Army of Normal Folks

What If You’ve Been Keeping Score of the Wrong Game? Sep 25, 2026

Bob Buford had already won - he built his family's media business into a major cable company and sold it for an estimated $300 million. Then his 24-year-old son passed away. Buford spent the second half of his life helping others and writing the bestselling book "Halftime".

In this Shop Talk, we dig into his idea that your money, career, skills, and even your failures aren't just measures of what you've accomplished - they're assets you can deploy for someone else. Purpose doesn't have a retirement age. Your second half can be your best one.

ARMY ACTIONS

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If You're Not Where You Want to Be In Life… This Is Probably Why | Mike Rowe Sep 24, 2026

In this episode, Bill sits down with Dirty Jobs host Mike Rowe for a Supporting Greatness conversation about the three normal men who made him: a grandfather who only went to the seventh grade, a scoutmaster who ran Boy Scout Troop 16 like an organized gang and made a stammering kid sing to 200 people, and a music teacher who told him to stutter on his own time.
Mike traces Dirty Jobs to a call from his mother at 42 and the sewer footage that got him fired from CBS. That opens a bigger conversation about who supports greatness: why enduring discomfort is never enough, why a comfort zone becomes a human stop sign, and why one of the smartest men Mike ever met never finished school. Plus faking his way into the Baltimore Opera, three firings from QVC, and work ethic scholarships for people who skip the four-year degree.

ARMY ACTIONS

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Learn about Mike Rowe's work ethic scholarships at mikeroweWORKS: https://mikeroweworks.org/

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—

0:00 Mike Rowe on Supporting Greatness

2:20 Mike Rowe on His Grandfather and Dirty Jobs

12:57 How Mike Rowe Got Fired From CBS

18:32 Why Mike Rowe Had a Stutter as a Kid

21:23 What Boy Scouts Was Like in 1975

22:41 Why Enduring Discomfort Isn't Enough

30:54 Why Your Comfort Zone Is a Human Stop Sign

32:48 Mike Rowe on Music Teacher Fred King

39:17 The Audition That Ended His Stutter

45:30 How Mike Rowe Faked His Way Into the Opera

54:29 Why Dirty Jobs Never Did a Second Take

59:23 Mike Rowe on Work Ethic Scholarships

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The 4 Things Every Family Should Do Before Disaster Hits Sep 22, 2026

It's not a matter of if a disaster hits your community. It's when. And when it does, the first person on the scene isn't first responders or government officials. It's your neighbor.

Jeff Byard has spent 24 years in disaster response - from the Marine Corps to Alabama Emergency Management to FEMA. Then he left to go work with Team Rubicon - a volunteer lead disaster relief organization. In this episode, Jeff sits down with Bill to talk about what he learned from a career of showing up for people on their worst day - and what every one of us can do right now to be ready when our neighbors need us most.

You'll walk away knowing how to prepare your family before disaster strikes, why your next-door neighbor is the most important first responder in any emergency, and how ordinary people are doing some of the most important disaster relief work in the country through Team Rubicon.

ARMY ACTIONS

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HIGHLIGHTS: The 4 Things Every Family Should Do Before Disaster Hits Sep 22, 2026

It's not a matter of if a disaster hits your community. It's when. And when it does, the first person on the scene isn't first responders or government officials. It's your neighbor.

Jeff Byard has spent 24 years in disaster response - from the Marine Corps to Alabama Emergency Management to FEMA. Then he left to go work with Team Rubicon - a volunteer lead disaster relief organization. In this episode, Jeff sits down with Bill to talk about what he learned from a career of showing up for people on their worst day - and what every one of us can do right now to be ready when our neighbors need us most.

You'll walk away knowing how to prepare your family before disaster strikes, why your next-door neighbor is the most important first responder in any emergency, and how ordinary people are doing some of the most important disaster relief work in the country through Team Rubicon.

ARMY ACTIONS

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Before You Ask “What’s Wrong With Them?”, Listen To This Sep 18, 2026

In this Shop Talk, Bill and Alex break down ACE scores - Adverse Childhood Experiences - and what the research says about how childhood trauma shows up decades later in our health, our relationships, and our choices. Bill shares his own score, and makes the case for why understanding this data might be the most important thing you can do before you walk into a tough neighborhood and wonder why people are the way they are.

ARMY ACTIONS

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Why America Is in Better Shape Than You've Been Told | Unify USA Sep 15, 2026

In this episode, Bill sits down with Teagan and Koston McCoy of Unify USA: how Teagan, 21 and fed up with the division on his phone, pulled an American flag off his truck, ran 22 miles on a whim, and turned eight million views into flag runs across seven states. He gets spit on, has cigarette butts thrown at him, and tells them he loves them anyway. That opens a bigger conversation about what actually divides Americans: the wedge inside their own family, a jar of ants blaming each other instead of the man who shook it, and 600 flags through Central Park without a single protester. Plus a leprechaun calls in to sing Bill happy birthday.

ARMY ACTIONS

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HIGHLIGHTS: Why America Is in Better Shape Than You've Been Told | Unify USA Sep 15, 2026

In this episode, Bill sits down with Teagan and Koston McCoy of Unify USA: how Teagan, 21 and fed up with the division on his phone, pulled an American flag off his truck, ran 22 miles on a whim, and turned eight million views into flag runs across seven states. He gets spit on, has cigarette butts thrown at him, and tells them he loves them anyway. That opens a bigger conversation about what actually divides Americans: the wedge inside their own family, a jar of ants blaming each other instead of the man who shook it, and 600 flags through Central Park without a single protester. Plus a leprechaun calls in to sing Bill happy birthday.

ARMY ACTIONS

Sign up for the newsletter and join the Army: https://normalfolks.org/#newsletter-cta

Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/

Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at https://normalfolks.org/10-level-challenge/

Follow Unify USA at https://unifyusaofficial.com

Have an idea for a Shop Talk or a guest for the show? Write Bill anytime at bill@normalfolks.us

Follow us on all socials:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/armyofnormalfolks/

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He Built a Confessional—But He Did the Confessing Sep 11, 2026

At one of the most secular campuses in America, a group of Christians set up a confessionial booth during a wild campus party. But they weren't there to hear confessions. They were there to give them.

