular kids staged a fake breakup to humiliate her, chasing her and throwing papers, which shattered her sense of safety but later fueled her compassion and artistic philosophy of creating non‑judgmental, welcoming spaces. She talks about processing these memories through EMDR therapy, learning that childhood experiences lodge in the body and that working through them can be painful but ultimately liberating. Mia reflects on how bullying made her abandon her authentic, “weird” self to fit in as a teen, leading to a sense of “lost time” and a long journey back to self‑trust and self‑expression. - Jon recalls being a disruptive class clown in ninth grade and having a teacher physically slam him against a wall and call him a “loser” who would “never amount to be anything,” a moment whose full hurt surfaced only later. Johnny also describes a long, hostile relationship with a principal from junior high through high school, and how decades later that principal followed him on Facebook, praised his art, and moved Johnny to tears, feeling freed from the old “prison‑like” school dynamic. Asked about his greatest love, Johnny says it is the creative process itself, which sustains him spiritually and emotionally, serves as meditation and escape, and has been more enduring than his past marriage or romantic relationships. Reflecting on those educators, Johnny says he would now apologize to the teacher he tormented, acknowledging he disrupted what might have been the teacher’s passion and that the teacher had reason to try to stop the source of his pain. - Amit still thinks often about her fourth‑grade English teacher who taught her after she immigrated from Israel to the United States in 2008 without knowing English. Thrown into public school with almost no English beyond “yes” and “no,” she initially communicated with peers through sounds, he took her under his wing, teaching her one‑on‑one during and after school, and even weekly at the library over the summer, so that by fifth grade she could speak English fluently, if imperfectly. Amit describes how his care made her feel loved and seen, stabilizing an otherwise frightening and destabilizing childhood immigration experience where she initially felt unsafe and unable to express herself. Now a teacher and tutor herself, Amit hasn’t yet reconnected with her former teacher, but wants to tell him she’s doing the same work he did—teaching kids to read, write, and speak English—and that she thinks of him almost every time she teaches. Chapters:00:00:00 Why our teenage years still shape us00:04:17 Mia shares a devastating high school prank 00:08:12 Reclaiming lost time and your true identity00:12:14 Learning to hold compassion for the bully00:14:54 Why every stranger has a story to tell00:17:13 Jon and overcoming the loser label00:21:00 Finding closure with a past principal on social media00:24:44 The creative process as a spiritual bride00:28:42 Turning the right pain into artistic success00:32:42 Amit and finding a voice after immigrating00:37:45 The teacher who became her greatest cheerleader00:43:03 Why adult words become a child's inner voiceTopics:Healing through EMDR therapyImpact of childhood bullyingReclaiming your inner childOvercoming the teenage labelsArt as a spiritual meditationReconciling with past enemiesImmigrating without EnglishThe power of patient mentorsChanging your inner narrativeWhy adult words stick foreverFOLLOW 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 E12: Breaking the Cycle: Kids of Addicts Finding Healing and Hope

Hunter talks to three people who were raised by parents suffering from addiction, and how that changed them.Meet this episode’s strangers:-Troy was raised from age two to seventeen by his stepdad, who is an ex-NFL player. Troy looked up to him, but as his stepdad’s alcoholism spiraled out of control, he drifted out of Troy’s life. Troy describes watching him slide into depression and isolation, and the heartbreak he felt discovering that his “superhero” stepdad was deeply flawed. Despite long absences, Troy continues to reach out to his stepfather and hopes one day he will find the help he needs.-Taylor’s father fell into drug addiction when she was 10 years old. The addiction changed him drastically. He became abusive and struggled to maintain a job and home, forcing the family to become unhoused. She describes celebrating her 16th birthday living in a shelter. Now, as an adult, Taylor is working to heal her relationships with her mother and her father, who has found sobriety.-Jeffery describes growing up with a mother who became addicted to opioids. Even after repeatedly confronting her about her addiction, she continued to use. He describes living in fear that she would die, and the anticipatory grief he felt. Sadly his fears were realized when she passed away from an overdose. Even through all the pain, Jeffery recognizes that his traumatic experience shaped him into the man he is today.Chapters:00:00:00 The impact of addiction on children00:03:30 Troy - witnessing my dad's alcoholism and depression00:07:15 Learning lessons from a parent's mistakes00:11:00 Overcoming self-sabotage and finding peace00:14:45 Taylor - Growing up in an unstable home environment00:18:30 Navigating teenage homelessness and hardship00:22:15 Breaking generational cycles of family trauma00:26:00 Rebuilding self-worth and emotional stability00:29:45 Jeffrey - Coping with my mother's death and complex grief00:33:30 Healing from emotional neglect and abandonment00:37:15 Processing the slow loss of an addicted parent00:41:00 Choosing forgiveness and reparenting yourselfTopics: Growing up with parental addictionOvercoming childhood trauma & griefBreaking generational toxic cyclesReparenting your inner child safetyNavigating parent alcoholism & drugsMoving past self sabotage to peaceCoping with parental abandonmentHealing emotional unpredictabilityOvercoming teen homelessness strainChoosing forgiveness & self graceFOLLOW 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 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.