Dan-el Padilla Peralta has the sort of intellectual clout most of us can only dream of.

He's assistant Professor of Classics at Princeton and has taught at more of the greatest universities in the world.

He was educated in New York's private school system, whilst also being homeless and living in condemned buildings in the midst of gang violence.

And what's more he carried a secret, which he feared could tear his world apart.

Colin Parry is a husband and father.

He's also a mentor and motivational speaker and founded a charity that works tirelessly towards resolving conflict.

Colin also, along with his family, endured the horror of the death of his twelve year old son at the hands of terrorists.

This is the story of a man who fought to see beyond his grief to create something incredible.

Jaco Van Gass loves his bike.

He's represented his country at cycling.

He also loves to explore and has reached the North Pole and scaled Everest.

But on his 23rd birthday something happened that left Jaco unable to even feed himself and convinced that he could never be happy again.

Kevin Shird is a writer. He also works with young people, especially those who other people have given up on.

He's a good guy.

He's also a man who has served more than a decade in prison for dealing drugs on the streets of Baltimore, a lifestyle made famous by the TV show The Wire.

What happens inside someone's head to switch them on to the potential of a different future?

And how do they shake off the reputation of violence that's defined their life?

Anthony Crolla is a boxer. Since the age of eleven he dreamed of being a world champion.

Everything in his life for more than a decade was focussed on this one goal. Then his chance came to be the WBA lightweight champion.

But then less than a month before the fight he lost that chance and nearly his life.

When your dreams are crushed and you're told the one thing you love to do may be taken away from you, how do you cope? 

This is the story of the mental and physical strength of a man who refused to give up.  

Stephanie Hirst loves being on the radio.

After dreaming of being a presenter since the age of eleven, she made it. Awards, popularity, success. The works.

Then she gave it all up and risked losing everything.

Why? Because Steph is transgender and it was under the name Simon Hirst, presenting as a man, that she had gained such success.

This is a story of a life that for many years, was lived in fear. And a story of real courage.

Matthew Syed is a journalist, author, broadcaster and champion table tennis player, representing his country at the Olympics. 

But at a crucial point in his career, something happened that he admits changed him forever.

If you've been building your whole life towards one moment and at that moment you fail, how do you carry on?

John Joseph is an Iron Man athlete. 

He is also the singer of legendary Punk band the Cro-Mags and a best-selling author too.

Growing up as a homeless teenager in New York, John was a heroin mule, working the punk clubs of the Lower East Side.

He became a violent criminal and eventually a prisoner.

If crime, fighting and drugs are all you have ever known, how do you change who you are?

John's story will shock and enthrall you.

Steve is a chef.  He owns his own restaurant and loves everything about food and the way it can bring families and communities together.

But for years he had a secret. 

A secret which led him into a life of crime and caused him to lose everything. 

His job, his relationships, his humanity and nearly his life.

When you cease to feel like a human being - how do you rebuild your life?

Barbara Myers is an artist - A painter and sculptor who sees her art as so much more than just her career - it's an extension of who she is.  But until Barbara was in her forties, she'd never even picked up a paintbrush. The story of what led her to walk into a shop one day and buy a canvas is one of both huge individual loss and personal resilience. How do you reconcile the fact that without experiencing such pain you wouldn't have the very thing that brings you so much joy?

Alfie Joey is an entertainer.

A comedian, impressionist, broadcaster and actor. 

Since he was a small boy, his family said he should be on the stage. 

But he didn't take that path. Instead to the shock of those closest to him he trained to be a priest and then a monk. 

Until one moment changed his life.

What do you do when you realise you've changed your mind about the person you want to be?

How do you engage with a life you have never known?