Tony Kriz sat in that booth and apologized to skeptical strangers for the ways Christians had failed to love people. Students who came in ready to argue left having opened up about their own struggles.

This episode is a masterclass in what humility can do that arguments never will.

ARMY ACTIONS

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What a Former Heroin Addict Will Teach You About Relationships | Ariel Moore Sep 08, 2026

Ariel Moore lost nearly everything - her home, her freedom, and even her child. But that's not where her story ends. In this episode, Ariel sits down with Bill to talk about how she rebuilt her life from the ground up, what it looks like to be restored rather than just recovered, and why she believes God didn't save her just for herself. If you’re at a low point in your life and looking for a little hope, this episode is for you.

Buy Ariel's book at the link below!

Divine Authenticity: Moore, Ariel: 9798997522278: Amazon.com: Books

ARMY ACTIONS

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HIGHLIGHTS: What a Former Heroin Addict Will Teach You About Relationships | Ariel Moore Sep 08, 2026

Ariel Moore lost nearly everything - her home, her freedom, and even her child. But that's not where her story ends. In this episode, Ariel sits down with Bill to talk about how she rebuilt her life from the ground up, what it looks like to be restored rather than just recovered, and why she believes God didn't save her just for herself. If you’re at a low point in your life and looking for a little hope, this episode is for you.

Buy Ariel's book at the link below!

Divine Authenticity: Moore, Ariel: 9798997522278: Amazon.com: Books

ARMY ACTIONS

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We Have A Morality Problem. And We’re The Problem Sep 04, 2026

In this Shop Talk, Bill and Alex break down the speech Bill gave at the West Tennessee Faith and Community Summit in Memphis, with the governor, the mayor, and a ballroom full of faith leaders in the room. Bill's argument: crime, homelessness, kids who can't read on grade level, and young people aging out of foster care aren't our problems. They're symptoms. The real problem is a morality problem, and it isn't with the poor or the disenfranchised. It's with the rest of us, who see the need, think "somebody ought to do something about that," and keep driving.

Bill also explains what he was really trying to say to a room full of people who call themselves Christians: Jesus didn't spend his time in nice ballrooms with wealthy people, and if we're called to be Christlike, the work is elsewhere. Plus: why he walked off stage the second the speech ended (there was a fire at his lumber yard), and what happened in 1907.

ARMY ACTIONS

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In San Antonio, Lincoln NE, Sumner County KS, Huntsville AL, or anywhere in Oklahoma? People there want to start a service club and need members. Email alex@normalfolks.org and he'll connect you.

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43 Million Americans Can’t Read Well Enough to Work (Here’s the Fix) Sep 01, 2026

Nearly 2/3 of American kids aren't reading proficiently by 4th grade. And if they don't catch up, - they're far more likely to drop out, struggle to find work, and cycle through a lifetime of limited options. Right now in the United States, 43 million adults can't read well enough to hold a basic job.

This week, Bill sits down with Tony Kriz, co-founder of the Children's Literacy Project, who believes the solve for this crisis is normal folks like you. He wants you to give just one hour a week to sit with a struggling kid, read with them, and uplift them.

In this episode you'll learn exactly why kids fall behind, what it takes to close the gap, and how normal folks like you can walk into a local school and make a real difference starting this week.

ARMY ACTIONS

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HIGHLIGHTS: 43 Million Americans Can’t Read Well Enough to Work (Here’s the Fix) Sep 01, 2026

Nearly 2/3 of American kids aren't reading proficiently by 4th grade. And if they don't catch up, - they're far more likely to drop out, struggle to find work, and cycle through a lifetime of limited options. Right now in the United States, 43 million adults can't read well enough to hold a basic job.

This week, Bill sits down with Tony Kriz, co-founder of the Children's Literacy Project, who believes the solve for this crisis is normal folks like you. He wants you to give just one hour a week to sit with a struggling kid, read with them, and uplift them.

In this episode you'll learn exactly why kids fall behind, what it takes to close the gap, and how normal folks like you can walk into a local school and make a real difference starting this week.

ARMY ACTIONS

Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us!

Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org

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Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/

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What Jesse Itzler's $18 Office Can Teach Us About Service Aug 28, 2026

When Jesse Itzler was broke and sleeping on a friend's couch, he couldn't afford an office. So he made the Beverly Hills Hotel his office - for the price of an $18 salad and four hours of iced tea refills. He sat, watched, listened, and showed up until the right people noticed him. The rest is history.

In this Shop Talk, Bill and Alex take that story and flip it toward service. Because most people who want to help their community are waiting for an invitation that's never coming. The tough neighborhoods, the kids who need mentors, the opportunities to make a real difference - they're already out there. You just have to get in the room.

This one is worth sending to someone who keeps saying they want to help but doesn't know where to start.

ARMY ACTIONS

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His Tool Helped 13,000 Families Out of Crisis. This is How | Restore Hope Aug 25, 2026

Paul Chapman spent years doing charitable work until he finally got frustrated by this: the people trying to help were often doing great work — but they were doing it in silos and too many families still weren’t flourishing.

So he built "HopeHub” to connect nonprofits, churches, law enforcement, child welfare, treatment providers, and others around the very same family, so that they could stop making families try to find help in 10 different places and start working together to empower them. What started as an effort to help 100 families has now reached more than 13,000 and in Sebastian County, Arkansas family reunification rates have gone from a statewide average of 43% to 70% for Hope Hub clients!

This innovative leader will teach you how changing the world can start with only 100 families — and why breaking down silos just might be one of the most powerful ways to change lives.

