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Singer/songwriter and guitarist Wade Cambern is a Hoku Award-winning producer and composer for Hawaiian Style Band. His original songs "Love and Honesty," "Let’s Talk Story," "Live A Little, Hawaiian Style," "Rhythm of the Ocean" and others continue to resonate with listeners in Hawaii and throughout the world. Along with Israel Kamakawiwa’ole and Bryan Kessler, they wrote the song “Living in a Sovereign Land” that has been a standard bearer for those advocating for the rights of the Hawaiian people.During a musical career spanning decades, Wade’s voice and music have also been recorded in many radio and television advertisements, and he now directs the Contemporary Service Music Ensemble at Central Union Church in Honolulu.But where did he grow up? What did his parents do and how did this influence him? Which member of the Adams Family tv show did he go to school with? How did he end up in Hawaii? How did he meet Bryan Kessler, and Rob Burns, and get started with the Hawaiian Style Band? How did Robi Kahakalau join the band? The band was conceptualized as a revolving band, a collaboration of more than fifty musicians, that included Hawaiian music notables Israel Kamakawiwa'ole; Bla, Cyril, and Martin Pahinui; Fiji; Teresa Bright; Del Beazley; and the Ka'au Crater Boys.Well listen in, hear some great music, and hear the life story of Wade Cambern (and a bonus song at the end if you listen all the way). And yes, you’ll find out who that Adams Family cast member was.  

In episode 37, I sit down and talk with my younger sister Barb and her wife Cindi. They discuss their upbringings, when they knew they were different, and how this difference effected their lives. We also talk about how my beliefs that were taught to me by well-meaning family, friends and church leaders were well; just flat out wrong. And how admitting I was wrong is ok. So how are things different in 2021 than they were in 1981? Do Cindi and Barb feel accepted in their community, in their families and in their religion? Spoiler, not so much in their religion.Oh yeah, here’s one more reason to listen in. Whatever your thoughts might be when it comes to a loving, caring relationship, you will appreciate the love shared by these two. Being there for the good times is easy, but showing up when things are in the crapper; to me this is an example of a couple committed to “being there” for each other. And being there for each other, well there's no better example of this than Barb and Cindi.  

What could you achieve if you refused to quit on your dreams? Born in a strict religious community, (politically correct term for a cult), Jessie Shedden encountered immense challenges growing up, including bullying for her appearance and dyslexia, sexual abuse, and an ever-increasing knowledge that life in the cult held no prospects for her.  Jessie knew for 15 years that her dreams would mean she’d have to choose a life outside the one she knew. A life that restricted her freedoms and stifled her spirit as she grew up. Completely out of hope, and after surrendering her entire identity, she looked at her options: suicide, or a chance at a new life in an unknown world? In episode 36 of Nobody Knows Your Story, Jessie details the strict rules that she was forced to live by and how things weren’t what they seemed. Now having found her freedom, Jessie shares her emotional struggles and how she chose to handle them as she developed into who she is today. She’s lost no time in creating a life on her terms, with self-respect, justice and authenticity.  HOST NOTE:As Jessie and I both grew up in high demand religions, we share our takes, discuss similarities, and look at opportunities for personal growth and self-expression throughout our hour together. Yeah, this interview hit a bit close to home.Find Jessie at:Facebook@jessiesheddenInstagram@jessiesheddenwww.jessieshedden.com 

Asha Grigg grew up in Perth, Australia. Her first 17 years of life were much like her friends, until she received a medical assessment that would turn her world upside down.Listen to Asha's story of how her biggest turning point, was mastering her mindset, and identifying the importance it would have on her life. 

My first Nobody Knows Your Story podcast interview of 2021 is with lifestyle mentor Dai Manuel. Dai discusses growing up in Eastern Canada and how a significant event at age nine changed his life; but it also propelled him later to become who he is today.  Spend and hour and learn a bit about the life of Dai Manuel, and just how he became so interested in fitness. Interested enough to, well; to write a fitness manifesto. 

