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What actually shapes the person we become?

In this episode of Everyday Lives, Passionate People, I sit down with Matt Santore for a conversation about the experiences, passions, challenges, and unexpected turns that have shaped his life.

Matt shares stories from his time in the military, including the loneliness that can come with deployment and what helped him navigate it. We talk about his connection to music and drumming, discovering Buddy Rich, finding an emotional outlet through music, and what it means to develop a craft over time.

We also get into Matt’s journey through the skilled trades—from apprentice to journeyman, working with CNC machines, and how technology like artificial intelligence could change the future of work.

But underneath all of those stories is a bigger conversation about growing up, becoming a man, finding your direction, and learning to embrace where life takes you.

Sometimes the experiences that seem completely unrelated are the ones quietly building who you’re becoming.

In this episode:

• Life and loneliness during military deployment
• Using music as an emotional outlet
• Discovering Buddy Rich and a passion for drumming
• Apprentice vs. journeyman—and what mastery actually takes
• CNC machining and the skilled trades
• AI and the future of work
• Growing from a boy into a man
• Learning to embrace life’s journey

If something from Matt’s story resonates with you, leave a comment and tell us what experience has shaped the person you are today.

Subscribe for more conversations with everyday people about the passions, experiences, and stories that make their lives anything but ordinary.

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Have you ever smelled a memory?

A single scent can bring back a person, a place, a moment—or even a version of yourself you thought you had forgotten.

In this episode of Everyday Lives, Passionate People, Dante steps into one of his favorite hobbies: fragrance. What started as a simple desire to smell good quickly became something much deeper after one fragrance unexpectedly transported him back to childhood Christmases, family, and memories he hadn’t thought about in years.

Welcome to Smelling Like Intention, a new ELPP mini-series exploring fragrance beyond the bottle.

Dante breaks down how fragrance has become part of his identity, confidence, personal style, daily rituals, and mood, while exploring the surprisingly complex world behind choosing and wearing a scent. From fragrance notes and skin chemistry to intentional routines and scent memories, this episode asks us to reconsider what fragrance actually does for us.

Because fragrance is invisible—but the impression it leaves behind can be anything but.

So ask yourself:
What scent takes you somewhere? And if someone associated a fragrance with you, what would you want it to say?

This is only Part 1.

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Make today your masterpiece.

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Without a doubt, AI has been more involved in our everyday lives. From creating to planning, we've learned that AI is a tool to help us be successful, especially in the classroom. However, with recent use of AI, students may turn to AI as a shortcut to complete entire assignments. Students and educators both must be forced to change how we view AI. Students need to take charge of their learning and decide if they want to become active or passive in how they learn. Educators should also decide how we use AI to evaluate and assess our students.

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In this episode of Everyday Lives Passionate People, we take a look at leadership from a perspective of humility, authenticity, and how we grow confidence. This episode features Bradley Jenkins, a student who's getting his master's degree and taking the mantle of new leadership positions. Come and join the conversation and see what it means to develop leadership from your roots, and advocating for others.

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In this solo episode of Everyday Lives, Passionate People, Dante sits down with himself for a deeper conversation about growth, purpose, and the responsibility that comes with pursuing passion. Instead of focusing only on success or motivation, this episode explores the quieter parts of becoming: the doubts, lessons, discipline, and self-reflection that shape who we are.

This episode is an honest look at what it means to keep showing up for your story, your goals, and the people you hope to impact. Through personal reflection and guided questions, Dante unpacks how passion becomes more than excitement. It becomes work, accountability, and a commitment to becoming better over time.

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Welcome to the first episode of Everyday Lives, Passionate People.

In this opening episode, host Dante Patterson introduces the purpose behind the podcast: creating space for real stories, honest conversations, and the everyday people whose lives are shaped by passion, purpose, struggle, and growth.

This episode explores why people’s stories matter, what listeners can expect from future conversations, and the question at the heart of the show: what is one part of your story people would never know just by looking at you?

Everyone has a story worth hearing. This is where the conversation begins.

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Enjoyed this episode? Follow Everyday Lives, Passionate People for more conversations on purpose, growth, leadership, and the work behind becoming who you are called to be.