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.
How Life Shapes Us
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 sister early in life -- taught him meaningful lessons in empathy and how needed it is in the world.
Tesla and Ron also unpack his journey with cancer and how it's taught him transparency, living in the present, and the importance of genuine human connection.