Cheryl Ray grew up in the small town of Price, Utah. So just how did she end up as a sex crimes instructor with the FBI? And that, well that's just the beginning.Take the time and listen as Cheryl talks about going from being a drum majorette, to a Mom, to a very interesting twenty-seven-year career with the FBI. Some of her assignments took her to Nigeria, Italy, Iraq, Australia, Afghanistan and more.As one might imagine, she’s not at liberty to discuss all that she did, but some of the stories she tells are absolutely mind boggling. (In the podcast picture, that's Cheryl standing in a bombed out building in Baghdad.)

Rob Schafer has worked for Francis Ford Coppola for a dozen years and has edited a number of his films including a re-edit of "The Godfather III" released just this past week. The re-edited film was given a new name as well; The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone.Rob talks about growing up in California, and his learning to play the guitar by spending hours each day at practice. All the practice paid off as Rob played lead guitar in a successful band with older brother Ryan while Rob was still in high school.We also chat a bit about Hawaii and the trips we spent there as family. Yeah, we spent a number of vacations together on Oahu because you see, Rob is my nephew.

Ya know, with the life I've lived and the joy I get from conversing, I fancy myself as a modern day raconteur.  But damn, when it comes to recounting a life well lived, Bob Hollowell's the man!In part two of Bob's interview, he recalls some interesting life events such as riding across the country on a tandem bike with wife Carol. He also recounts working the oil fields of North Dakota, and his eventual career as a pilot after flying for fun, most of his adult life.After getting to know Bob, it's clear he and I are aligned in many ways, even down to our love of Jimmy Buffett. Towards the end of this talk story session, we discuss what's really important as we're living and dying in 3/4 time.

Yes it's true; Bob Hollowell started milking cows on the family farm in Oregon and has flown planes as an airline pilot.Oh, that's not the half of it. Listen to part one of Bob's story in episode 30 of Nobody Knows  Your Story where he really doesn't even get to his airline pilot experiences. What a tease, right?He does talk about his early life, meeting wife Carol and what it's like to experience the highs and lows of running your own business.There's a bit of parrothead talk as Carol and Bob are followers of Jimmy Buffet. 

Cindy McDonald is a devoted wife, mother, stepmother and grandmother and I’ve known her and husband Mel for many years. So, when I say devoted, let me tell you what I’m talking about. You see, Cindy wrote a book, The Least Likely Criminal, and in it you get an in depth view to her devotion as she reveals the things she did to help her son Bennett, who was injured in a terrible accident.   In today’s episode of Nobody Knows Your Story, Cindy talks about her life, and the tragic events that led her to repeatedly break the law as she helped Bennett in his fight to survive.   

In today’s Nobody Knows Your Story episode you’ll be hearing the life story of Lark Dean Galley. She recounts her early life which involved moving many times, living in difficult circumstances and how these experiences drove her to want a life of structure and order. Lark has had her share of struggles. On March 21, 2019, Lark experienced a devastating loss—the unexpected suicide of her 19-year-old son. Having already endured her father’s suicide five years earlier, this second death hit especially hard.Like many, Lark has had to learn to cope with loss and we’ll talk about her book, Learning to Breathe Again: Choosing to Heal After Losing a Loved One to Suicide. Life’s experiences have led her to look at things differently. She’s more reflective and less aggressive and when it comes to situations that once required promptness and deadlines, she’s adopted a believe that “things will all work out”.  

"Honey, I've got to  go out of town on business. I'm heading to Honduras, be back in a couple of weeks." Chuck Hagen joined the Army after High School but not directly. He worked a bit and over time decided he wanted to take his life another direction. His eyesight kept him from becoming a pilot but when a recruiter suggested being a helicopter mechanic Chuck thought, why not?Listen as Chuck recalls growing up in Milwaukee, dealing with the divorce of his parents, realizing his Dad was less than perfect but following his advice to do something more with his life. Doing something more is what led Chuck to the Army, eventually marriage, and a career in aviation all the way out in Arizona.Oh yeah, and some not so typical business trips.     

After six months of weekly podcasts, I felt that I needed episode 25 to be an explanation of how Nobody Knows Your Story will be every other Wednesday starting next week.But hey, I couldn't just do an episode without a story and a few songs so that's what you'll get when you listen to this abbreviated episode.Aloha,LarryYes, I called the guy and Judy and I ended up sitting right next to Charles's wife. (This will make sense once you've listened to the episode.)

