Other People’s Shoes
What if understanding someone starts with simply noticing them?
Other People’s Shoes is about looking closer. Join Neil Matthews for honest conversations with people whose stories, struggles, beliefs, and experiences may be different from your own.
You don’t have to agree with someone to understand them.
Sometimes you just have to be willing to listen... and walk in their shoes.
SHOES THAT TRULY CAPTIVATED ME
SLIDE LEFT TO SEE MORE
Latest Episodes
Choose Your Hard
What happens when the hard in your life isn’t something you chose? In “Choose Your Hard", Cory Young joins Other People's Shoes to share how a surfing accident at just 20 years old left him paralyzed from the neck down and forced him to rethink what life, purpose, and moving forward could look like. As part of our new season, Lost and Found, Cory’s story is a powerful reminder that sometimes what we lose changes everything, but it doesn’t have to be the end. We talk about perspecti…
Growth
🎙️ "GROWTH" 🌱 The season finale of "The List" brings us to Greg Pihs and a conversation about something that may be harder than forgiveness itself: growing into forgiveness.
📝
Greg is a U.S. Marine veteran, bestselling author, NLP trainer, and founder of the 4th Dimension Mastermind. His story includes a traumatic childhood, multiple combat deployments, and a journey toward understanding how pain can shape our identity without having to control our future.
📝 <…
Why
New Episode! "Why"
Close your eyes for a moment. Only do that if you are not driving right now. How do you picture your forever? For Oriana Sparks, forever looked like sitting on a dock, sipping a beer, and growing old beside the man she loved. Then, only weeks after giving birth to their third child, her husband was tragically taken from her.
📝
The dream disappeared in a moment. The future she had pictured was gone. How do you rebuild after that? How do you forgive …
Hate Myself
⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: This post and episode discuss depression, grief, suicidal ideation, and suicide.
📝
🎙️ HATE MYSELF
📝
These are the words I have been avoiding. For years, I sit behind the microphone and ask other people to share the hardest parts of their stories. This time, I give up the host’s chair. For the first time in the history of Other People’s Shoes, my friend Dr. Amy Watson takes the microphone, asks the difficult questions, and invites me to tell the truth about…
Party
| PARTY | EPISODE 400 🎉
I named this episode “Party” long before I realized it would become the 400th episode of Other People’s Shoes.
Funny how that worked out.
📝 Four hundred episodes are worth celebrating, but this conversation is about more than a number.
It is about the moments that stop us in our tracks.
The words we hear at exactly the right time.
The decision to grab a pen, find a napkin, and finally begin telling ourselves the truth.…
Flashlight
🔦 What if the most dangerous lie is the one convincing you it isn’t really that dark?
📝
🎙️FLASHLIGHT 🔦 ⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses depression, grief, suicidal ideation, and suicide.
📝 I start with a simple question: What is the best flashlight on the market? 🔦 According to Ava’s review, the LiteForce produces up to **20,000 lumens**, powerful enough to cut through darkness and help you see what is right in front of you.
📝
But this episode is not really about…
Another Brick
🧱 What happens when the person who is supposed to make you feel safe says, “I don’t know how to be your mom”? For Ann Oickle, that moment became more than words. It became a brick. 💔 A brick of confusion. 😔 A brick of hurt. 🛡️ A brick added to the wall around her heart.
📝
Her mother was carrying grief of her own. Ann Oickle was carrying the emotional weight of being the little girl sitting in front of her. So how do you forgive someone who was hurting... when their hurt also wounded …
Pop
🎙 "POP"
Season 23: The List 📋👟
📝
🐏🩵🏀 WHAT IS A TAR HEEL? 🏀🩵🐏
After years of searching, we may have finally found someone qualified to answer the most impossible question of all time. 😂🤔
📝
Terrence Newby played four years at the University of North Carolina, competed in "three Final Fours", and shared the court with Carolina legends like Vince Carter, Ed Cota, and Antawn Jamison. 🏀🔥🏆
📝
That is a whole lot of Carolina blue. 🩵🐏🙌
📝
Ter…
Season 1: "The Struggle" Episodes
Browse episodes by category
- Bonus 4
- Season 1: "The Struggle" 15
- Season 2: "You Lost Me" 18
- Season 3: "Perseverance" 18
- Season 4: Cost, Vision and Identity 18
- Season 5: "The Search" 17
- Season 6: "What Happened When..." 18
- Season 7: "How Do You See Me?" 17
- Season 8: "If The Shoe Fits?" 17
- Season 9: "Are You Enough?" 18
- See all →
Reviews
Heart
- Oriana Sparks
- May 1, 2026
Real Depth without Sugarcoating
- Coach Willie Blake
- April 21, 2026
Understanding lives we've never met
- Matt Sisneros
- April 6, 2026
Delightfully Deep, Hilariously Funny
- Carron Silva, Ph.D.