ARMY ACTIONS

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HIGHLIGHTS: His Tool Helped 13,000 Families Out of Crisis. This is How | Restore Hope Aug 25, 2026

Paul Chapman spent years doing charitable work until he finally got frustrated by this: the people trying to help were often doing great work — but they were doing it in silos and too many families still weren’t flourishing.

So he built "HopeHub” to connect nonprofits, churches, law enforcement, child welfare, treatment providers, and others around the very same family, so that they could stop making families try to find help in 10 different places and start working together to empower them. What started as an effort to help 100 families has now reached more than 13,000 and in Sebastian County, Arkansas family reunification rates have gone from a statewide average of 43% to 70% for Hope Hub clients!

This innovative leader will teach you how changing the world can start with only 100 families — and why breaking down silos just might be one of the most powerful ways to change lives.

ARMY ACTIONS

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Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/

Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.org

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The Forgotten Club That Once Had 1 Million Members Aug 21, 2026

In this Shop Talk, Bill and Alex dive into the odd history of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows - one of the largest organizations most Americans have never heard of. At their peak, they had over a million members and thousands of lodges across the country. They cared for widows and orphans, built hospitals, and more than 800 cemeteries. And then, slowly, they disappeared.

If you've ever wondered why community feels harder to find than it used to - or why civic life seems to be quietly fading - this episode might be the most important conversation you hear this week. It's a history lesson that hits surprisingly close to home.

ARMY ACTIONS

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How $1 Can Erase $100 of Medical Debt in Your Community Aug 18, 2026

1 out of every 3 Americans carries medical debt. It's the #1 cause of bankruptcy in the country - and the single greatest predictor of whether you end up in it isn't your income or your insurance. It's whether or not you get sick.

Allison Sesso is a normal person leading an abnormal (and awesome) nonprofit doing something about it. Undue Medical Debt has erased nearly $50 billion in medical debt for over 31 million people!

In this episode, she breaks down exactly what to do if you get a bill you can't afford, why you should never put medical debt on a credit card, how debt collectors acquire debt for pennies on the dollar, how they’ve flipped this very same model on its head to abolish debt, and how you can partner with them to erase a crazy amount of medical debt in your community.

ARMY ACTIONS

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HIGHLIGHTS: How $1 Can Erase $100 of Medical Debt in Your Community Aug 18, 2026

1 out of every 3 Americans carries medical debt. It's the #1 cause of bankruptcy in the country - and the single greatest predictor of whether you end up in it isn't your income or your insurance. It's whether or not you get sick.

Allison Sesso is a normal person leading an abnormal (and awesome) nonprofit doing something about it. Undue Medical Debt has erased nearly $50 billion in medical debt for over 31 million people!

In this episode, she breaks down exactly what to do if you get a bill you can't afford, why you should never put medical debt on a credit card, how debt collectors acquire debt for pennies on the dollar, how they’ve flipped this very same model on its head to abolish debt, and how you can partner with them to erase a crazy amount of medical debt in your community.

ARMY ACTIONS

Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us!

Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org

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Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/

Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.org

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The Lost Art of Talking to Strangers Aug 14, 2026

53% of Americans ages 18-29 say talking to strangers is exhausting. But small interactions with everyday strangers actually make your life more meaningful. In this Shop Talk, Bill and Alex dig into why everyday human connection has declined and how you can integrate it into your life. This one is a reminder that community isn't always built through grand gestures, it starts with just saying hello. You weren't designed for isolation, you were designed to be in community with others.

ARMY ACTIONS

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Inside the Town Run Entirely By 10-Year-Olds | Junior Achievement Aug 11, 2026

Economic mobility has dropped 45% in recent decades. The American Dream - doing better than your parents did - is getting harder to reach. But Leigh Mansberg and Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South are doing something about it. In this conversation with Bill, Leigh breaks down how Junior Achievement uses experiential learning to unlock economic mobility for kids K-12 - and why giving a child hope might be the most important thing a community can do. This episode will change how you think about education, opportunity, and what it means to invest in the next generation. This episode is for everyone who wants to see the American Dream continue on through future generations.

ARMY ACTIONS

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Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.org

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HIGHLIGHTS: Inside the Town Run Entirely By 10-Year-Olds | Junior Achievement Aug 11, 2026

Economic mobility has dropped 45% in recent decades. The American Dream - doing better than your parents did - is getting harder to reach. But Leigh Mansberg and Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South are doing something about it. In this conversation with Bill, Leigh breaks down how Junior Achievement uses experiential learning to unlock economic mobility for kids K-12 - and why giving a child hope might be the most important thing a community can do. This episode will change how you think about education, opportunity, and what it means to invest in the next generation. This episode is for everyone who wants to see the American Dream continue on through future generations.

ARMY ACTIONS

Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us!

Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org

Follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks

Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/

Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.org

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet The Ordinary Radicals Aug 07, 2026

What if the most radical thing you could do was just show up?

In this Shop Talk, Bill and Alex dive into Shane Claiborne's book The Irresistible Revolution - and the idea that changing the world has never required extraordinary people. Just ordinary ones who refuse to look away. They talk about what it really means to let your life answer the question, why the most important move you can make is toward broken places instead of away from them, and what it looks like when normal folks stop asking "why doesn't someone do something?" and start asking "what can I do?"

This one isn't a call to be louder or more impressive. It's a reminder that the life you're already living might be exactly the one the world needs.

ARMY ACTIONS

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The 100,000-Man Movement That Will Change Your Life Aug 04, 2026

Frank Schwartz is the CEO of F3 Nation, a 100,000-man volunteer led movement built around fitness, fellowship, and faith. Men at 5,000+ locations worldwide show up at 5:30am - no matter if it’s raining, snowing, or freezing - for free peer-led workouts. But the workout is just the entry point. What F3 is really doing is cultivating a brotherhood and teaching men how to lead, so they can take that home to their families and community.

If you've ever felt like there has to be more than just going through the motions of life, then this episode is for you. And if there's a man in your life who needs to hear this, send it to him.

