One of the questions I get asked the most is why I interview certain people.
The answer is simple…. Because everyone has a story.
In today’s world, we’ve become so quick to judge people that we’ve forgotten how to listen to them. We see a headline, a social media post, or a rumor and immediately decide who someone is without ever hearing their side of the story. I never wanted my platform to be about that.
When I launched http://DrewSchifino.com, my goal wasn’t to create another website that focused on controversy, negativity, or tearing people down. My goal was to create a place where people could share their experiences, lessons, successes, failures, and journeys in their own words.
I’ve interviewed athletes, coaches, business owners, entertainers, community leaders, and everyday people. Some are well known. Some aren’t. But every one of them has something valuable to share.
Giving someone a platform doesn’t mean I agree with everything they’ve ever said or done. It means I believe people deserve the opportunity to tell their story.
Too often, society reduces people to a single moment. One mistake. One opinion. One bad decision. But human beings are more complicated than that. The most interesting stories are often the ones that involve adversity, growth, failure, redemption, and perseverance.
Those stories can inspire people.
They can teach people.
They can help someone realize they aren’t alone.
As someone who has experienced public criticism, setbacks, and misconceptions myself, I understand how easy it is for people to form opinions without knowing the full story. That’s one reason I value conversation so much. Sometimes the greatest lessons come from simply listening.
My platform isn’t about deciding who deserves a voice and who doesn’t. It’s about creating opportunities for people to share their experiences and allowing readers to take from those stories whatever they find meaningful.
There are enough people looking to divide us. There are enough people looking for reasons to tear others down. I’d rather spend my time highlighting stories that educate, inspire, challenge perspectives, and preserve the experiences of people who might otherwise be forgotten.
Because long after the scores, statistics, jobs, and titles are gone, stories are what remain.
And every person has one worth telling.