Stories from a Stranger
Stories from a Stranger

Stories from a Stranger

HigherGround

Overview
Episodes

Details

“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.

Recent Episodes

S E8: Meeting Your Soulmate Feels Like Coming Home
JUN 29, 2026
S E8: Meeting Your Soulmate Feels Like Coming Home
Hunter speaks with four strangers who recount their stories of falling in love with their soulmates.Meet this episode's strangers:- Marylou and Arthur met in New York City in the 80s after they'd both been recently dumped. At first, it seemed like they'd never work, but they soon fell madly in love with each other. Marylou describes curling up with Arthur on his mattress on the floor as feeling like the safest place in the world. All these years later, they're still together, and their relationship is stronger than ever.- Pinar describes feeling alienated and lonely after moving to Los Angeles from Istanbul, Turkey. She talks about how hard it currently is for immigrants moving to the United States these days, and how everything changed for her when he met her husband, who also immigrated from Turkey.- Brenda glows as she talks about meeting her partner, whom she describes as "her greatest love". What started as a friendship blossomed into a romantic relationship 5 months ago, and being with her partner makes her feel at home. Chapters:00:00:00 What finding your soulmate really feels like00:01:11 Mary Lou and Arthur on finding home00:02:53 The origin of a unique blind date00:05:20 A song on the answering machine00:09:50 First impressions and meeting with flowers00:14:02 Falling in love in overwhelming circumstances00:20:10 The secret to seventeen years of love00:24:50 Brenda on emotional safety and peace00:26:02 Upgrading from a six year friendship00:37:13 Advice for sharing feelings with a friend00:40:11 Pinar on moving from Istanbul to LA00:46:23 Advice for immigrants on finding communityTopics:- Defining true soulmate connections- Finding safety in relationships- Moving from friendship to romance- Building home in a new country- Secrets to long term marriageFOLLOW 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.
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48 MIN
S E7: A Second Chance on Life
JUN 22, 2026
S E7: A Second Chance on Life
Hunter talks to three strangers who were brought to the brink of death, only to be given a second chance at life. Meet this episode's strangers:- David recounts his close relationship with his mother, whom he sadly lost recently. It's a loss that is still fresh and painful. Before her passing, she had gotten him through his own catastrophic medical issue. While playing softball, David collapsed on the field, struck with a sudden cardiac arrest. Thanks to the help of a total stranger, David pulled through this harrowing event.- Art was drafted into the Vietnam War at the age of 19. He gives a tense and emotional account of his time in the war, of the friends he lost, and what it was like to come back home and deal with the immense trauma he experienced. - Karan was a seemingly healthy young person when he was suddenly diagnosed with end-stage liver failure in 2019 due to an undiagnosed, rare condition. Karan tells Hunter about the life-saving last-minute transplant and the long recovery process that saved his life.Chapters:00:01:21 David remembers his mother Debbie and their bond00:05:24 Navigating the rollercoaster of grief and final goodbyes00:09:32 The sudden cardiac arrest that stopped a baseball game00:13:32 Why some people survive fatal events and others don't00:17:21 Finding gratitude in pain and shattering daily anxiety00:21:25 Art is drafted at 19 to Vietnam to fight in war00:25:21 Surviving a year of monsoon season in the Vietnam jungle00:29:29 The reality of firefights and healing through brotherhood00:33:31 Karan in organ failure after rare disease diagnosis00:37:33 Trading the hustle for grandma walks and valuable time00:41:38 Learning that a mother knows how to give life twice00:45:35 Receiving a miracle organ transplant on the final dayTopics:- Surviving a sudden cardiac arrest- Life after a miracle organ transplant- True memories of the Vietnam War- Finding hope through deep grief- The support of a mother - Recovery from autoimmune disorder - The unique bond of veterans  Stories from a Stranger is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions in partnership with Higher Ground and AND Media. Music by Jackie Miclau.FOLLOW THE SHOW►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiesfromastrangerpod►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@storiesfromastrangerpod►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storiesfromastrangerpodcastFOLLOW 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.
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49 MIN
S E6: Sometimes Blood Isn't Thicker Than Water
JUN 15, 2026
S E6: Sometimes Blood Isn't Thicker Than Water
