Stories from a Stranger cover art

Stories from a Stranger

Stories from a Stranger

By: Higher Ground
Listen for free

This Season's Biggest Deal | $0.99/mo for 3 months + $20 Audible bonus

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo. after 3 months - terms apply.
Summary

“Every stranger has a story.” This is what Hunter Prosper realized when he began posting man-on-the-street interviews with real-life strangers to his social media accounts.

Hunter’s genuine connection with strangers and emotional interview moments quickly captured viewers' hearts across multiple platforms and a New York Times Best Selling book. Now, Hunter is expanding his social media series into a new weekly video and audio podcast, Stories from a Stranger, featuring portraits of multiple strangers connected by themes of love, loss, regret, inspiration, illness, family connections, and more.

In each episode, Hunter brings his innate warmth, curiosity, and charm, interviewing people from all walks of life and sharing anonymously submitted confessions. Interviews start with a question and then grow in unexpected ways as strangers open up and share their most defining moments. From the deaths of loved ones to using their most painful moments as inspiration to finding their greatest loves, no subject is off-limits. Their stories are raw, intimate, and bursting with humanity.

Right now, it is easy to feel like the world is irrevocably divided. Stories from a Stranger is a warm reminder that we are all human and more connected than we realize. It’s an invitation to empathy. Every stranger has a story. Let’s start listening.

New episodes every Monday on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.