Find an F3 workout near you at F3Nation.com. They’re free and open to all men.

ARMY ACTIONS

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HIGHLIGHTS: The 100,000-Man Movement That Will Change Your Life Aug 04, 2026

Frank Schwartz is the CEO of F3 Nation, a 100,000-man volunteer led movement built around fitness, fellowship, and faith. Men at 5,000+ locations worldwide show up at 5:30am - no matter if it’s raining, snowing, or freezing - for free peer-led workouts. But the workout is just the entry point. What F3 is really doing is cultivating a brotherhood and teaching men how to lead, so they can take that home to their families and community.

If you've ever felt like there has to be more than just going through the motions of life, then this episode is for you. And if there's a man in your life who needs to hear this, send it to him.

Find an F3 workout near you at F3Nation.com. They’re free and open to all men.

ARMY ACTIONS

Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us!

Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org

Follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks

Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/

Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.org

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What 40 Million Tax Returns Reveal About America Jul 31, 2026

Researchers at Harvard analyzed the tax records of 40 million Americans to answer one of the most debated questions in the country: does the American Dream still exist? The good news is that the dream is alive, but where you grow up dramatically shapes your odds of reaching it.

In this Shop Talk, Bill breaks down the 4 factors researchers found that consistently predict whether children will flourish. Turns out, 3 of them aren't programs or policies. They're things that An Army of Normal Folks can actually help build for our families and for those most at-risk of not achieving their dreams!

ARMY ACTIONS

Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us!

Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org

Follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks

Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/

Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.org

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HIGHLIGHTS: This State Is Solving The Foster Care Crisis (Here's How) Jul 28, 2026

This is the shorter "highlights" version of the episode.
Coach Bill Courtney sits down with Chris Campbell, Executive Director of Oklahoma's 111 Project, to unpack how Oklahoma has cut the number of children in foster care nearly in half—from 11,500 to 6,000—and what communities across America can learn from their success.

Rather than pointing fingers at government, Chris shares how churches, nonprofits, everyday citizens, and public agencies began working together to build practical pathways for people to help. From recruiting foster families to preventing children from entering foster care in the first place, this conversation is full of ideas that any community can adopt.

Chris also shares the deeply personal moment that changed the course of his life: holding a two-day-old baby with nowhere to go.

In this episode:

Why America has a foster parent shortage—and the consequences for children.
How Oklahoma dramatically reduced the number of kids in foster care.
Why prevention is just as important as recruiting foster families.
The story behind CarePortal and how a simple app is helping keep families together.
Why supporting struggling families often matters more than removing children.
The surprising role churches can play in solving one of America's biggest challenges.

If An Army of Normal Folks each did what we can, this is one problem we really can solve.

Check out the resources below!

RESOURCES

Learn more about 111 Project at 111Project.org | One Church, One Family, One Purpose

Follow 111 Project on socials @111projectok

Interested in fostering? Search for foster parent classes in your community and join them. No commitment required. Exploration is the first step.

Want to help prevent kids from unnecessarily entering foster care? Sign up for CarePortal at https://www.careportal.org/

ARMY ACTIONS

Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us!

Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org

Follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks

Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/

Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.org

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This State Is Solving The Foster Care Crisis (Here's How) Jul 28, 2026

Coach Bill Courtney sits down with Chris Campbell, Executive Director of Oklahoma's 111 Project, to unpack how Oklahoma has cut the number of children in foster care nearly in half—from 11,500 to 6,000—and what communities across America can learn from their success.

Rather than pointing fingers at government, Chris shares how churches, nonprofits, everyday citizens, and public agencies began working together to build practical pathways for people to help. From recruiting foster families to preventing children from entering foster care in the first place, this conversation is full of ideas that any community can adopt.

Chris also shares the deeply personal moment that changed the course of his life: holding a two-day-old baby with nowhere to go.

In this episode:

Why America has a foster parent shortage—and the consequences for children.
How Oklahoma dramatically reduced the number of kids in foster care.
Why prevention is just as important as recruiting foster families.
The story behind CarePortal and how a simple app is helping keep families together.
Why supporting struggling families often matters more than removing children.
The surprising role churches can play in solving one of America's biggest challenges.

If An Army of Normal Folks each did what we can, this is one problem we really can solve.

Check out the resources below!

RESOURCES

Learn more about 111 Project at 111Project.org | One Church, One Family, One Purpose

Follow 111 Project on socials @111projectok

Interested in fostering? Search for foster parent classes in your community and join them. No commitment required. Exploration is the first step.

Want to help prevent kids from unnecessarily entering foster care? Sign up for CarePortal at https://www.careportal.org/

ARMY ACTIONS

Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us!

Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org

Follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks

Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/

Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.org

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

America Is Running Out of Friends Jul 24, 2026

The number of Americans with no close friends has increased fivefold since 1990. But this isn't just a loneliness crisis. It's a community crisis. And the data suggests we may be further from fixing it than we think.

In this Shop Talk, Bill dives into a striking report on the collapse of American friendship and reflects on what it reveals about the way we live today. Fewer close friends, shrinking social circles, and young men who are more likely to call their parents than a friend when life gets hard. The numbers are sobering, but the solution might be closer than you think.

This one isn't just about what's broken. It's a reminder that community doesn't build itself. But, the good news is that we have the power to start building community today, right where we are.

ARMY ACTIONS

Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us!

Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org

Follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks

Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/

Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.org

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why Half of America Is Socially Disconnected—and What You Can Do About It (Pt 1) Jul 21, 2026

More than half of Americans are socially disconnected. But what if the problem isn't so much that we've forgotten how to connect—it's that we've stopped building the kinds of communities where connection naturally happens?

In this thought-provoking conversation, Coach Bill Courtney sits down with Aaron Hurst, founder of the U.S. Chamber of Connection, to explore one of the largest challenges facing America today: the collapse of real human connection.

After spending his career helping others build community, Aaron had a startling realization at age 50—he had very few close friends himself. That personal wake-up call launched a nationwide mission to understand why so many Americans feel disconnected and what ordinary people can do to rebuild community.

