extraordinary lives

Gerald Armbruester’s Story — The Mechanic Who Fixed More Than Machines

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In a garage in Tucson, Arizona, Gerald Armbruester spent decades perfecting the art of his craft as a mechanic. From maintaining military vehicles in Alaska to repairing medical equipment at the Red Cross, his mechanical expertise kept the world running. However, as his daughter and friends recall, Gerald’s greatest gift went beyond fixing engines—it was his extraordinary ability to truly listen and offer support when needed. Even as Parkinson’s Disease challenged his steady hands, he continued to move forward with humor and determination. Discover how this ordinary mechanic quietly built an extraordinary legacy of care through life stories, one repair at a time. For more information about this podcast visit TapYourNews.com

Isaiah Allen’s Story: The Man Who Always Drew the Map

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You probably walked past someone like Isaiah Allen this week. A wrestling champion turned HVAC tech who had a pet lizard named Diddy and ran a business called “Sock It to Me Transport.” But what made Isaiah extraordinary wasn’t his takedown records or his endurance challenges — it was his rare gift for making people feel completely understood.

From printing maps for confused coworkers to staying on the phone for hours during long drives, Isaiah figured out what real strength actually looks like: physical power combined with emotional availability. This is the story of someone who built systems of care that continued even after he was gone.

Every gym has someone like Isaiah. Every workplace has that person who helps newcomers find their way. Would you notice? Would you be the one to draw the map?

Real people. Real lives. Never ordinary.

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The Man Who Never Met a Stranger: Larry Metherd’s Daring Life

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Not everyone makes the front page. But everyone leaves a story worth telling.

You probably walked past someone like Larry Metherd today — a friendly neighbor watering his garden, maybe sharing a quick story about his beloved Siberian Husky. Just another retiree, right?

But those gentle hands had once helped desperate war refugees climb aboard ships in foreign ports. That calm voice had once shouted “Geronimo!” while jumping from airplanes as a paratrooper. The man who never met a stranger had spent his twenties sailing the world, carrying families toward new lives after the devastation of World War II.

From riding his horse “Babe” to a one-room Colorado schoolhouse, to becoming a Merchant Marine at 17, to serving as a Corporal in the 11th Airborne division, to spending 14 years keeping Denver’s fire trucks running, Larry’s 96 years were filled with quiet heroism and extraordinary adventures that most neighbors never knew about.

This is the story of someone you might have walked past and never noticed—a real person with a remarkable life that went unnoticed by most.

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New episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

These are stories about people like you. People with ordinary extraordinary lives and stories worth hearing.