Martin Roy First left apartheid South Africa with two kids, two suitcases, and a thousand dollars. He became a global leader in kidney transplant medicine—authoring 400+ papers, meeting the Pope, and changing lives with his fierce compassion and brilliant mind. But he was also the kind of dad who got red-carded on the sidelines and fed the family dog like royalty. This is the story of a healer, a prankster, a wine connoisseur—and a man who never stopped showing up for the people he loved.

Jan Muyskens taught more than gym class. She taught self-reliance, compassion, and how to build a bridge between people using nothing more than ski poles, stained glass, and a home-cooked meal.

This unforgettable PE teacher from Grand Junction, Colorado, lived 91 quietly remarkable years — shaping generations of students, building furniture and friendships alike, and feeding every stray dog or cat that crossed her path. In today’s episode, discover how one woman became the blueprint for strength, softness, and connection.

Not everyone makes the front page. But everyone leaves a story worth telling.

🎧 True Stories from the Obit Files

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Born in Czechoslovakia in 1938, Theresia’s journey carried her through war, across oceans, and around the world as a military wife — before she found her greatest joy on a quiet Tennessee back deck with coffee, books, and birds. This is the story of a life measured not by headlines, but by resilience, love, and everyday wonder.

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Melonie Wigley’s story is one of resilience and connection, making her a remarkable subject for our life stories podcast. She grew up crossing continents — from London to South Carolina to Tokyo — always adjusting and connecting with those around her.

Throughout her life as a nurse and childbirth educator, Melonie guided others with compassion. While her legacy remains quiet, it is far-reaching, filled with gentle signposts that helped others find their way.

Join us as we explore the documentary life stories that highlight the lives of ordinary people whose stories deserve to be told.

Not everyone makes the front page, but everyone leaves a remarkable life story worth remembering.

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In small-town Dansville, Michigan, Larry Soule spent 86 years quietly building an extraordinary life. A high school sports legend, 101st Airborne paratrooper, 30-year GM tradesman, and farmer who played softball into his 70s, Larry's passion for preserving history through his beloved tractor collection (especially his 1925 John Deere Spoker D) reveals a man who saw value in what others overlooked. His workshop—affectionately called "Soule Hardware" by his grandkids—wasn't just filled with tractors and tools, but with six decades of stories, community connections, and quiet dedication to the people and place he loved.

True Stories from the Obit Files brings you unforgettable stories of ordinary people with extraordinary lives three times weekly. Because some of the most remarkable stories never made the news—until now.

Not everyone makes the front page, but everyone leaves a story worth telling. In this episode of our life stories podcast, meet Marge Charleville (1940-2025): weekend pilot, coffee entrepreneur, and avid gardener who transformed her deepest grief into powerful advocacy. After her daughter was killed by a drunk driver in 1980, Marge founded St. Louis' chapter of Remove Intoxicated Drivers, fighting for legislative changes that continue saving lives today.

The woman who "planted gardens everywhere she lived" also nurtured seeds of change throughout Missouri—creating safety infrastructure that outlives her 85 years. Join us for an inspiring documentary podcast episode that celebrates the extraordinary lives of ordinary people. Real people. Real lives. Never ordinary.

In a garage in Tucson, Arizona, Gerald Armbruester spent decades perfecting the art of his craft as a mechanic. From maintaining military vehicles in Alaska to repairing medical equipment at the Red Cross, his mechanical expertise kept the world running. However, as his daughter and friends recall, Gerald's greatest gift went beyond fixing engines—it was his extraordinary ability to truly listen and offer support when needed. Even as Parkinson's Disease challenged his steady hands, he continued to move forward with humor and determination. Discover how this ordinary mechanic quietly built an extraordinary legacy of care through life stories, one repair at a time. For more information about this podcast visit TapYourNews.com

You don’t know him yet.
But today… you will.

Juan Omar Chaidez was 37 when he passed away in Princeton, Texas. He loved two-stepping, served as a firefighter paramedic, and once ran toward horrific danger when everyone else was running away.

🎧 He was often the first on the dance floor — and the kind of person who didn’t wait to be asked.

This is the kind of life most people would walk past.
Until someone stops… and tells the story.