Together, Bill and Aaron discuss:

The six simple ingredients every thriving community needs
Why serving together is one of the fastest ways to build lasting friendships
Practical ways you can strengthen your community such as joining the "Welcome Committee" or starting a local Chamber of Connection

This isn't just a conversation about what's broken—it's a blueprint for rebuilding the relationships and communities we all need. If you've ever wished you felt more connected or wondered how to make a real difference where you live, this episode is for you.
Learn more and take action: ChamberofConnection.org

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why Half of America Is Socially Disconnected—and What You Can Do About It (Pt 2) Jul 21, 2026

More than half of Americans are socially disconnected. But what if the problem isn't so much that we've forgotten how to connect—it's that we've stopped building the kinds of communities where connection naturally happens?

In this thought-provoking conversation, Coach Bill Courtney sits down with Aaron Hurst, founder of the U.S. Chamber of Connection, to explore one of the largest challenges facing America today: the collapse of real human connection.

After spending his career helping others build community, Aaron had a startling realization at age 50—he had very few close friends himself. That personal wake-up call launched a nationwide mission to understand why so many Americans feel disconnected and what ordinary people can do to rebuild community.

Together, Bill and Aaron discuss:

The six simple ingredients every thriving community needs
Why serving together is one of the fastest ways to build lasting friendships
Practical ways you can strengthen your community such as joining the "Welcome Committee" or starting a local Chamber of Connection

This isn't just a conversation about what's broken—it's a blueprint for rebuilding the relationships and communities we all need. If you've ever wished you felt more connected or wondered how to make a real difference where you live, this episode is for you.
Learn more and take action: ChamberofConnection.org

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Pyramid That Explains Almost Everything Jul 17, 2026

In this Shop Talk, Coach Bill dives into one of his favorite topics, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs!
An Army of Normal Folks diving into Maslow's pyramid is one of the most important things you can do too, as it reveals how people truly flourish and how you can help empower the most vulnerable Americans to do so at increasingly higher levels.
ARMY ACTIONS
Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us!
Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org
Follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks
Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/

Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service at 10LevelChallenge.org

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 36 Year-Old Single Woman Who's Fostered 67 Kids—And Will Change Your Life (Pt 1) Jul 14, 2026

At 25 years old, while many young people are still trying to way their way in life, MK Hill made one of the most mature decisions you can make—to foster a child.

Today, at just 36 years old, the single woman has fostered 67 children, adopted six, and has built a home where kids who have experienced unimaginable trauma can find safety, love, and belonging.

Even if we never reach MK’s level of righteous craziness, her story will show you how we’re far more capable than we allow ourselves to believe. And support foster and adoptive families like hers.

Support MK's nonprofit Many Arrows: https://arrowsnest.givingfuel.com/arrows-nest

Follow MK on socials @manyarrowsmama

Subscribe to the podcast, join the Army at NormalFolks.org, and follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 36 Year-Old Single Woman Who's Fostered 67 Kids—And Will Change Your Life (Pt 2) Jul 14, 2026

At 25 years old, while many young people are still trying to way their way in life, MK Hill made one of the most mature decisions you can make—to foster a child.

Today, at just 36 years old, the single woman has fostered 67 children, adopted six, and has built a home where kids who have experienced unimaginable trauma can find safety, love, and belonging.

Even if we never reach MK’s level of righteous craziness, her story will show you how we’re far more capable than we allow ourselves to believe. And support foster and adoptive families like hers.

Support MK's nonprofit Many Arrows: https://arrowsnest.givingfuel.com/arrows-nest

Follow MK on socials @manyarrowsmama

Subscribe to the podcast, join the Army at NormalFolks.org, and follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hero’s Journey (and Why Ours Starts With Normal Folks) Jul 09, 2026

The Hero's Journey isn't just the formula behind Star Wars, Rocky, Pixar classics, and countless Hollywood blockbusters. It's the oldest pattern found in real-life heroic action—and true across cultures, centuries, and civilizations.

And it always begins the same way: with an ordinary person.

Someone like you.

In this episode, Bill and Alex unpack why the timeless archetype matters and introduce "The 10 Level Challenge"—our new Hero's Journey for service that you can dare to venture on and designed to help you engage your community, discover your purpose, and become someone who shows up.

Start your journey at TenLevelChallenge.org.

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Secret Coffee Club That Can Heal Your Community (Pt 1) Jul 07, 2026

What if one of the biggest solutions to loneliness, toxic division, and disconnection isn't another app or social media platform—but a simple cup of coffee?

Ron Sparks and his friend Adam Foster started inviting small groups of people to semi-secret coffee gatherings in beautiful outdoor spaces. There was no agenda. No networking. No politics. Just coffee, conversation, and community.

What began as a quirky idea has grown into a movement, inspiring over 60 people from across the world to apply to host a "Hush Hush Nomadic Cafe" in their community.

In this conversation with Ron, you'll discover:

Why small gatherings are often more powerful than big events
How to create genuine community wherever you live
That crazy things can sometimes happen—if you just start

If you've ever wished your community felt more connected, welcoming, or your own life had more meaningful relationships, this episode is for you.

🔗 Learn more about Hush Hush Coffee and the Nomadic Café movement: https://hushhushcoffee.com

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Secret Coffee Club That Can Heal Your Community (Pt 2) Jul 07, 2026

What if one of the biggest solutions to loneliness, toxic division, and disconnection isn't another app or social media platform—but a simple cup of coffee?

Ron Sparks and his friend Adam Foster started inviting small groups of people to semi-secret coffee gatherings in beautiful outdoor spaces. There was no agenda. No networking. No politics. Just coffee, conversation, and community.

What began as a quirky idea has grown into a movement, inspiring over 60 people from across the world to apply to host a "Hush Hush Nomadic Cafe" in their community.

