Episode
Ep. 201 - Jason Prokowiew: Fighting a Two-Front War in My Own Home
- Podcast
- Stories from Real Life
- Published
- May 5, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2406
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Summary
Show Notes Release Date: May 5, 2026 Guest: Jason Prokowiew, author of War Boys About the Episode: How do you learn to love a man you were raised to fear? In this episode, we speak with author Jason Prokowiew about his transformative new memoir, War Boys . Jason shares the harrowing history of his father’s survival in Nazi-occupied Belarus and explores how that trauma rippled through their suburban American household. We dive into the “braiding” of two lives: a father fighting for survival and a son fighting for his identity as a queer man. Key Topics Discussed: * The 50-Hour Tapes: How Jason used long-form interviewing to bridge the emotional gap with his father before his passing in 2002. * Inherited Trauma: The reality of growing up with an abusive, alcoholic parent whose “survival mode” never truly turned off. * The “Replacement” Family: Understanding his father’s drive to have 13 children as a response to losing his mother and sister in the bombing of Minsk. * Queer Identity & Resilience: How Jason navigated loneliness and shame while finding his own voice in a house dominated by his father’s presence. * The Power of Storytelling: Why claiming your own narrative is the final step in the healing process. Resources Mentioned: * Book: War Boys: A Father and Son Memoir (Trio House Press - July 1, 2026) * Watch: Jason Prokowiew on Stories from the Stage (WBUR) * Connect: Follow Jason’s work and upcoming book events on social media. Support the Show: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your support helps us bring more stories of resilience to your ears. Get full access to Melvin E. Edwards at storiesfromreallife.substack.com/subscribe