My name is Mirang Manek aka the Stressed Moron, certified crazy since 2005 (my mother had me tested! Welcome to the Local Heroes, a show based of people we see as ordinary, sometimes even passing by but have spent some extraordinary moments with us. These regular folks come in and out of our lives broadening our horizons, changing the way we think and collectively making us better people.
Sport, Pressure & Perspective with Pro Pickleball Athlete Emilia Schmidt II Local Heroes Episode 46
Emilia Schmidt opens up about the life behind the athlete.
From moving from Australia to the U.S. at a young age, to building everything from scratch, Emilia talks about what it really takes to chase a dream in professional sport. Training, competing, making money, navigating the politics of the tour, and living far away from family in a completely different time zone - this is the side of the journey most people never see.
But beyond pickleball, this conversation is about growing up faster than expected. It is about how sport changes the way you think, the way you handle pressure, and the way you see life.
Emilia’s story is one of sacrifice, independence, resilience, and perspective - a reminder that sometimes chasing a dream does not just make you a better athlete, it makes you a different person.
26 Jun 2026
Ambassadors of Life with Pro athletes Megan Fudge Ryler DeHeart II Local Heroes episode 45
On this episode of Local Heroes with Mirang Manek, Megan Fudge and Ryler DeHeart open up about life beyond the pickleball court.
As two ambassadors of one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, they travel across countries helping grow the game, building communities, and showing what pickleball can become.
But their journey is also deeply personal. From parenting out of a suitcase to raising their kids on the road, they speak about giving them experiences that go far beyond traditional classrooms - cultures, people, places, pressure, resilience, and life lessons that only travel and sport can teach.
This conversation goes deeper than competition. It is about ambition, family, sacrifice, perspective, and how athletes are wired to think differently — to adapt, compete, grow, and find meaning in the beautiful chaos of chasing something bigger than themselves.
30 Aug 2025
Beyond Reality & Crafting Universes with Arpita Shah II Local Heroes Episode 44
What does it take to invent an entire universe from scratch? From the spark of inspiration to the hidden stories inside the book, Arpita opens up about her creative process, world-building hacks, and the challenges no one tells you about writing fantasy.
In this episode, we dive deep into Arpita’s journey: how she dreamed up Seredene, the challenges of building an entire world from scratch, and the personal inspirations that shaped her storytelling.
Whether you’re a fantasy lover, an aspiring writer, or simply curious about the mind behind Seredene, this conversation is packed with insights, creativity, and a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to bring a universe to life through words.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
4.7 / 5
14 ratings
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