Social Sciences
Episodes
  • S E27: Keeping Friends Alive Through Stories
    Nov 9 2026
    Hunter speaks with three strangers who lost cherished friends about keeping their memories alive.Rob lost his best friend Charlie Keating, a Navy SEAL killed in action on May 3, 2016. Rob and Charlie met freshman year of college, became "literally like brothers," and shared a bond forged through freedom after strict upbringings. Rob describes Charlie as an anomaly—"a skinny surfer dude" who seemed invincible yet transformed completely in combat, where he was "the most still guy in the world" as a sniper. Charlie was posthumously promoted to Chief Petty Officer and awarded the Navy Cross. His family created a foundation in his honor supporting the Navy SEAL community. Rob carries Charlie's memory through tattoos and a military bracelet he hasn't removed in ten years, using it as daily motivation.Kelly shares the story of Stevie, her friend with spinal muscular atrophy she met in her mid-20s at a wedding. Stevie and his sister Annie founded 3E Love, a disability advocacy clothing brand featuring a wheelchair-heart logo. Despite having only thumb mobility, Stevie was extraordinarily accomplished: double major at University of Illinois, self-taught coder, poker player at $10,000 tables, and keynote speaker at graduation ceremonies and conferences. His mother was a pioneering advocate who created wheelchair sports teams when none existed. Kelly keeps Stevie's button in her car and speaks with him regularly, seeing his logo on vehicles as signs of his presence. Nearly a thousand people have tattooed the 3E Love symbol, committed to continuing Stevie's message.Olumide from Nigeria lost a friend two days prior to the interview—someone "more like a brother" who was "everything good a man could be". They shared birthdays just days apart, and Olumide now feels obligated to "live enough for both of us”. His final memory includes his friend gifting him cologne after a beach celebration with Nigerian music. The loss, discovered after his own recent hospitalization, has shifted his perspective to immediate action: "if I think about something that I want to do, I can go do it".Chapters:00:00:00 Living each day fully and holding onto memories of those we've lost00:03:13 Finding mental toughness and honoring a best friend's legacy00:06:26 Remembering a hero's bravery and the devastating news of loss00:09:37 Sharing college memories and the bond of true brotherhood00:12:44 Spaces we call home and the comfort of shared stories00:15:37 Cherishing the good memories and carrying on with kindness00:18:32 Lifelong bonds and breaking down barriers surrounding disabilities00:21:28 Advocating for inclusion and remembering a brilliant, fearless spirit00:24:25 Feeling a lost friend's presence everywhere and keeping their memory alive00:27:42 Facing the profound, unexplainable pain of losing a brotherly friend00:30:58 Finding purpose in shared birthdays and living enough for both of us00:34:02 Transforming the pain of grief into a life of adventure and loveTopics: Coping with the sudden and unexpected loss of a close friendHonoring fallen service members and military sacrificeOvercoming grief and finding daily motivation to move forwardCherishing college memories and laughing through heartbreakAdvocating for disability awareness and breaking social barriersUsing brand mission and advocacy to continue a loved one's legacyFinding strength through ongoing emotional connections Processing grief and the sudden loss of a mentorPurpose and living a meaningful life in honor of loved onesKeeping memories alive by sharing stories and celebrating livesFOLLOW THE SHOW►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiesfromastrangerpod ►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@storiesfromastrangerpod ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storiesfromastrangerpodcast FOLLOW HUNTER PROSPER►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunter_prosper/ ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hunterprosper See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
  • S E26: Hope After Heartbreak: Finding Love After A Bad Relationship
    Nov 2 2026
    Hunter talks to three strangers who left bad--and in some cases, abusive-- relationships only to find their soulmate.Samantha's greatest love is her fiance Eric, whom she describes as "the first man that I actually truly felt safe with outside of my dad". Their story began when she was 15 and dating one of his friends, then reconnected 10 years later after she left a six-year controlling, abusive relationship. After years of friendship where Eric was "hardcore friend zoned", Samantha took a leap and suggested they marry if she wasn't married by 40—prompting Eric to respond "Why wait?" with complete confidence.Her realization that she loved him came during a two-week period when they weren't speaking, when she recognized she was "afraid of losing something that I knew was really good". Working with her therapist, she finally understood: "Sam, you're in love with him". Being loved by Eric feels like "a warm blanket that even on the coldest days I don't feel the cold".Alexandra's greatest love is her cat Zoomie, who came into her life during medical school in the Caribbean when she was struggling with severe anxiety, depression, and a rocky relationship. At her lowest point—"drowning underwater and just sinking" with no desire to continue—a four-week-old kitten "zoomed right at" her when she opened her door, earning her name.Zoomie represents the first unconditional love Alexandra experienced: "It's the first time I felt unconditional love". She notes with Zoomie "there's no checkbox" for love—unlike past relationships where she felt she had to perform or please others. Returning to nature and animals helped her reconnect with herself and find hope through her Christian faith and appreciation for creation.Paloma found her greatest love in her husband Trevor after a divorce she thought would leave her permanently single. Ironically, Trevor had written the grant proposal that created—and hand-delivered—the job position she eventually applied to, essentially recruiting his future wife. She recalls their first date with vivid detail, including exactly what Trevor wore: "this brown belt and just this checkered shirt, purplish" with "really nice shiny shoes”. Their first kiss came when she offered a Mexican cheek kiss goodbye and he responded, "I want to give you a real