Hunter meets with three individuals who had less than ideal relationships with the people who raised them and discusses how those relationships have shaped their adult lives. Meet this episode's strangers:- Latoya shares the story of a distant father and the fragile, beautiful bond they finally built in the last three months before he died. She describes his health struggles and the constant childhood fear that she’d get a call saying he was gone, and how that shaped her relationships with men. Yet in the end, she chose to show up for him at his lowest moment, ending what a friend called “a cycle of abandonment” in her family and reminding her father he was still worthy of love. - Carmel opens up about how her relationship with her mother contributed to her letting go of the dream of “true love” and a soulmate, even as her friendships feel like the deepest soul connections she’s ever known. Growing up in a home where affection was transactional and physical touch was absent, she learned that love had to be earned through achievement, a pattern that persisted within her adult relationships. The most painful wound came when, during a fight, her mother told her she wished she had aborted her, words Carmel still hears in her head every day.- Leon discusses what it is like to have a narcissistic father and the pain that has been inflicted upon the family. Leon came to realize that it was impossible for his father to love and care for him the way he needed, and that the best thing was to keep his distance.Chapters:00:00:00 When parents hurt you the most 00:01:06 Lotoya: Grounded by a mother’s spiritual love00:02:55 Anxiety and the fear of a parent’s death00:11:14 Choosing to end a cycle of abandonment00:15:31 Healing through active love and a final voicemail00:26:26 Carmelle: Letting go of the dream of true love00:27:12 Why love felt like a transaction in childhood00:31:10 Walking away from a mother’s ultimate rejection00:38:35 Finding belonging through a chosen family00:41:02 Anonymous stories of words that cut deep00:42:23 Leon: Navigating life with a narcissistic parent00:46:42 Grieving the loss of a soul companionTopics:- Healing from parental wounds- Transactional love in childhood- Breaking cycles of abandonment- Coping with a narcissistic parent- Redefining family and belonging- Reconciling with an absent father- The impact of cruel parental words- Emotional neglect and self-worthSupport Our Sponsors: If you're struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help. Book a free 15 minute call to get started: https://learn.nocd.com/storiesStories from a Stranger is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions in partnership with Higher Ground and AND Media. Music by Jackie Miclau.FOLLOW 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.
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54 MIN
S E5: Our Spirits Are Stronger Than Our Bodies
JUN 8, 2026
S E5: Our Spirits Are Stronger Than Our Bodies
Hunter meets three people whose lives were upended by devastating illnesses. They share their stories of survival and how they refused to let sickness get in the way of living their lives.Meet this episode's strangers:- Sandra survived a catastrophic stroke and fell into a coma. Doctors told her mother that she would never wake up. Her mother refused to let doctors remove life support and proved Sandra could still hear by asking her to squeeze their fingers and move her foot. Sandra describes a visit to “paradise,” where she was told, “You have a purpose to fulfill,” before being sent back to her life. Now she walks Central Park for miles, has completed the New York City Marathon, and uses her story to show other stroke survivors that “it’s not the end.” - Cheri was a healthy 18‑year‑old dancer when a mysterious autoimmune disorder suddenly took away her ability to walk and move. Doctors told her parents to prepare for the worst as treatments failed, but Sherry—fully lucid inside a body that couldn’t respond—refused to accept that her life was over. She grieved the loss of the old version of herself, yet slowly shifted from “why me?” to “why not me?” as she rebuilt a new life.- Gil reflects on losing his closest friend, Tom, just before the pandemic and the years it took to process that grief. Then a routine blood test led him to a cancer clinic, where he spent ten days convinced he had only months to live before learning he had a chronic, slow‑moving leukemia instead. Those days staring “into the abyss” forced him to ask whether his life’s work really mattered, and then finding out he was not dying led him to not take life for granted.Topics:- Stroke recovery and near-death experiences- Power of family advocacy in hospitals- Overcoming autoimmune paralysis- Reclaiming identity through dance- Living with chronic leukemia diagnosis- Finding purpose through medical trauma- Shifting from why me to why not me- Importance of mental strength in healing- Building a legacy after a health scareChapters:00:00:00 Resilience of the human body00:03:30 Sandra’s Mother Fights