Episodes

Send us a text What happens when life suddenly changes course and everything you know disappears? Laura Bratton's world transformed between second and third grade when a routine eye appointment revealed she would lose her sight due to a degenerative eye disease. While the full impact didn't hit immediately, by age fourteen, Laura found herself staring at indecipherable black blobs on her classroom board instead of letters—a moment that launched her into a profound journey through grief, anxie...

Send us a text Ever wonder what happens when theatrical magic collides with punk rock energy? Sasha Mereu embodies this fascinating intersection as the self-styled "punk rock Willy Wonka" - and he's on a mission to transform how musicians earn a living. Sasha takes us on a captivating journey through his remarkable career spanning over 1,000 stages worldwide, including a Broadway run in 2016 with "The Illusionists: Turn of the Century" - which became Broadway's highest-grossing magic show. His ...

Send us a text Ever wondered what it's like to navigate the world without sight? Meet Jean Marckley, a 79-year-old blind comedian who's turning stereotypes upside down one punchline at a time. "What's it like to be blind?" people often ask Jean. Her response? "Well, everybody close your eyes. Yep, that's it." With disarming wit and wisdom gained from nearly seven decades of blindness, Jean takes us on an enlightening journey through her experiences—from strangers yelling at her (because apparen...

Send us a text What happens when you blend country, rock, Americana, folk, blues, and pop into one distinctive sound? You get what fans call "Pam Music" – the signature style of singer-songwriter Pam Ross. On this episode of Living the Dream with Curveball, we're joined by the genre-defying Pam Ross, whose musical journey has taken her from Pittsburgh to Houston and now to North Carolina, with frequent creative pilgrimages to her favorite performance destination: Nashville. When asked to catego...

Send us a text Pete Neubig takes us on a captivating journey through his remarkable career transformation, from IT professional to property management entrepreneur and back to tech innovator. After 25 years in information technology, Pete's life took an unexpected turn at age 41 when he found himself managing 31 properties and three apartment complexes without the proper systems in place. This necessity birthed Empire Industries Property Management, which he eventually grew to manage nearly 1,00...

Send us a text Grief doesn't follow a timeline. This powerful truth anchors our profound conversation with grief expert, author, and life transition coach Ligia Houben, who brings both professional expertise and personal experience to her work helping the bereaved navigate life's most challenging transitions. Ligia shatters common misconceptions about grief, particularly the harmful belief that mourning should end after an arbitrary period. "Our love doesn't have a timeline," she explains, illu...

Send us a text What happens when you've checked all the boxes of success but still feel something's missing? James Walters, photographer, author, and host of "A Joyful Rebellion" podcast, joins us to explore the transformative power of creative risk-taking and authentic living. James shares his fascinating journey from commercial photographer (who initially used photography to escape math class) to wedding photographer capturing unpredictable moments, to helping others tell their brand stories....

Send us a text From painfully shy child to prolific songwriter with over twenty albums, Eddy Mann's musical journey defies easy categorization. Growing up in Philadelphia with a bebop pianist father and a mother who valued cultural heritage created the perfect environment for creative growth, though Eddy initially struggled to find his voice. That all changed when he picked up a guitar as a teenager – suddenly, the boy who couldn't read in front of classmates found himself performing in clubs be...

Send us a text What happens when cultural identity, activism, and groundbreaking storytelling converge? Amber Afzali brings this powerful intersection to life as she joins us to discuss her starring role in "Rule Breakers," the inspiring Angel Studios film that chronicles Afghanistan's first all-girls robotics team. Born to Afghan immigrant parents and raised in America, Amber shares her unique journey of balancing dual identities while developing a deep passion for her cultural heritage. This ...

Send us a text Albert Bramante brings a rare combination of talents to his work as a talent agent - over two decades of industry experience plus advanced credentials in psychology, hypnosis, and NLP. This unique perspective has made him an "architect of careers" who understands both the practical and psychological challenges performers face. Albert's journey began unexpectedly. Though originally destined for academic psychology, a brief acting stint revealed his true passion lay behind the scen...

Send us a text What happens when martial arts philosophy meets business leadership and personal development? Jene Burk knows firsthand. Originally planning to become a psychologist, Jene's life took an unexpected turn that launched him into a four-decade operations career while simultaneously deepening his practice of martial arts. The result? A unique perspective on personal growth that blends Eastern wisdom with practical workplace applications. In this conversation, Jene reveals how the mind...

Send us a text What if you could access the 90-95% of your mind power that remains dormant? Dr. Alain Salas takes us on a remarkable journey from his days as a sun-chasing boat rental operator in the South of France to becoming a revolutionary healer who helps people transform their lives by reprogramming their subconscious minds. The turning point in Dr. Salas's life came after a personal crisis trifecta—divorce, failing practice, and cancer diagnosis—forced him to question everything he thoug...