- March 31, 2026
Honest and open conversation!
- Gareth Pickering
- March 18, 2026
Unboxing review
- Olivia Lenhart
- Feb. 26, 2026
Porch Light
- Ikram
- Feb. 28, 2026
Such fun
- Shā Sparks
- Feb. 8, 2026
Love Listening to Other People's Shoes
- Shane
- Feb. 13, 2026
- Loqui Listening
- Feb. 13, 2026
Meaningful Conversations
- Cristina P Simmons
- Feb. 4, 2026
Fresh and eye opening
- Ann O.
- Jan. 10, 2026
Podcast morning show? Refreshingly unrehearsed.
- Jon Sheldon.
- Dec. 22, 2025
5 Stars
- Vanessa Hankins
- Dec. 1, 2025
- Marco Vega
- Nov. 24, 2025
Don’t Miss This Podcast
- Living the Grace Life
- Oct. 9, 2025
Great Podcast Host
- Dave Booth
- Oct. 23, 2025
Such a Great Conversation!
- Tiffaney Childers
- Oct. 10, 2025
What a great conversation
- Xanet Pailet
- Oct. 2, 2025
Duke vs UNC
- Christi Kelsey
- Sept. 27, 2025
A Genuine Gem of a Podcast!
- Kimberly Haar
- Sept. 25, 2025
The Porch Light
- Kelly Meyer
- Sept. 16, 2025
Such a blast!
- Danielle Matthews
- Sept. 12, 2025
Gratitude and smiles
- Jonathan McLean
- Aug. 20, 2025
Amazing podcast . . . . especially for a Carolina Fan
- Monica McKitterick
- Aug. 27, 2025
One of a kind podcasts
- Lauren Pearlingi
- Aug. 17, 2025
The Change
- Kathy Sanders
- July 15, 2025
- J
- June 4, 2025
So much fun!
- Ana Reisdorf
- May 9, 2025
Friendly and fascinating
- bbooth
- May 6, 2025
Authentic and fun
- Amanda Hayhurst
- April 22, 2025
Genuine, Thoughtful, and Hilariously Good!
- Cristie Cerniglia--Relationships With A Map
- April 18, 2025
Podcast Guest
- June Kraholik
- March 26, 2025
Incredible host
- Jordan Turbyfill
- March 25, 2025
UNMADE
- James Epps
- March 25, 2025
Thanks for Walking in My Extra High Heels
- Tonya Bailey Jones
- March 21, 2025
Exploring what supports prevent change using real life situations!
- MS_510
- March 18, 2025
Inspiring and conversational
- TheBibleSpeakstoYou.com
- Sept. 1, 2020
Great podcast!
- khvhufx
- July 12, 2020
Awesome! Real! Inspiring!
- Adria wilkins
- July 11, 2020
Deep hearted & open-minded
- Jodira
- June 22, 2020
Bravo
- misty phillip
- May 7, 2020
- Justhebeanz
- April 8, 2020
Sooooo good
- Tamara tilthebreakof Dawn
- March 5, 2020
Great content!
- Danielle Craig
- Dec. 18, 2019
- roguecitymom
- Dec. 6, 2019
In depth conversations
- livebeautiful
- Nov. 21, 2019
Been Featured
- pickles12341
- Nov. 21, 2019
Love this guy
- Blueeaglerob
- Nov. 21, 2019
- Targuin
- Sept. 13, 2019
This podcast addict has found her latest listen
- Loew22
- Feb. 14, 2019
Awesome !
- DefinitelyNotKelli
- Feb. 14, 2019
Great podcast!
- Raismom3
- Feb. 14, 2019
- Shannon Millers Little Brother
- Feb. 14, 2019
Great interviewer!