kiss". What transformed her perspective was recognizing that with Trevor, she could "just be happy with him" after it had "taken me a long time to be happy".Chapters:00:00:00 Leaving behind abusive patterns to find true love00:03:13 Rebuilding trust and facing fear after heartbreak00:06:26 Overcoming the fear of vulnerability and emotional safety00:09:37 Realizing what true love and deep connection feel like00:12:44 Transforming past trauma into a space for self-acceptance00:15:37 Finding unconditional love and rescue through a tiny kitten00:18:32 Escaping the feeling of drowning and emotional isolation00:21:28 Returning to nature and basic foundations for healing00:24:25 Rediscovering hope and the surprise of a second chance at love00:27:42 Sparking a connection from a workplace friendship00:30:58 Recognizing comfort, safe spaces, and healing from a divorce00:34:02 Embracing unconditional support and a fresh start togetherTopics: Healing from abusive relationships and finding true safetyOvercoming relationship trauma and learning to trust againTransitioning from a 20-year friendship to a romantic partnerRecognizing emotional safety versus toxic relationship patternsExperiencing unconditional love during severe mental health crisesFinding emotional recovery through animals and connection to natureRebuilding life and discovering love after a painful divorceMeeting a soulmate unexpectedly through work and coincidenceSupporting a partner through postpartum depression and health challengesRealizing your past trauma does not define your future relationshipsFOLLOW THE SHOW►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiesfromastrangerpod ►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@storiesfromastrangerpod ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storiesfromastrangerpodcast FOLLOW HUNTER PROSPER ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunter_prosper/ ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hunterprosper See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
    Show More Show Less
    38 mins
  • S E25: Nobody Hurts Forever: Stories of Survival and Healing from Trauma
    Oct 26 2026
    Hunter speaks with two strangers about traumatic experiences and how they're coping with the lasting effects. Ashbey and her son Beau survived a horrific mass shooting at a parade in Highland Park, Illinois. She recounts the terror of that day when a gunman opened fire, murdering seven people and injuring 48 others. Ashbey describes the chaos as thousands fled, her son's legs giving out from fear as he pleaded "I don't want to die" , and her determination to protect him. In the aftermath, Beau suffered severe PTSD — nightmares, inability to sleep alone for over a year, wearing clothes inside out and backwards for control. Ashbey transformed her pain into action, becoming a full-time gun violence prevention advocate, helping pass Illinois's assault weapons ban, lobbying nationally, and even crashing a press conference in Tennessee that went viral. She emphasizes the overlooked toll on uninjured survivors, noting her family has spent nearly $80,000 on therapy, and advocates reframing the gun debate around economic costs and domestic terrorism charges for mass shooters. Through years of therapy and music, Beau has made remarkable progress, recently demonstrating self-regulation when a loud bang triggered him at a concert. Ashbey expresses profound pride in her son's strength and her unwavering commitment to ensuring he knows she fought to prevent this from happening to others. Julian shares the pain of losing his closest friend, Brandon, who was killed by a drunk driver after surviving military deployment. Julian recounts their bond formed in basic training, their inseparable friendship, and the devastating dream he had the night before learning of Brandon's death. He also opens up about his own PTSD from a military assault that led to his medical discharge, describing how he scans for exits constantly and initially struggled to accept his new reality, even attempting suicide. His grandmother's words — "quiere decir que nadie sufre para siempre" (which means nobody hurts forever) — became his lifeline. Julian emphasizes the importance of his support system, therapy, and his service dog Nala in his healing journey. He advises others struggling with PTSD to find their "why" and overcome the barriers to asking for help, particularly those faced by first-generation immigrants and military culture. Chapters:00:00:00 Surviving a mass shooting at a holiday parade00:03:19 Managing sheer panic and a paralyzed child while fleeing00:06:35 Turning personal trauma into full-time gun violence advocacy00:09:51 Finding unexpected healing through music and concerts00:15:12 Reflecting on the hidden financial and emotional costs of gun violence00:19:32 Fighting through feelings of burnout and jadedness00:22:18 Coping with severe nightmares and behavioral changes after the event00:25:03 Remembering a fallen military brother and friend00:28:21 Receiving devastating news about a tragic loss00:30:46 Cherishing lighthearted memories and brotherhood during basic training00:32:20 Navigating a difficult transition out of the military with PTSD00:36:49 Finding strength, support, and the importance of asking for help Topics: Surviving the Highland Park parade shooting with a six-year-old childNavigating childhood PTSD, panic responses, and emotional regressionBecoming a full-time gun violence prevention advocate after traumaThe uncounted financial toll and therapy costs for uninjured survivorsMusic as immersive healing and a breakthrough moment at LollapaloozaMeeting best friend Brandon on day one of Air Force basic trainingCoping with the sudden loss of a military brother to a hit-and-runUnderstanding military PTSD, hyper-vigilance, and exit scanningRebuilding life after rock bottom with service dog NalaOvercoming mental health stigma and learning nobody hurts foreverFOLLOW THE SHOW►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiesfromastrangerpod ►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@storiesfromastrangerpod ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storiesfromastrangerpodcast FOLLOW HUNTER PROSPER►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunter_prosper/ ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hunterprosper See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
    Show More Show Less
    39 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.