Life's a Beach ... and Then You Die

In this podcast episode of Life's a Beach and Then You Die, the host interviews Mike Oglesbee, a mindset coach, author, speaker, and podcaster, who shares his personal and transformative journey. Mike discusses his struggles with self-esteem, depression, and the dark places he has been in mentally but also how he turned his life around. It's not easy changing your life and mindset but Mike did it and this episode explores how.

In this podcast episode, Heather Edwards shares her life story, focusing on her visual impairment and how it shaped her experiences from childhood to adulthood. Born with a condition similar to macular degeneration, Heather had to learn to adapt and find her own way to independence and health.

In this episode of "Life's a Beach and Then You Die," Ernie Johnson shares his story of growing up in Conway, South Carolina, with an alcoholic father and the profound impact of a severe spinal injury sustained at 17. Despite the challenges of his father's alcoholism and the violence it sometimes provoked, Ernie speaks of the love within his family and the resilience they cultivated.

In this episode of "Life's a Beach and Then You Die," host Julie Ellis interviews Paulette Miller, who reflects on her life's journey from a shy girl, to an aspiring entertainer, mother, and businesswoman. Paulette discusses her college theater experience, her complicated marriage, and her return to acting. Paulette's story is one of resilience, embracing opportunities later in life, and the importance of pursuing one's dreams.

In this episode, Christiane, a French immigrant living in Myrtle Beach, recounts her life's journey, from her childhood in France to her various ventures in America. She speaks of her early years on her grandmother's farm, her move to the U.S., and the challenges of adapting to a new country without English proficiency. Christiane's resilience is evident as she discusses the hardships in her life and what she's learned about living so far.

In this episode of "Life's a Beach and Then You Die," Leslie O'Neill opens up about her life and experiences in a candid conversation with host Julie Ellis. She reflects on her childhood, marriages, and the responsibilities of being a caretaker. Throughout her journey, Leslie has gained insights into trusting herself, knowing when to move forward, when to stay, and discovering how to find inner peace while taking care of oneself.

This week, Julie E. interviews Dino Thompson, a lifelong resident of Myrtle Beach and the owner of Cagnys and Flamingo Grill. Dino shares his family's story and his personal experiences growing up and working in the restaurant industry. We learn about his father's journey to America and the challenges of running a business in Myrtle Beach. Dino also discusses his management style and emphasizes the importance of interpersonal interactions. The episode offers a fascinating insight into the life of one of the great pillars of Myrtle Beach.

In this episode, Julie sits down with Greg Rowles, a well-known Myrtle Beach personality and singer. They discuss Greg's early experiences in the entertainment industry, his rise to fame and his upcoming theater, The Greg Rowels Legacy Theater. Greg shares personal stories about his family, marriage and journey to success, all culminating in the legacy he hopes to leave.

In this episode of Life's a Beach and Then You Die, Julie Ellis interviews Jeremy Howard about his life growing up in Myrtle Beach, his passion for his community, and how he came to create the sleigh ride organization. This is a story that serves as an inspiration and reminder to pursue your own passions and make a difference in your communities.

Gina Trimarco's life hasn't been easy. Her dad passed away when she was young, and her relationship with her mom and brother was rocky at best. Throughout her life, Gina has learned that in order to be happy, you need to fight for yourself and never give up on what you want to achieve in your life. “Even through the hard times, my attitude always was that this hard time — and I had several people tell me that your mess becomes your message — this hard time is going to serve someone later. And that is what pushes me through the hardest of times.” -Gina Trimarco

Wallace Evans Jr. had quite the journey; from being a preacher's kid to losing himself to ultimately becoming the CEO of A Father's Place. In this week's episode, we dive into the highs, lows and everything Wallace has learned on the way to finding himself and becoming a father.

David's journey has been marked by adversity, such as his mother's struggles with alcoholism, and his multiple marriages and health issues. This is the story of how he cultivated a resilient outlook on life, and how he discovered the value of both offering and accepting support from others, despite the pain and the fear of death. "The first thing he said when he came in after he saw my scans, he said, "If you don’t do anything it would be your undoing." I’ll never forget those words. I knew at that point that even though I don’t have cancer, I could die from this tumor." -David Klauder

This is the remarkable journey of Deborah and the impact of three pivotal men in her life: her father, her husband and her son. This episode unravels a tale of love, resilience, redemption and most of all, Deborah's unwavering determination to cultivate love. Trigger warning: This episode contains content pertaining to domestic violence and suicide which may be disturbing to some listeners. If you or a loved one struggles with suicide, you don’t need to go through it alone. Please go to https://www.iasp.info/suicidalthoughts/

The life of an actor. Greg London talks about the winding road filled with hurdles that brought him to where he is today, the executive artistic director of the Long Bay Theatre. In this episode of Life's a Beach and Then You Die, we learn about Greg- who he is, where his love of theatre started, and where it’s brought him now.

A teacher with a love of trying new things and ensuring she lives life to the fullest, Angela Robinette is a shining example of overcoming hardship and living a fulfilling life. Experiencing a divorce after 20 years of marriage, she talks about what it’s like to pick yourself back up and start fresh. She also discusses her experiences teaching abroad and the valuable lessons she's learned from cultures around the world.

After an accident in his early adult years broke most of the bones in his body, Larry Kave now prioritizes doing the things he loves and helping those around him. Whether taking photos at local sporting events or playing Santa Claus at his daughter’s Christmas pageant, Larry is always looking for ways to enjoy life to the fullest.

Tracy Bailey’s story is about hard work, determination, and community. Growing up in rural South Carolina, Tracy's childhood taught her the importance of literacy and helping others. Her life has been filled with romance, adventure, heartache, and triumph, and is a testament to of the importance of trusting who you are and standing up for what you believe in.

John Cramer shares his tumultuous experiences growing up in Youngstown, Ohio, with an abusive father. Facing blatant racism, he dropped out of high school, also turning to drinking and fighting like his father did. John struggled to maintain relationships but eventually learned how not to be a parent from his own experiences. Tragically, his son passed away due to an accidental overdose of fentanyl and John was diagnosed with lung cancer a year later. Despite the heartbreaking experiences, John has learned a lot about himself and what truly matters in life.

Mary Chestnut's journey began as the daughter of hardworking Italian immigrants in Toronto. Her career started in the cosmetics industry and then reached its height as she worked in retail build-out. Tragically, her success came to a screeching halt and Mary had to rebuild her life from scratch. With the help of her beloved friend, Laura, she started her own successful makeup artistry business. Sadly, Laura passed away from cancer leaving Mary to run the business on her own. However, Mary believes that Laura, as well as her deceased father, still communicate with her from the other side. Through it all, Mary's story is one of triumph over adversity, finding success and meaningful relationships despite the challenges.

Dylan Foster is a cheerful, fun-loving seafood expert and chef. His happy disposition is almost disarming and you would never suspect that he’s been through some serious hardship. Only six days after their wedding, Dylan Foster and his wife lost their baby at 32 weeks. Of course, it was absolutely devastating and it took some time to come out of the fog of grief. However, looking back on the intense trial they faced, Dylan is sure that it made him into the man, husband and father to two boys that he is today.