I Found My Dad's Lost Story
I Found My Dad's Lost Story  
Podcast: Culture Changers with Allison Hare
Published On: Thu Aug 06 2026
Description: My father died last week. He was 97. What a gangster, making it that far. Milad Rizk survived World War Two as a kid in Lebanon, immigrated to America with nothing but a Lebanese passport and a plan, raised six kids across two marriages, and spent his whole career as an auditor jumping from Iraq to Saudi Arabia to Chicago to New York. He had dementia for the last several years of his life. Toward the end he couldn't really talk to us anymore. Then I remembered something. Fifteen years ago, before I had a podcast, before I even knew what a podcast was, I used to run a music blog and interview artists with a little handheld recorder. One day I pointed it at my dad instead and asked him to tell me his whole life story. I hadn't listened to it since. I wasn't even sure the file still existed. So last week I dug an old recorder out of a closet, popped in the SD card, and the very first file I opened was him. I think about how close I came to never finding this. And I think about how many of us have a parent sitting right there, willing to talk, and we just haven't asked yet. This is Milad Youssef Rizk. Born December 20th, 1928 in Tripoli, Lebanon. Died July 30th of this year. He spoke five languages, picked up hitchhikers with all six of his kids in the car (#superdad), and told stories so freaking captivating. In this interview he talks about growing up poor during the war, what it was like starting over in America in his late twenties, and near the end, whether he thinks he was a good father. His answer surprised me (he said no). If you still have a parent (or loved one) who would sit down and talk to you, record it. You can thank me later! Be sure to rate, review, and follow this podcast on your player and also, connect with me IRL for more goodness and life-changing stuff.Schedule a FREE podcast clarity call with me - Your future audience is out there. Talk to them!Sign up for the free weekly emailAllisonHare.comFollow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.DOWNLOAD the free podcast equipment guide- No guesswork, no google rabbit holes, start recording todayReb3l Dance Fitness - Try it at home! Free month with this link.Feedback and Contact:: allison@allisonhare.com