- PastorDreads
- Oct. 18, 2020
Neil gave my past a voice
- Jess
- Dec. 13, 2020
A fan of the Sole Man!
- Tom Stewart
- Dec. 13, 2020
Touching
- Anonymous
- Dec. 13, 2020
GREAT CONTENT!
- J.Reames
- Dec. 14, 2020
Authentic Podcast Alert!
- Jaguarfan90
- Dec. 14, 2020
Time well spent
- Julie Christian
- Jan. 4, 2021
Let Them Eat Cake
- Debi Boen
- Jan. 4, 2021
- abbysammie
- Jan. 4, 2021
Genuine
- Reina Rose
- Jan. 8, 2021
Great interviews w/ intriguing people
- mary r snyder
- Jan. 5, 2021
The search for a role model
- Charlene Franks
- Jan. 11, 2021
Positive way
- Warren Spiwak
- Jan. 12, 2021
Genuinely interested
- Gina
- Jan. 12, 2021
Authentic Conversations
- Amber
- Jan. 12, 2021
Awesome
- Angel Goodwin
- Jan. 13, 2021
POWERFUL episode-Prey To Confident
- Dave Ebert
- Jan. 14, 2021
Genuine
- Leo
- Jan. 17, 2021
Viewpoint Volley's
- Monika Hardy
- Jan. 18, 2021
- Marilyn Matthews
- Jan. 21, 2021
Amazingly Perfect
- Cole Matthews (the real 1)
- Jan. 23, 2021
- Riley Matthews
- Jan. 23, 2021
- Stu
- Jan. 27, 2021
Awesome
- Christine Stearns
- Jan. 28, 2021
Serving well
- Jenn
- Jan. 28, 2021
Authentic and transformative
- Camy
- Jan. 28, 2021
Shoe perspectives
- Paul
- Jan. 28, 2021
Wholesome
- TreVon
- Jan. 28, 2021
A safe place
- Leslie
- Jan. 28, 2021
Thoughtful, insightful, a journey you’ll enjoy!
- Heather C
- Jan. 28, 2021
- Nick
- Jan. 28, 2021
Love
- Rachel Meyer
- Jan. 28, 2021
Why listen? It’s worth it...
- Christi
- Jan. 28, 2021
Its a YES for me!!
- Vunseen
- Jan. 28, 2021
Wisdom from Watson
- Sandi Rae
- Jan. 28, 2021
The only show I love on podcast
- Sai Charan Paloju
- Jan. 28, 2021
Very entertaining and thought provoking l!
- Natoshua Schauffler
- Jan. 28, 2021
Soul and Heart
- Danielle
- Jan. 28, 2021
Thorough and relevant
- Christine
- Jan. 28, 2021
Shot of Light into the Mind
- Crystal H.
- Jan. 29, 2021
Great podcast!
- Twyla
- Jan. 29, 2021
- Jose Ibarra
- Jan. 29, 2021
Thoughtful and entertaining
- HeatherCreek
- Jan. 29, 2021
Finding Hidden Gems
- unicor Life🦄🦄🦄
- Jan. 28, 2021
Extremely Impactful
- Rob H
- Feb. 1, 2021
A must listen!!
- Past the Canvas
- Jan. 30, 2021
Spend more
- PSolas
- June 5, 2021
Safe Space to share your story
- Leticia
- July 28, 2021
Fun and life changing!
- Adam French
- Aug. 2, 2021
- Jerry
- Aug. 27, 2021
Fun and Authentic
- Jerry Dugan, Host of Beyond the Rut Podcast
- Aug. 27, 2021
Are you enough
- Heather Gray
- Aug. 29, 2021
A breath of fresh air!
- Ellen Rosenberger
- Sept. 2, 2021
Great Podcast
- Meghan Newkirk
- Sept. 9, 2021
Finding the Gold
- Karen DeArmond Gardner
- Oct. 2, 2021
Digging Deep For Our Shadow Stories
- J Chris Templeton
- Oct. 6, 2021
A joy to be a guest on this show
- Laura L. Padgett
- Oct. 15, 2021
Perspective and Understanding
- Laura L. Padgett, Author
- Oct. 15, 2021
Refreshing and Comfortable
- Scott Distler
- Nov. 2, 2021
Walking with Neil
- Lori Wildenberg
- Nov. 10, 2021
Great Conversation!
