Some moments stay with you forever.
Not because they were loud, but because they were true.

In this deeply personal episode of The Pemberton Podcast, released on both Father’s Day and Steve’s birthday, Steve reflects on the night he left behind everything that tried to break him and the man who met him on the other side.

His name was John Sykes.
When the world offered silence, John offered a yes.

Woven into this episode are rare recordings of John's own voice, filled with warmth, wit, and a kind of quiet strength that never needed to announce itself. Together, their story becomes more than memory. It becomes a message.

This is not a story about rescue.
It is about presence.
It is about believing in someone before they believe in themselves.
And it is about how one act of kindness can carry the weight of freedom.

Steve introduces us to the voice and the presence of John Sykes, his mentor, his friend, and the man his children would one day call Grandpa John.

For those who have ever needed to be seen or felt called to see someone else, this is a reminder that your yes could be the turning point in someone’s life.

Because the most meaningful change often begins quietly, with courage, compassion, and one willing heart.

Host: Steve Pemberton

Produced by: David Alexander

Boston College Support:

Special Thanks!

Paul Dagnello
Assistant Director of Media and Technology
Boston College
Office of University Communications

What if the place that was supposed to shelter you became the very thing you had to survive?

In this unforgettable second episode of The Pemberton Podcast, Steve Pemberton revisits the house on Arnold Street, where he first learned that love could be conditional and protection could come with a cost. For the first time, he speaks the name he once kept hidden, offering clarity to a story long veiled in silence.

This episode is not just a recollection; it’s a reckoning. Through quiet moments of reflection and extraordinary perseverance, Steve reveals how even the smallest act of compassion, like a box of books on a porch, can ignite the will to keep going.

He speaks to anyone who’s ever been mislabeled, underestimated, or told to stay silent. And he offers proof that identity is not assigned but reclaimed, and that you can rise, not in spite of your story, but because of it.

For the visionary who feels deeply and the achiever who fights to be seen, this is your reminder: your past does not disqualify you. It prepares you.
This isn’t just about where you come from. It’s about who you choose to become.

Host: Steve Pemberton

Produced by: David Alexander

Special Thanks!

Paul Dagnello
Assistant Director of Media and Technology
Boston College
Office of University Communications

What happens when your child asks the one question you’ve spent your whole life preparing to answer?

In this powerful new series, author and speaker Steve Pemberton revisits the deeply personal story behind his bestselling memoir A Chance in the World. Blending new reflections with never-before-shared memories, Steve takes listeners beyond the book—uncovering the moments of resilience that shaped his journey.

Through the eyes of his children, the rediscovery of a long-lost case file, and a single childhood photo that changed everything, Steve explores how we make peace with the past, heal generational wounds, and build the families we always longed for.

If you’ve ever felt out of place, overlooked, or wondered if your beginnings define your endings—this podcast is for you. The Pemberton Podcast reminds us all: we each deserve a chance in the world, and we each have the power to give one.

Host: Steve Pemberton

Produced by: David Alexander

Special Thanks!

Paul Dagnello
Assistant Director of Media and Technology
Boston College
Office of University Communications