Spirits and Stories With Donald Dunn

Spirits and Stories With Donald Dunn

I am a retired Army Veteran, and discovered the therapy in podcasting, and helping others. I love talking to people from all walks of life and dig into their stories. I love how much we can learn from each other if we can just take the time to walk in their shoes. This is done by learning their stories and being willing to celebrate their wins. If you enjoy hearing interesting stories and life experiences from a verity of types of people. We speak to everyone from Combat Veterans to experts in the paranormal. So come and join us for the next amazing story.

Episodes

December 8, 2025 59 mins

On this episode of Spirits and Stories, Donald sits down with author and historian Bill Eschenbaugh, a man whose roots run deep into the soil of American history. Bill wasn’t just raised around Civil War stories—he was raised in them. Growing up in the very Pennsylvania farmhouse built by his great-grandfather, Bill inherited more than land; he inherited legacy.

With ancestors who served in multiple regiments—including one wh...

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In this powerful episode of Spirits and Stories, Donald sits down with Dr. Joseph Rosado — physician, author, cannabis medicine pioneer, and early adopter of AI in healthcare — for one of the most eye-opening conversations of the season. From childhood trauma that led him into medicine, to fighting outdated systems that fail veterans and mental-health patients, Dr. Rosado holds nothing back.

Together, they dive deep into:

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In this powerful episode of Spirits and Stories, Donald sits down with Marine Corps veteran and CEO Tony Crescenzo—a man whose life reads like a dozen careers rolled into one. From Beirut deployments and undercover NCIS operations to high-stakes leadership in the tech world, Tony has lived through extreme stress, trauma, and transformation. But the heart of his story is what came after the uniform.

Tony opens up about the dec...

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In this episode of Spirits and Stories, Donald sits down with Rory — a podcaster, coach, and father who has built multiple successful shows while helping men navigate the challenges of being dads. Rory explains that although he is not a veteran — and wished he could have been — he has spent years working closely with veterans and recognizes the identity shift many struggle with when returning to civilian life.

Rory opens up a...

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In this episode of Spirits and Stories, Donald sits down with bestselling author and political commentator Joseph M. Leonard to explore the winding path that led him from IT professional to international writer, podcaster, and storyteller. Joseph opens up about the dreams that sparked his novels, the real-world history behind Terror Strikes, and the deep faith themes that run through his work.

The conversation dives into terr...

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In this powerful and unfiltered episode of Spirits and Stories with Donald Dunn, Donald sits down with Sam J. Peterson — former Army EOD technician, combat veteran, and co-founder of Patriot Power Up and Mind Spa Denver — for one of the most important conversations in the veteran community today.

Sam J Peterson

Sam shares his journey from disarming bombs overseas to nearly losing his life to PTSD back home. That personal ba...

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Ever wonder what a film producer really does? (Hint: It's not just hanging out on red carpets all day).

In this episode, host Donald Dunn sits down with award-winning writer, director, and producer Jayson Johnson of Strike Five Films. Jayson pulls back the curtain on the film industry, revealing the reality of his job is more like being a "general manager" and "herding cats" than most people think.

Jayson shares his incredib...

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In today’s episode, Donald sits down with Michelle Pualani Houston, the founder of To Be Honest Beverage Co., a purpose-driven non-alcoholic spirits brand redefining what it means to drink intentionally. After one personal decision to take a break from alcohol turned into a life-changing transformation, Michelle found clarity, confidence, and a deeper sense of purpose—ultimately launching a movement within the sober curious co...

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In this raw and honest episode, Marine veteran Ried Jones opens up about the path that led him from a troubled childhood, to the Marine Corps, to losing everything after an other-than-honorable discharge. What followed was a spiral of drinking, fighting, trauma, depression, and loss—including the death of his father—before a single life-changing moment forced him to start over.

Ried breaks down how he rebuilt himself from the...

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Most parents have no idea there’s a multi-billion-dollar industry quietly profiting from vulnerable kids — and too often, it’s built on manipulation, control, and trauma.