- Chris Martin
- Jan. 20, 2022
Great experience on the podcast with Neil!
- Christina Dent
- Feb. 2, 2022
I enjoyed our talk
- Joanne Shedd
- Feb. 17, 2022
Personable, energetic & easy to talk to!
- Charity Williams
- Feb. 24, 2022
Such a fun conversation!
- Keith Ferrin
- March 3, 2022
My podcast - Choices
- Lori Vober
- March 16, 2022
Great experience
- Jake Starkey
- March 16, 2022
Casual, Relatable, Fun
- April Diaz, Ezer + Co. Founder
- March 24, 2022
"Aglet"
- Patti Davis
- April 6, 2022
Episode #178 - Gratitude for Neil and his podcast
- Daniel Connors
- April 7, 2022
Loved being a guest on Other People's Shoes
- Stacy Leicht
- April 27, 2022
Walking in Christian Mayberry shoes
- Kim and Christian Mayberry
- April 27, 2022
Tied up in Knots?
- Esther Pannebaker
- May 5, 2022
Neil is a great guy
- EksAyn Anderson
- June 7, 2022
"Aglet"
- Patti Davis
- June 18, 2022
More than Me
- estherpannebaker.com
- July 21, 2022
Entertaining and thought provoking
- Tom Schwab
- Aug. 10, 2022
Had a great time!
- Emily Louis
- Aug. 16, 2022
Love love love this podcast!
- Coach Francine Ivey
- Sept. 14, 2022
What a great experience!
- Ryan McKinney
- Nov. 9, 2022
Creative and powerful
- Danib120
- Nov. 16, 2022
Have we been friends forever?
- Amy Hager
- Nov. 25, 2022
Real and Fun
- Danielle Bernock
- Dec. 14, 2022
FOOTPRINTS: Authentic Carolina Blue Shoes
- KoachT
- Dec. 13, 2022
Amazing show!
- Walk 2 Wealth
- Dec. 19, 2022
Money and Period talk... an open and honest conversation
- Cathy Lemire
- Jan. 24, 2023
Love this show
- James Early
- Jan. 24, 2023
Positive and Inspirational
- Speaking247
- Feb. 16, 2023
Thetruthoftmis
- Thetruthoftmis
- March 1, 2023
Interesting and dedicated to kindness
- Bunny Lewis
- March 10, 2023
Awesomeness
- Christine
- March 10, 2023
A consistent dose of empathy
- Barbara
- April 7, 2023
Your weekly dose of empathy
- ilove2eatveggies
- April 7, 2023
A true thinktank of a show
- Matt
- May 1, 2023
Brave questions
- Brian Nietzel
- May 6, 2023
A Great Show
- Gloryah Rodgers
- June 14, 2023
Conversation with depth
- Megan Warren
- Feb. 27, 2025
Amazing Experience!
- Wendy Wallace
- July 27, 2023
So much fun!
- Natalie H.
- Aug. 3, 2023
Insightful and Interesting
- Paul Hollis
- Aug. 11, 2023
Fantastic Experience
- Marin Canaday
- Aug. 15, 2023
Amazing
- Alana Van Der Sluys
- Aug. 15, 2023
Awesome Show!
- JaRon Walters
- Aug. 15, 2023
Excellent experience!
- Mark M McNear
- Aug. 21, 2023
Sharing meaningful conversations on grief
- Peggy Green
- Aug. 23, 2023
Authentic and intentional
- Karis Meier
- Sept. 1, 2023
Authentic and intentional
- Karis Meier
- Sept. 1, 2023
Avoid Gummy Bears while Flying!
- Vincent Aiello
- Oct. 19, 2023
The podcast that encourages you to keep moving forward.
- Danielle Cobo
- Nov. 2, 2023
The podcast that encourages you to keep moving forward.
- Great app- danielle
- Nov. 2, 2023
Real is hard to find
- Mark Delaney
- Nov. 9, 2023
Passion and Unique Scenery
- ADHD Coach Ryan Mayer
- Nov. 21, 2023
- Ellie vbg
- Dec. 1, 2023
- Cam F Awesome
- Jan. 11, 2024
Very Welcoming and Kind
- Noah Asher
- Jan. 30, 2024
an absolutely fantatstic conversation with Neil
- Don Mann (www.usfrogmann.com)
- Feb. 20, 2024
Next level conversation
- Maurice F Martin
- March 4, 2024
A great drive to work podcast
- Dominic Teich
- March 10, 2024
Great Show
- Lee Ann
- April 16, 2024
Great content!