In this conversation with Ron, you'll discover:

Why small gatherings are often more powerful than big events
How to create genuine community wherever you live
That crazy things can sometimes happen—if you just start

If you've ever wished your community felt more connected, welcoming, or your own life had more meaningful relationships, this episode is for you.

🔗 Learn more about Hush Hush Coffee and the Nomadic Café movement: https://hushhushcoffee.com

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He Worked for Free—Then Changed My Life (From The Vault) Jul 03, 2026

We're bringing back Shop Talk #3. Because it's been years and it's beautiful!
What would make someone work an entire weekend without pay?

When Coach Bill Courtney's lumber company was on the brink of collapse after 9/11, one employee refused to go home. For 72 straight hours, Sam Quinn—a former Marine living in a halfway house—worked alongside Bill to save the business, asking for nothing in return.

That weekend changed both of their lives.

In this deeply personal Shop Talk episode, Bill reflects on the friendship that followed, the leadership lessons Sam taught him, and why the truest measure of success isn't money or titles—it's the lives we help transform.

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What Your Brain Does With Trauma—And How to Finally Heal It (Pt 1) Jun 30, 2026

Dan Jarvis came home from Afghanistan carrying wounds that didn't show up on any medical chart. In this episode, he breaks down what trauma actually does to the brain - why it hijacks your responses, why willpower alone can't fix it, and how understanding the neuroscience behind your pain is the first step to healing it.

Dan built Healing the Hero, a nonprofit that has helped over 18,000 people reclaim their lives! This is a conversation about what it really takes to heal—for both veterans and civilians. It might just help you or someone you love.

Learn more about Healing the Hero here

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What Your Brain Does With Trauma—And How to Finally Heal It (Pt 2) Jun 30, 2026

Dan Jarvis came home from Afghanistan carrying wounds that didn't show up on any medical chart. In this episode, he breaks down what trauma actually does to the brain - why it hijacks your responses, why willpower alone can't fix it, and how understanding the neuroscience behind your pain is the first step to healing it.

Dan built Healing the Hero, a nonprofit that has helped over 18,000 people reclaim their lives! This is a conversation about what it really takes to heal—for both veterans and civilians. It might just help you or someone you love.

Learn more about Healing the Hero here

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Paradox of Quitting—So That Your Work Can Live Jun 26, 2026

In this Shop Talk, we reflect on a simple question that can haunt all of this: What do we need to quit so our best work can truly live?

Featuring Erik Løkkesmoe's powerful essay "I Quit," Coach Bill explores the things that quietly pull us away from meaningful work—chasing applause, feeding the algorithm, climbing ladders, waiting for permission, and letting urgency replace purpose. Sometimes the most important step forward isn't doing more—it's having the courage to let something die.

Check out Erik’s Substack here

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The One Thing You Need Before Grit, Resilience, or Confidence (Pt 1) Jun 23, 2026

Contrary to popular belief, hope isn't a feeling. It's a formula that Dr. Ashley Cross is about to teach you about. And according to research, it's the single best predictor of wellbeing. More than grit, resilience, confidence, and it’s needed to unlock all of them.

Dr. Cross is one of the nation's leading practitioners of the "Science of Hope” through the incredible work of her Rochester nonprofit Hope 585 and now through her work advising the hope-centered movement in Memphis.

Her hope lessons in this episode might just change your life… and definitely can help many of the lives you’re serving. Learn more about her work at Hope585.org

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The One Thing You Need Before Grit, Resilience, or Confidence (Pt 2) Jun 23, 2026

Contrary to popular belief, hope isn't a feeling. It's a formula that Dr. Ashley Cross is about to teach you about. And according to research, it's the single best predictor of wellbeing. More than grit, resilience, confidence, and it’s needed to unlock all of them.

Dr. Cross is one of the nation's leading practitioners of the "Science of Hope” through the incredible work of her Rochester nonprofit Hope 585 and now through her work advising the hope-centered movement in Memphis.

Her hope lessons in this episode might just change your life… and definitely can help many of the lives you’re serving. Learn more about her work at Hope585.org

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Plane Was in the Bay. Then He Said Something Remarkable. Jun 19, 2026

In today's Shop Talk, Bill and Alex discuss the Asoh Defense — the forgotten leadership principle that says admitting your mistake honestly and immediately is more powerful than any excuse you could make.

This one's for anyone who's ever been wrong about something. So, everyone.

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He Was a Pastor With a Sex Addiction. Now He's Helped 25,000 Men Heal (Pt 1) Jun 16, 2026

Nate Larkin spent 20 years hiding a sex addiction. For 5 of those years, he was a pastor. When it was exposed and everything collapsed, it could have been the end of his story. It turned out to be the beginning.

In this conversation, Nate shares what it took to rebuild and how that journey led him and a dozen guys to start the Samson Society, a community built on radical transparency, vulnerability, and confidentiality. What started as one small group has now grown to more than 600 local chapters, daily virtual meetings in 8 languages, and has helped over 25,000 men heal!

You might benefit from the Samson Society or the newer women's version called the Sarah Society. We all know family members and friends who could. And Nate can teach all of us how to be real and live authentically.

Check out Samson Society here: https://www.samsonsociety.com/about

Join Army of Normal Folks and receive our Soul Service newsletter: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He Was a Pastor With a Sex Addiction. Now He's Helped 25,000 Men Heal (Pt 2) Jun 16, 2026

Nate Larkin spent 20 years hiding a sex addiction. For 5 of those years, he was a pastor. When it was exposed and everything collapsed, it could have been the end of his story. It turned out to be the beginning.

In this conversation, Nate shares what it took to rebuild and how that journey led him and a dozen guys to start the Samson Society, a community built on radical transparency, vulnerability, and confidentiality. What started as one small group has now grown to more than 600 local chapters, daily virtual meetings in 8 languages, and has helped over 25,000 men heal!

You might benefit from the Samson Society or the newer women's version called the Sarah Society. We all know family members and friends who could. And Nate can teach all of us how to be real and live authentically.