Send us a text Stories have power—especially when they challenge expectations and break barriers. This is exactly what novelist Nkrumah Mensah demonstrates through her fantasy series that starts with "Anne of Survivor," featuring a young woman who flees an arranged marriage in the 1500s and finds herself entangled in kingdom-wide intrigue. During our captivating conversation, Nkrumah reveals how her own background shaped her storytelling journey. Despite facing dyslexia as a child, she comes fr...

Send us a text The kitchen transforms from a place of anxiety to a hub of independence in this revealing conversation with Debra Erickson, founder of The Blind Kitchen. Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at 28, Debra shares her remarkable journey from someone who barely cooked to becoming the only blind student in culinary school, and ultimately, an innovative entrepreneur revolutionizing cooking for the visually impaired. What does adaptive cooking actually look like? Debra demystifies the pr...

Send us a text Joe Toler takes us on a fascinating journey through his career as an athletic director across six countries in 12 years, culminating in his current role at the International School of London in Qatar. What began as a teaching career in Houston transformed into an international adventure building comprehensive athletic and activity programs for students around the world. At the International School of London Qatar, Joe oversees three vital components of student life beyond academi...

Send us a text Disability advocacy transcends ramps and automatic doors—it's about creating a world where everyone belongs in every aspect of community life. Jenna Udenberg joins us to share her powerful journey from diagnosis with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at age seven to becoming an author, disability advocate, and accessibility educator. Diagnosed in the late 1980s and using a wheelchair since age eight, Jenna navigated a world before the Americans with Disabilities Act established basic...

Send us a text What if improving company profits and creating a more diverse workforce weren't competing goals but complementary ones? Paolo Gaudiano, founder of DEI tech company Aleria, flips conventional wisdom on its head with his revolutionary approach to workplace inclusion. With advanced degrees in aerospace engineering and neuroscience, Paolo brings a unique analytical perspective to diversity challenges. "I like to joke that I'm the white elephant in the room," he shares, acknowledging ...

Send us a text When Mark MacNicol stepped into a maximum security prison in 2016 to lead a theatre project with inmates serving life sentences, he couldn't have predicted how profoundly it would change his career trajectory. A writer, director, and producer by trade, MacNicol found himself captivated by the therapeutic potential of creative expression—particularly for those who would never identify as "creative types." This revelation birthed Anonymous Drama, a groundbreaking approach that has ...

Send us a text Chris Feistl takes us behind the scenes of one of the most dangerous DEA operations in history - the hunt for the Cali Cartel in Colombia during the 1990s. As a 26-year DEA veteran who stood on the frontlines against what was then "the biggest and most powerful crime syndicate in history," Feistl shares firsthand accounts that reveal the real story behind Netflix's Narcos season three. The Cali Cartel, led by four sophisticated "gentlemen" who preferred bribery over bullets, cont...

Send us a text What does it really take to break free from toxic relationship patterns and transform your pain into purpose? Aneta Waclaw's journey offers a roadmap for anyone stuck in cycles of unhealthy connections. From the outside, Aneta's life in Chicago looked perfect—pursuing her dream career as a hairstylist. But beneath the surface, she struggled with poor self-image and found herself in a marriage that slowly dismantled her sense of self. "He hated how I looked, how I dressed, how I t...

Send us a text Kerie Logan, an acclaimed therapist and empowerment strategist with over 20 years of experience, dives deep into the transformative power of breaking free from limiting stories. Known as "the pinhole of light," Kerie illuminates pathways to authentic liberation by helping people shift their consciousness toward compassion, wisdom, and understanding. Her own remarkable journey from corporate America to becoming a renowned hypnotherapist began when she faced homelessness as a singl...

Send us a text Cesar Cardona's life reads like a hero's journey – from a childhood divided between warring parents to gang violence, substance abuse, and ultimately transformation into a powerful voice for healing and unity. "You already have what it takes to become the best version of yourself," Cesar shares in this deeply moving conversation. As a public speaker who teaches actionable steps for healing, growth, and connection, his message carries the weight of hard-won wisdom. Cesar takes us...

Send us a text After losing her husband in her 30s, Melissa Darnay found herself seeking adventure and a fresh start. With just five words of Spanish and an adventurous spirit, she packed up her life in Dallas, loaded her furniture and two dogs, and moved to Panama in 2012. Thirteen years later, Melissa has built an extraordinary life at the mouth of the Panama Canal, where ships line up against a backdrop of blue ocean and lush green jungle. In this captivating conversation, she reveals how Pa...

Send us a text What happens when music meets muscle? Meet Trea, the "fit artist" whose mission bridges the gap between creative expression and physical wellbeing. Growing up in a small Mississippi Delta town where church choirs shaped his musical foundation, Trea's journey from writing emotional poems about his grandmother to founding Next World Fitness reflects the powerful intersection of artistic passion and physical discipline. Trea recognizes a critical truth most fitness professionals mis...