How Life Shapes Us
How Life Shapes Us is a storytelling podcast where everyday people share the pivotal experiences that shaped who they are today. Hosted by journalist and marketer Tesla Mitchell, each episode uncovers real-life moments of growth, adversity, transformation, and meaning.
Perfect for curious minds who crave self-reflection, connection, and life lessons that don’t come from a guru—just honest humans figuring it out.
✨ Discover how people find purpose through pain, joy through challenge, and clarity through chaos.
🔍 Tune in for deep conversations, unexpected wisdom, and the moments that change everything.
👉 Subscribe now and join a growing community of listeners uncovering what really matters in life.
Episodes
9 episodes
Tom Sawyer: The Playbook for Building Successful Teams On and Off the Field
Tom Sawyer, a renowned retired football coach from Winona State University, shares insights he's learned from 25 years as head coach, including how to build a strong team, the value of creating a goal-oriented culture, and strategies to handle ...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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1:02:06
Emily Miller: A Candid Look at Transitioning and Breaking Societal Expectation
Emily Miller opens up about her journey as a young transgender woman and how transitioning during high school in a rural community shaped her path. Facing both support and resistance from those around her, Emily reflects on what she’s learned a...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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1:07:42
Tesla Mitchell: Embracing Death, Finding Closure, and Healing Through Storytelling
In this unique episode, host Tesla Mitchell is interviewed by former guest Ron Strege as she shares her own life experiences and profound lessons. Tesla talks about her father's tragic murder, the impact it had on her, and how it fueled her des...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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1:02:16
Ep. 6: Paul Stern: Finding the Sacred -- Whether in a Buddhist Temple or Everyday Life
Paul Stern talks about his experience studying in Buddhist Temples, his viewpoints on the human existence, and his belief that every moment can be sacred. Paul, a Buddhist priest and and an associate director at Winona State University, shares ...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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1:05:17
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Jeff Reinardy: From Scrawny Kid to Powerlifter, Lessons from a Life of FItness
In this episode, Jeff Reinardy shares how he went from being the scrawny kid in school to a powerlifter and fitness fanatic. Now the Director of Fitness and Wellness at Winona State University, Jeff shares the lessons he's learned about injurie...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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1:06:28
Ep. 4: Rebeccah Rudnik - From Trauma to Triumph: A Firefighter's Awakening
Hear from Rebeccah Rudnik, who shares how she survived a life-changing car accident that ultimately led her to changing career paths from marketing to becoming a firefighter. From overcoming a severe spinal injury and depression to finding her ...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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1:14:17
Ep. 3: Maria Espadas - Embracing Risk to Follow Your Heart
In Ep. 3 of How Life Shapes Us, we hear from Maria Espadas who talks about the risks she took in moving cities and later countries to follow her heart. Whether it included working next to alligators or marrying her husband after 6 months of dat...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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1:12:42
Episode #2: Angel Miller - Discovering She Was Never Alone
In this episode of How Life Shapes Us, we hear from Tesla Mitchell's mom, Angel Miller, about moments that changed her life. Angel shares a spiritual experience she had after preparing a special place for her mother-in-law's ashes and how that ...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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53:01
Episode #1: Ron Strege - Learning Empathy and Authenticity from Life’s Hardest Moments
In this inaugural episode of How Life Shapes Us, we hear Tesla Mitchell interview Ron Strege, who among many other things is the Director of the Warrior Success Center at Winona State University. Ron shares how key moments -- like losing his si...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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1:16:09