- Mark Delaney
- April 25, 2024
Neil is an amazing person!
- Erin Whalen
- May 29, 2024
Excellent interview
- Ben Kalina
- May 30, 2024
Authentic Conversation, Engaging Host
- Dr. Merry C Lin
- June 6, 2024
Homecoming Interview
- Mark Collins
- June 11, 2024
Great program
- Keri Cooper
- June 13, 2024
Excellent experience as a Guest
- Cate Purvis
- July 13, 2024
Engaging and Enjoyable Host; Interesting and Encouraging Interviews
- Julie Sunne
- July 18, 2024
Great conversation
- Nancy Bruscher
- July 23, 2024
I said WHAT?
- Kyle Jetsel
- July 23, 2024
Great experience! Thank you for walking in my shoes!
- Aron Boesl
- Sept. 2, 2024
Inspiring
- Lburns1
- Aug. 21, 2024
Neil is a great guy!
- Kim
- Nov. 14, 2024
This podcast will make you ask questions AND laugh.
- Mike Oppenheim
- Dec. 10, 2024
A very personal interview
- John David Graham
- Dec. 11, 2024
Excellent Show
- Mary Beth Schrudder
- Dec. 17, 2024
Healthy conversations start with healthy people
- Seánnie Cameras
- Dec. 18, 2024
Great platform, even better host
- Amber
- Dec. 31, 2024
Warm and Fun Host
- Charity Sinclair
- Jan. 9, 2025
- Roman Fischer
- Feb. 5, 2025
Insightful, Kind, Easy to talk to!!
- Shaun Robert Grant
- Feb. 7, 2025
The Rogue Hypnotist - Mark Anthony
- Mark Anthony - The Rogue Hypnotist
- Feb. 8, 2025
For All Audiences
- Debbie
- Feb. 10, 2025
Awesome Conversation on Metaphysics and the Divine
- Jordan Miller
- Feb. 11, 2025
- Fit With Deb
- Feb. 10, 2025
My Experience with Neil Matthews
- Ms Lawrence, CEO of Exposure Plus TV
- Feb. 14, 2025
What a great host!
- Jill Pavlov
- Feb. 24, 2025
Had a great experience!
- cory young
- June 16, 2026
A heartfelt conversation with a longstanding friend
- Kym Coco
- June 18, 2026
Lost and Found Best Friend
- Elke Scholz, MA, RP, REACE
- June 19, 2026
The conversations are real, impactful, and filled with hope
- Mia Godfrey
- June 20, 2026
A natural talent
- Jo kelly
- June 24, 2026
Happyness
- Julia H
- July 16, 2026
One of my favorite podcast appearances...
- Donald Williams
- July 27, 2026
Vinnie Potestivo
- None
- July 27, 2026
Wonderful Conversation
- None
- April 30, 2026
Fresh Air!
- Debra Mcninch
- March 2, 2026
About the Host
🎙 Host | 🎬 Producer | 🩵 🐏 Tar Heels Superfan | 🎧 Editor
There’s a line from "The Shawshank Redemption" that has stuck with me for years.
Red asks:
“I mean, seriously, how often do you look at a man’s shoes?”
My answer?
"All the time."
Shoes are one of the first things I notice about people. Maybe that explains the collection. Maybe it explains the obsession.
But over time, that line came to mean something more.
Red’s point was that most people don’t notice.
"I want to notice."
Not just the shoes, but the person standing in them.
What have they walked through? What are they carrying? What don’t I know about their story?
That curiosity became "Other People’s Shoes".
More than 400 conversations later, I’m still just a guy with a microphone, a lot of questions, a serious love of shoes, and a desire to understand people better.
My faith, my family, and my completely reasonable obsession with the North Carolina Tar Heels are all a big part of who I am.
But at the heart of this show is something simple:
"You don’t have to agree with someone to understand them."
Sometimes understanding starts by simply noticing the person standing in the shoes.
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Youtube Music
Amazon Music
Pandora
Audible
Podchaser 





