The People We Meet with Ty Bruner

At 5 a.m., with a rope and a handful of buoys marking a makeshift lane at Benny's Inn, Emma Schanz began a quest that would carry her from a tiny Washington town to the U.S. National Team and UCLA’s record books. This episode follows her raw, relentless grind — the doubles, the tire flips, the sacrifices, and the pinch‑me moments training alongside her childhood heroes.

But it’s more than medals: it’s about identity, resilience, an...

Ty Bruner invites listeners on a nostalgic, unvarnished journey through Generation X — from sunlit Saturday mornings on big wheels and mixtapes that shaped young hearts, sunrises at sea, cinematic lessons in grit, and the dizzying shift from rotary phones to smartphones. With a storyteller’s eye, he threads humor, loss, and hard-earned wisdom into a narrative about loneliness turned connection, cinematic heroes that taught resilien...

On this fascinating episode, former A-10 pilot Dale Storer pulls listeners into a razor-sharp narrative that moves from Air Force bases and childhood memories to the thunder of Desert Storm. A routine mission turns into chaos—an unseen impact, a low-altitude ejection, and an immediate, brutal descent into captivity—each moment told with the quiet clarity of a man who lived it.

Ty Bruner’s interview unfolds like a tight film scene: ...

From the rail yards of Spokane to the cold English countryside, this episode follows Charles "Chuck" Gumm Jr., a Rogers High kid turned P-51 pilot, whose ordinary upbringing met an extraordinary moment in midair. Against the roar of engines and the pressure of war, one failing Merlin engine forced a decision that would ripple across an ocean.

This episode shares a moment in history that never made the books, but it made a differenc...

Host Ty Bruner sits down with immigration attorney Sam Smith to cut through the noise — history, policy and rhetoric collide as they reveal the human stories hidden behind headline numbers. From DACA recipients trapped in a “golden cage,” to asylum seekers facing impossible legal hurdles, this episode walks listeners through the real process, the cruel bottlenecks, and the decisions that tear families apart.

Sam translates law into...

This episode of The People We Meet takes a calm, story-driven walk through America’s past — from Ellis Island and the words etched at the base of the Statue of Liberty to the people who arrived carrying hope, fear, and very little else.

Along the way, we revisit moments many of us half-remember from school — the Irish, Chinese, Italians, Jews, Mexicans, Japanese Americans — not as villains or footnotes, but as neighbors who helped ...

Settle into the warm hum of the No Lie Brewhouse in Spokane as host Ty Bruner and owner John Bryant trace a line from Dust Bowl survival to a thriving riverfront brewery. Through vivid family stories—grandparents who wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt, mornings with a chainsaw, and Grange Hall gatherings—this episode unfolds how grit and old‑school generosity shaped a man and his mission.

We follow John’s bootstrapped climb through the bre...

When Ty Bruner sits down with Ehea Schuerch, a corrections officer by day and elite tactical athlete by night, a story of grit, faith, and hard-won grace unfolds. From a childhood in Spokane shaped by creativity and scarcity to the brutal discipline of the Tactical Games and a decade inside the jail, E. reveals how training became a lifeline — pushing her body, sharpening her mind, and teaching her what really matters.

Along the wa...

When Ty Brunner notices the same familiar figure in the gym before dawn, curiosity turns into conversation. Meet Rob Hoff — a former military kid, a Comcast sales manager, and a gym regular whose day begins long before sunrise. Through anecdotes about his fighter-pilot father, a life shaped by routine, and the wake-up call of a diabetes diagnosis, Rob reveals how small, stubborn habits became the backbone of a life well-lived.

This...

Angela Fletcher's life unfolds like a weathered map of danger, risk and resilience. From a turbulent childhood and the crushing spiral of addiction, to high-powered corporate success and the dizzying burnout that followed, Angela’s story is an unflinching look at what it takes to walk away and start again. In this episode, she traces the moment-by-moment choices that led her from streets and hotels to backpacks and homesteads—ultim...

Born into the FLDS and married as teenagers, Ange and Cade’s story reads like a slow-burning escape: ritualized control, a prophet’s death, and a community split that left them adrift. When rebellion and heartbreak push them apart, two restless youths choose very different paths—one into the unbridled thrill of apostasy, the other into a furious search for meaning.

Together they unlearn a lifetime of rules, rebuild their lives, and...

Ty Bruner invites you back for season two with a personal, surprising story — from backyard tape-recorded childhood adventures to the awkward, humbling lessons of hosting real conversations. He discovers that the ordinary moments and offhand remarks often reveal the most honest, human truths.

This episode is an experiment in leaning in: asking one more question, listening past the noise, and chasing common ground in a world built f...

In this special episode of The People We Meet, host Ty Bruner interviews his long-time friend Tony Sequina, embarking on a journey through the decades of their shared experiences. An unexpected deep conversation with his daughter sets the stage for this heartfelt narrative, as Ty reflects on how simple format changes can unveil new insights.

With his new equipment ready, Ty is determined to uncover untold stories from Tony's life, ...

Join Ty Bruner in an inspiring conversation with Ricky "The Pitbull" Welliver, a boxing legend known for his dedication to the sport and his community. Born into a lineage of fighters, Ricky shares his journey from the gritty neighborhoods of Spokane to becoming a revered mentor in the boxing world.

Throughout the episode, Ricky recounts the pivotal moments that shaped his passion for boxing, embracing the challenges and triumphs a...

In this captivating episode of "The People We Meet," host Ty Bruner introduces us to Gleason Garske, a remarkable 10-year-old bowling prodigy with an extraordinary story to tell. As the first episode of "The Voices of the Kids" series, this narrative delves into the life of Gleason, a fourth-grader with a zest for life, who effortlessly balances school, sports, and personal projects.

Join Ty and Gleason as they explore the young bo...

In this captivating episode of "The People We Meet," host Ty Bruner sits down with Dr. Jake Deakins, a physician who dared to step away from corporate medicine to pursue a more patient-focused approach. From the EMT trenches to establishing a thriving wellness clinic, Dr. Deakins shares his journey through the complex landscape of healthcare, highlighting the transformative power of patient empowerment.

Join us as we delve into the...

Join host Ty Bruner as he sits down with Eddie Williams, a professional bowler from Spokane, Washington. In this episode of "The People We Meet," Eddie shares his fascinating journey from a young boy in Brooklyn to becoming a bowling pro in Southern California. Discover how his family's love for the sport shaped his passion and led to a lifetime dedicated to mastering the lanes.

Witness the highs and lows Eddie faced on his path to...

In this episode of "The People We Meet," host Ty Bruner sits down with TJ Gaia, a man whose life story unfolds like a tapestry woven with threads of resilience, courage, and introspection. Born in Las Vegas and transplanted to the quieter town of Moscow, Idaho, TJ shares his early life struggles, the absence of a father, and a mother's tireless efforts to keep their lives stitched together.

TJ takes us deep into his experiences as ...

Welcome to 'The People We Meet,' where host Ty Bruner dives into extraordinary stories of resilience and courage. In this episode, Ty sits down with his friend and colleague, Chris Muñoz, in Medical Lake, Washington, to explore the profound impact of working in the fire service and the implications of PTSD.

Join the conversation as Chris shares his personal journey from growing up in Western Washington, pursuing a career in the fir...