Check out Samson Society here: https://www.samsonsociety.com/about

Join Army of Normal Folks and receive our Soul Service newsletter: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eric Church Compared Life to a Guitar. And It Went Viral. Jun 12, 2026

Most commencement speeches are forgotten within days. But when country music star Eric Church compared life to a guitar with six strings that must stay in tune—faith, family, relationships, ambition, community, and identity—the message struck a chord with millions. In this Shop Talk, Bill and Alex unpack the viral speech and explore what it means to keep your own life in tune when the world keeps pulling you out of it.

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Generosity of Scars: How Your Hardest Moments Can Help Others Heal (Pt 1) Jun 09, 2026

After nearly taking his own life during a difficult transition from the military, retired Green Beret Scott Mann discovered an unexpected path to healing: telling the stories he most wanted to hide.

In this conversation, Scott shares lessons from combat, leading Operation Pineapple Express (rescued 1,000 Afghanis from the Taliban), and his new book, The Generosity of Scars, showing us how our hardest moments can help others feel less alone—and why the stories we're most afraid to tell may be the ones the world most needs to hear.
Buy The Generosity of Scars here

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Generosity of Scars: How Your Hardest Moments Can Help Others Heal (Pt 2) Jun 09, 2026

After nearly taking his own life during a difficult transition from the military, retired Green Beret Scott Mann discovered an unexpected path to healing: telling the stories he most wanted to hide.

In this conversation, Scott shares lessons from combat, leading Operation Pineapple Express (rescued 1,000 Afghanis from the Taliban), and his new book, The Generosity of Scars, showing us how our hardest moments can help others feel less alone—and why the stories we're most afraid to tell may be the ones the world most needs to hear.
Buy The Generosity of Scars here

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She Heard One Podcast and Drove Nine Hours to Volunteer Jun 05, 2026

For Shop Talk, the extraordinary story one Army member inspiring another one, which inspires us and hopefully you! Amy Crenshaw's nonprofit ComeUnity Cafe where you can donate money or work for your food inspired Lisa Fox to drive 9 hours from Wellington, OH to Jackson, TN to volunteer there for several days and explore if she can do something similar in her community. Listen to this episode and think: Who can inspire me to do even more?

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 7 Things Every Person Needs to Flourish (Pt 1) Jun 02, 2026

What does it actually take for a person—and a whole community—to flourish? That's the nut that Joe Woodward from Stand Together is trying to crack in Wichita, as part of their goal to make it a model city for the country. In this episode, Joe shares the 7 conditions every person needs to thrive, why healthy families and communities matter more than we realize, and how ordinary people can solve problems that institutions can't. From a $500 e-bike that transformed a single dad's life to innovative efforts tackling foster care, housing, and poverty, this conversation will challenge the way you think about service, empowerment, and your role in helping your community flourish.

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 7 Things Every Person Needs to Flourish (Pt 2) Jun 02, 2026

What does it actually take for a person—and a whole community—to flourish? That's the nut that Joe Woodward from Stand Together is trying to crack in Wichita, as part of their goal to make it a model city for the country. In this episode, Joe shares the 7 conditions every person needs to thrive, why healthy families and communities matter more than we realize, and how ordinary people can solve problems that institutions can't. From a $500 e-bike that transformed a single dad's life to innovative efforts tackling foster care, housing, and poverty, this conversation will challenge the way you think about service, empowerment, and your role in helping your community flourish.

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Christian Leader Who Challenged The Left And Right (And Maybe You) May 29, 2026

After surviving poverty, racism, violence, and a near-fatal beating, John Perkins chose a path few people ever would: forgiveness. This Shop Talk explores the life of one of America's most influential Christian leaders and his radical vision for building what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called "the beloved community."

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What Happens When You Finally Listen to Foster Kids (Pt 1) May 26, 2026

When Brian Mavis and his wife learned there were hundreds of foster kids in Colorado that nobody was stepping up to adopt, they realized the problem wasn’t that people didn’t care — it’s that they’d never truly heard the kids’ stories. In this powerful conversation, the founder of America’s Kids Belong shares how recording video testimonies of foster children transformed his life, helped more than 2,400 kids find families, and revealed an upstream solution to some of America’s largest problems. You’ll walk away with practical ways to help foster kids in your own community — whether that means adopting, fostering, supporting foster families, mentoring a child, or simply becoming the kind of adult who refuses to look away.

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What Happens When You Finally Listen to Foster Kids (Pt 2) May 26, 2026

When Brian Mavis and his wife learned there were hundreds of foster kids in Colorado that nobody was stepping up to adopt, they realized the problem wasn’t that people didn’t care — it’s that they’d never truly heard the kids’ stories. In this powerful conversation, the founder of America’s Kids Belong shares how recording video testimonies of foster children transformed his life, helped more than 2,400 kids find families, and revealed an upstream solution to some of America’s largest problems. You’ll walk away with practical ways to help foster kids in your own community — whether that means adopting, fostering, supporting foster families, mentoring a child, or simply becoming the kind of adult who refuses to look away.

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They Came For Food. They Left With Financial Freedom May 22, 2026

What if many food pantries (and other types of nonprofits) are solving the wrong problem? This week on Shop Talk, Birch Community Services reveals a radically different model that helps families escape financial instability — and offers lessons that could reshape how you think about service, dignity, and what it actually takes to help people flourish.

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hidden Crisis Facing 14 Million Single Parent Families (Pt 1) May 19, 2026

Unannounced, Robert Beeson's ex-wife abandoned him and their 3 young daughters one morning. In this important episode, he vulnerably shares why single parents suffer in silence and how there were almost no resources available to 14 million fellow Americans in his position.

So Robert did what every member of Army of Normal Folks does—he saw a need and he’s filling it. Today, his nonprofit “Solo Parent” has support groups in 18 states, on Army bases, worldwide virtually, a podcast, and they’ve impacted 220,000 families so far!