Karen Christoffersen has worked as a producer of television, radio, film, and print advertising for 40 years. She's coordinated book production, including writing, editing, design, and printing for BookWise Publishing authors since its inception in 2006. Karen lost her husband Al in a terrible accident more than ten years ago and is the mother of three adult children. In today's episode, Karen talks about growing up in North Carolina, and the decisions that led her out to Utah where she met Al. She describes the difficulty of losing your best friend but how her belief in one day being reunited keeps her going. Hawai'i? Yeah, she talks about that too. 

Once again on the Nobody Knows Your Story podcast, we’ll be listening to the life stories of another couple. Amber and Todd Lewis are the second couple to appear as guests on NKYS and will be sharing interesting anecdotes from their youth, funny remembrances of their first encounters, their eventual marriage and their challenges together. Their life has been different from most couple’s when it relates to children. They talk about how they have navigated the difficulties of premature births, a child with special needs, and how these life experiences have helped them to develop greater levels of patience and love. Yeah, this is one of those stories that you truly enjoy, and that you will think about again and again. 

In the John Lennon song Beautiful Boy, John is heard singing, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans”. Life can sometimes happen in a way we wish it wouldn’t, but nevertheless must accept. This was the case for Wayne Merrill when he was forced to become a man at the age of fifteen. Everyone has a story; this is true but I’m pretty sure there aren’t many who’ve had a story like Wayne’s. In episode 22 of Nobody Knows Your Story, you’ll hear how Wayne has had more than his share of tragedy yet considers himself a lucky man.So, I invite you to stick around and listen to the life story of Wayne Merrill. 

David Salisbury grew up Mormon in the surf and music world of Southern California in the 1960’s. His story is one shared by many during that carefree period of life which was centered around part time jobs, church, dating and school.  Oh yeah, there was that music thing too, listening to and performing as a drummer/ percussionist. After a Mormon mission to South America, college, and marriage; David made work related moves from Utah, to Florida, back to Utah and then to Virginia. He recently returned to Utah where he currently teaches educational psychology in a political science class at Dixie State University.Listen as this former Mormon Bishop talks about the twists and turns life takes and how he believes the future lies in trying to make a better world through intelligent conversation, rather than political, social, or religious battles.  

Like many, Bob Fondiller’s life has been shaped by decisions he made in his youth. Since I hear our brains do not fully develop until we’re twenty-five, I feel comfortable using twenty-five as the age of becoming an adult. (Rental car companies use this figure as well for adult consideration.)So, here’s Bob, working as a golf caddie through high school, having a strong math background and thinking he’ll become a math teacher. But a professor tells Bob he would make a good MBA candidate and that takes Bob’s life down a different path. A path that has ended up with him spending the majority of his very active life on the island of Maui.Listen as Bob recalls what has been a very interesting life journey. 

At 33, Mike French had an experience that took his life in a different direction.Mike grew up in Michigan without a father figure but overall, had a fairly normal upbringing if you can have a normal upbringing without a father figure. A traumatic event in high school set him back for a time, but he pressed forward with a positive attitude. A job that contributed to addictive concerns, a marriage that went south, these may have put others over the edge. But Mike decided he was ready for a change as he met the love of his life and headed west. So how did things go? What happened at 33?Spend an hour and get to know the life story of Mike French.  

Yeah, you think you know somebody. I sat down with Dan Kelly and listened to his life story and learned a few things I did not know.Dan grew up in the Boston area; knew that. Dan played bugle in the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corp; did not know that. Dan worked in a shipyard; did not know that. Dan plays softball year round, I knew that. Dan was in the Air Force; knew that. Dan was a referee and umpire for a variety of sports from recreational to college level, did not know that. Dan has had a number of motorcycles and has made a cross country trip honoring Veterans; did not know that. Dan got into track and field and ended up with a U.S. National Champ; did not know that. Dan was a corrections officer for 14 years, I knew that.Oh yeah, there’s more. So kick back and listen to the life story of Daniel Francis Joseph Kelly.