What happens when the life you've known is taken from you in an instant? For Tricia Downing, a competitive cyclist, that moment came on September 17, 2000, when she was hit head-on by a car and paralyzed from the chest down.But Tricia's story isn't just about a life-changing accident. It's about the resilience she built long before that day, as a biracial adoptee growing up in a white family, navigating a world where she never quite fit in, always standing out.When her injury added another layer to her identity, Tricia had a choice: let it define her, or use it as fuel. Just five months after leaving the hospital, she completed a half-marathon in a racing wheelchair. She went on to become a Paralympian, the first female paraplegic to complete an Ironman triathlon, and a powerful advocate for disability inclusion.In this conversation, Tricia shares how being different, again and again, taught her not just to survive, but to lead. She reflects on the gift hidden in adversity and why she believes we're not here for ourselves, but to impact others.This is a story about transformation, acceptance, and discovering that sometimes standing out is exactly what the world needs.

Learn more about Tricia Downing:Website: https://triciadowning.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/triciadowning/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tricialdowning/Substack, The Semantics of Adoption: https://share.google/MA7xlTamUs9o1evkl

To learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: stan@beingthechangecoaching.comWebsite: beingthechangecoaching.com

In this deeply personal solo episode, host Stan Ajemian shares his journey through what he calls an "addiction to adrenaline", a pattern of seeking dangerous experiences that masked deeper pain from loneliness and depression. From triggering avalanches in the Canadian Rockies to two catastrophic cycling accidents, Stan reveals how extreme sports became his way of feeling alive and connected to others.

This isn’t just a story about adventure gone wrong, but one of transformation, self-awareness, and the power of inner work. Stan contrasts his two major cycling accidents, one before his meditation practice, when he was angry and difficult during recovery, and one after years of therapy and meditation, when he experienced compassion and even moments of bliss despite severe injuries.

To learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemian

Email: stan@beingthechangecoaching.com

Website: beingthechangecoaching.com

In this heartfelt conversation, Lyssa deHart shares her journey from running away from love to becoming the person who could truly receive it. Through self-awareness, courage, and deep inner work, she learned to release old patterns that once kept her safe but isolated. Lyssa opens up about moving beyond the need to be liked, to genuinely liking others, and herself, in return.

Together, Lyssa and host Stan Ajemian explore how our earliest experiences shape how we show up in relationships, and how Lyssa’s deeper understanding of both men and herself led to her marriage of 27 years. This episode invites listeners to reflect on the difference between chasing love and allowing it, and how becoming whole within ourselves lays the foundation for mutual, authentic relationships.

Learn more about Lyssa deHart:Website: https://lyssadehart.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyssadehart/Books: https://lyssadehart.com/books/Coaching Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-coaching-studio-with-lyssa-dehart/id1581009320

To learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: stan@beingthechangecoaching.comWebsite: beingthechangecoaching.com

Welcome to Stories on Purpose. I’m your host, Stan Ajemian.

This is a podcast about the moments that change us—the stories of adversity, resilience, and transformation that shape who we are and why we do what we do.

Every two to three weeks, I release a new episode, usually around 30 to 60 minutes long. Most of the time, you’ll hear me in conversation with remarkable guests who share their journeys of finding meaning through struggle. And every so often, I’ll share my own reflections in solo episodes.

My hope is that these stories don’t just inspire you, but also invite you to reflect on your own path—how the challenges you’ve faced might hold the seeds of growth, purpose, and even joy.

So if you’re curious about how people find strength in the hardest places, and how we can all live more intentionally, I invite you to listen in.

Stories on Purpose—because your story matters.

Most people view cancer as a devastating diagnosis. For Steve Staruch, it was something he met with curiosity and an unwavering belief that he would survive. He credits the steadfast support of the people around him as a vital part of his healing journey.

In this episode, Steve, well known as a beloved classical music radio host, shares how he faced cancer while continuing to embrace life with joy and gratitude. He reflects on the ways music, faith, and community became sources of strength, and how leaning into beauty allowed him to thrive even in difficult times.

To hear Steve Staruch on the radio:

In the Twin Cities of Minnesota, tune into 99.5 FM

Stream online at: yourclassicalmpr.org

To learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemian

Email: stan@beingthechangecoaching.com

Website: beingthechangecoaching.com

Sebastian Merz grew up in Germany, where the people continue to carry the reality of a dark past that has never been fully reconciled. His search for peace within his family and culture eventually led him to Canada, where he now serves as a government negotiator on reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples in British Columbia, while also guiding his coaching clients through their own transformations.

In this episode, Sebastian speaks candidly about the pain he carries from his German ancestry and the parallels he sees in the struggles of reconciliation with Indigenous communities. He reflects on the tension between his natural harmonizing nature and the need for healthy confrontation to be more effective as both a negotiator and a coach.

At one point in the conversation, host Stan Ajemian pauses to recall the ancestral tribes that inhabited the area known as Denver, Colorado. This was the ancestral homeland for the Arapaho, Ute, and Cheyenne peoples.

Sebastian’s story reminds us that reconciliation is never just cultural or historical, but deeply personal, and invites each of us to consider where repair is needed in our own lives.

Learn more about Sebastian Merz:Website: https://Fierce-Heart.Co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-merz-51582828/

To learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: stan@beingthechangecoaching.comWebsite: beingthechangecoaching.com

Eric Davis was a professional alpine skier, on track for the Olympics or the World Cup circuit. Then, at just 22, he was diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. The illnesses and the powerful medications prescribed to treat them pushed his body to the edge, and at one point, nearly took his life.

That near-death moment became a profound awakening. Eric recalls feeling separate from his body and from the person he had always known himself to be. In that moment, something shifted. Against all odds, he experienced a spontaneous remission of his autoimmune illnesses.

For the past 15 years, Eric has been on a quest to understand not only what led to his illness and his recovery, but also the deeper mysteries of healing and consciousness itself. His story is raw, inspiring, and deeply human. My hope is that you’ll find insights here to guide your own journey without having to endure what Eric went through.

To learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: stan@beingthechangecoaching.comWebsite: beingthechangecoaching.com

Elias Scultori began his career as a classical musician in the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and was later invited to perform in another musical capital, New York City, appearing on some of the world’s most iconic stages, including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.

Despite similarities between these two international cities, Elias shares the challenges he faced in adapting to the culture of the United States. He reflects on how a shift in language and environment creates entirely new ways of seeing the world, and of being.

He speaks beautifully about how uncomfortable moments, though often unwelcome, are powerful opportunities for growth. In contrast, comfort can lead to a fixed mindset. Rather than resisting discomfort, Elias invites us to meet it with curiosity and ask what it has to teach us. He shares how a difficult breakup and a move to Florida became fuel for his insights in claiming his proper place in the world.

As a musician, Elias was drawn to group collaboration over solo performance, which was rooted in his core values of community and growth. Now a Master Certified Coach and coach educator, he channels those same values to support individuals, teams, and organizations in building connection and expanding their potential.

Learn more about Elias Scultori:Website: https://www.eliasscultori.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliasscultori/Coach Training: https://www.primecoachingacademy.com/Coaching Podcast: https://www.primecoachingacademy.com/podcasts/prime-space

To learn more about your host, Stan Ajemian:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/stanajemianEmail: stan@beingthechangecoaching.comWebsite: beingthechangecoaching.com