For Her After Fatal Stroke Prognosis00:07:00 Returning From Paradise With a Higher Purpose00:10:30 Walking the New York City Marathon After a Stroke00:14:00 Anonymous Stories of Loyalty and Heartbreak00:17:30 Waking Up Paralyzed From an Autoimmune Disorder at 1800:21:00 Finding the Internal Fire to Survive a Crisis00:24:30 Grieving the Loss of Dance and a Former Identity00:28:00 Shifting From Why Me to Why Not Me00:31:30 Creating an Online Community for Chronic Illness00:35:00 How to Process the Death of a Close Friend00:38:30 Staring Into the Abyss and Assessing Life’s LegacySupport Our Sponsors: If you're struggling with OCD or unrelenting intrusive thoughts, NOCD can help. Book a free 15 minute call to get started: https://learn.nocd.com/storiesStories from a Stranger is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions in partnership with Higher Ground and AND Media. Music by Jackie Miclau.FOLLOW THE SHOW►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiesfromastrangerpod►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@storiesfromastrangerpod►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storiesfromastrangerpodcastFOLLOW HUNTER PROSPER►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunter_prosper/►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hunterprosperLISTEN►Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stories-from-a-stranger/id1895174119►Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/23b37bdf-ce71-4dad-9d25-9900b5d25d7c/stories-from-a-stranger►Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2naQZkPOvSgMzUMh9Z5ivs#OvercomingIllness #StrokeSurvivor #NearDeathExperience #MedicalMiracle #Resilience #FindingPurpose #HealingJourney #SurvivorStories #LifeAfterDiagnosis See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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42 MIN
S E4: Difficult Upbringings
JUN 1, 2026
S E4: Difficult Upbringings
Hunter speaks with two strangers about their painful upbringings.Meet this episode's strangers:- Lisa Marie shares what it was like to hear the words, “We are going to have to put you into foster care,” at sixteen, and to be separated from her much younger brother, David. She talks about the memory holes trauma left behind, the rage that followed years later, and how she kept people at a distance for most of her early adulthood. Lisa Marie reflects on the shame of feeling marked by foster care, poverty, and her parents’ substance use, and how writing her story helped her reclaim it and let go of the “scarlet letter” she felt she wore.- Adriana, who became a mother at seventeen and found herself raising her baby in a women's shelter after being rejected by her family. She describes the shelter as an unexpected village of women supporting each other through crisis, and how that experience cemented her resolve never to ask for help again.Topics:- Childhood trauma and its impact on identity- Navigating the foster care system as a teen- Survival and sibling bonds after separation- Healing from parental abandonment and neglect- Transforming destructive rage into radical empathy- Reclaiming personal stories through writing- Teen motherhood and the NYC shelter system- Finding community and support in shelters- Breaking generational cycles of hardship- Building resilience and strength for childrenChapters:00:00:00 The parents we didn't choose00:01:24 Entering the foster care system at sixteen00:02:55 How childhood trauma creates memory holes00:04:13 The pain of being separated from my brother00:07:30 Using rage to protect myself from abandonment00:12:11 Shedding the scarlet letter through writing00:19:12 Choosing peace and forgiveness over rage00:20:43 Anonymous notes on parental regret and support00:22:10 Raising a child in a New York City shelter00:26:38 Finding a supportive village in the Bronx00:32:07 Using the shelter as a bridge to a career00:44:16 Breaking the cycle and shaping the futureStories from a Stranger is produced by Rabbit Grin Productions in partnership with Higher Ground and AND Media. Music by Jackie Miclau.FOLLOW THE SHOW►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiesfromastrangerpod►Threads: https://www.threads.com/@storiesfromastrangerpod►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/storiesfromastrangerpodcastFOLLOW HUNTER PROSPER►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hunter_prosper/►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hunterprosperLISTEN►Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stories-from-a-stranger/id1895174119►Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/23b37bdf-ce71-4dad-9d25-9900b5d25d7c/stories-from-a-stranger►Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2naQZkPOvSgMzUMh9Z5ivs#FosterCare #TeenMotherhoodNYC #Healing #ShelterToStability #ChoosingForgiveness #ItTakesAVillage #Homelessness #SuperMom See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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45 MIN