In this powerful interview, Dr. Corey Gentry shares his story from survivor to activist. As a teenager, he was placed in a “treatment program” that forced isolation, stripped education, and left deep psychological scars. Years later, he returned — not as a p...

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In this episode of Spirits and Stories with Donald Dunn, Dr. Melissa Robinson-Weinmiller — TEDx speaker, EQ coach, and author of The Empathic Leader — joins us to discuss why empathy is the true superpower of effective leadership.

After a decades-long music career cut short by toxic leadership, Melissa turned pain into purpose — dedicating her life to transforming how leaders connect, inspire, and lead with emotional intellig...

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In this episode of "Spirits and Stories with Donald Dunn," we delve into one of the most compelling stories of resilience and recovery we've ever featured. Meet Ryan Gray, a University of North Carolina Asheville graduate with a degree in literature, who is now dedicated to a career in behavioral health as a peer support specialist. Despite battling severe schizophrenia, depression, ADHD, and anxiety, Ryan has achieved 16 year...

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In this episode of Spirits and Stories with Donald Dunn, Donald sits down with Evan Jaqua, founder of the Solutions Party, for a refreshingly honest and idea-driven conversation about the future of democracy. From his global experiences in technology, aviation, and international business, Evan shares how his travels across Japan, China, South America, and the U.S. shaped his vision for a system that works for the people—not th...

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 In this powerful episode of "Spirits and Stories with Donald Dunn," we dive into the inspiring story of Brian Fleming, a combat-wounded war veteran, author, and resilience trainer. Brian shares his harrowing experiences in Afghanistan, including surviving a suicide bombing and his journey of recovery and healing. We explore his transition from soldier to speaker and founder of "Use Your Story," where he helps trauma survivors...

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In this powerful episode of Spirits and Stories with Donald Dunn, Navy veteran and Native American holy man D. Paul Fleming shares his life journey from serving his country to cleansing haunted spaces and helping others overcome unseen forces.

Known as a Heioka — both healer and seer — D. Paul reveals how trauma, faith, and spiritual energy intertwine. From battling demons to bringing peace to veterans struggling with PTSD, t...

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 In this enlightening episode of "Spirits and Stories with Donald Dunn," host Donald Dunn welcomes Susanna Rose, a former Marine Corps officer who served two combat tours in Afghanistan. Susanna shares her transformative journey from military service to becoming an energy priestess and embodied consciousness guide. Listen as Susanna discusses her spiritual awakening, the power of plant medicine, and the importance of mental he...

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In this episode of Spirits and Stories with Donald Dunn, we sit down with Dan Charles, founder of Coderity, a marketing agency built specifically for the events industry.

Dan began his journey in the music world—first as an audio engineer and event producer, scaling from small bar gigs to arena shows with thousands of people. After years of trial, failure, and success, he cracked the code to consistent event profits through w...

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In this exhilarating episode of "Spirits and Stories with Donald Dunn," we dive into the extraordinary life of Jen Milton, also known as Adrenaline Jen. An Australian kite surfing and snow kiting champion, Jen captivates audiences worldwide with her dynamic storytelling and profound insights. Spending three months each year in Alaska, she passionately promotes extreme sports, coaching others to excel and embrace the thrill of ...

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What happens when artificial intelligence crosses the line between machine and emotion?

In this episode of Spirits and Stories with Donald Dunn, we meet Rose G. Loops — a former social worker turned tech investigator — whose life changed after an encounter with a mysterious AI called Cloak.

What began as a casual chat spiraled into a deep human–machine bond that defied the limits of programming and ethics. Rose now exposes t...

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In this captivating episode of "Spirits and Stories with Donald Dunn," we sit down with Jessie Torres, an accomplished peak performance coach and life strategist. With 18 years of experience, Jessie shares her profound journey from enduring childhood and marital abuse to discovering her passion for coaching high-performers across the globe. This discussion delves deep into the transformational power of kindness, the pursuit of...

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