You will learn about an incredible resource that either you need, or someone you know needs. Because we all know Solo Parents.

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hidden Crisis Facing 14 Million Single Parent Families (Pt 2) May 19, 2026

Unannounced, Robert Beeson's ex-wife abandoned him and their 3 young daughters one morning. In this important episode, he vulnerably shares why single parents suffer in silence and how there were almost no resources available to 14 million fellow Americans in his position.

So Robert did what every member of Army of Normal Folks does—he saw a need and he’s filling it. Today, his nonprofit “Solo Parent” has support groups in 18 states, on Army bases, worldwide virtually, a podcast, and they’ve impacted 220,000 families so far!

You will learn about an incredible resource that either you need, or someone you know needs. Because we all know Solo Parents.

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

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What If Success Isn’t What America Told You It Was? May 15, 2026

What happens when a self-made millionaire realizes he’s losing everything that actually matters? This episode tells the unbelievable true story of Millard Fuller giving away $10 million (in today's dollars), intentionally making himself poor, and expectedly building one of the most well-known charities in America.

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70% of Foster Families Quit—And You Can Help Change That (Pt 1) May 12, 2026

Within 3 years, 70% of foster families stop fostering—not because they don’t care, but often because they’re overwhelmed and unsupported. In this powerful conversation, Joshua Conley shares how Foster Village Memphis is helping keep foster families going through practical support, community, and relationships that change everything. Joshua will show you how your smalls act of support can make all the difference in the world!

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70% of Foster Families Quit—And You Can Help Change That (Pt 2) May 12, 2026

Within 3 years, 70% of foster families stop fostering—not because they don’t care, but often because they’re overwhelmed and unsupported. In this powerful conversation, Joshua Conley shares how Foster Village Memphis is helping keep foster families going through practical support, community, and relationships that change everything. Joshua will show you how your smalls act of support can make all the difference in the world!

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The Plane Ride That Turned Steve Young Into an MVP (And Can Change Your Life) May 08, 2026

In this episode of Shop Talk, we unpack the unexpected plane ride conversation that transformed Steve Young from being stuck in victim mode into an NFL MVP — and why Stephen Covey’s challenge to “find out how good you can get” applies far beyond football. It’s a powerful story about ownership, mindset, and the moment you stop making excuses and start becoming who you’re capable of being.

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How Former Gangsters Pulled 1,000 People Out of Gang Life (Pt 1) May 05, 2026

How do you convince someone to walk away from a life they’d die for? In this episode, former gang member Beni Santibanez shares how “Hope 4 Da Hood” has helped over 1,000 people leave gang life by exposing their lie of loyalty and helping them discover their true identity & value. It’s a raw look at transformation and how you can help people break cycles that most never escape.

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How Former Gangsters Pulled 1,000 People Out of Gang Life (Pt 2) May 05, 2026

How do you convince someone to walk away from a life they’d die for? In this episode, former gang member Beni Santibanez shares how “Hope 4 Da Hood” has helped over 1,000 people leave gang life by exposing their lie of loyalty and helping them discover their true identity & value. It’s a raw look at transformation and how you can help people break cycles that most never escape.

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The Hidden Reason You Feel Overwhelmed—And It’s Not Your Schedule May 01, 2026

This Shop Talk gets into a hard truth: you don’t feel overwhelmed because your schedule is full—you feel overwhelmed because of expectations. We unpack why the very thing many are cutting—service and connection—might actually be the thing holding your life together.

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Why Your “Safe Life” Isn’t Actually Safe (Pt 1) Apr 28, 2026

If every part of a community doesn't have the opportunity to flourish, the community can't flourish. Violence will penetrate your safety and all of us will suffer. Greg Spillyards felt convicted to shift from transactional real estate that made him more money to projects focused on transforming Memphis' forgotten places. And his story will show you how to make a deeper impact without leaving your career.

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Why Your “Safe Life” Isn’t Actually Safe (Pt 2) Apr 28, 2026

If every part of a community doesn't have the opportunity to flourish, the community can't flourish. Violence will penetrate your safety and all of us will suffer. Greg Spillyards felt convicted to shift from transactional real estate that made him more money to projects focused on transforming Memphis' forgotten places. And his story will show you how to make a deeper impact without leaving your career.

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How to Build a Life That 10,000 People Show Up For Apr 24, 2026

A 24-year-old man dies—and over 10,000 people show up to his funeral, revealing a hidden life of quietly showing up for others. This Shop Talk explores how Pier Giorgio Frassati built that kind of life—and how you can too.

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9/11 Isn’t History. It’s Still Happening (Pt 1) Apr 21, 2026

2,977 people died on 9/11—but the tragedy didn’t end that day. Since then, over 3,000 people have died from Ground Zero-related illnesses, including 409 FDNY firefighters—more than died on the day itself. Niels Jorgensen was part of a whole Army of Normal Folks who put their own lives at risk by volunteering to clean up Ground Zero for 8 months and he contracted the rarest form of leukemia that nearly killed him. This episode reveals the part of 9/11 that most Americans have never been told: it’s still claiming lives.

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9/11 Isn’t History. It’s Still Happening (Pt 2) Apr 21, 2026

2,977 people died on 9/11—but the tragedy didn’t end that day. Since then, over 3,000 people have died from Ground Zero-related illnesses, including 409 FDNY firefighters—more than died on the day itself. Niels Jorgensen was part of a whole Army of Normal Folks who put their own lives at risk by volunteering to clean up Ground Zero for 8 months and he contracted the rarest form of leukemia that nearly killed him. This episode reveals the part of 9/11 that most Americans have never been told: it’s still claiming lives.

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How Service Became Someone Else’s Job Apr 17, 2026

Service didn’t disappear—it got outsourced. In this Shop Talk, we unpack the trend of nonprofits shifting from relying on volunteers to paid staff members, how it’s weakening our communities—and why reclaiming responsibility starts with normal folks like you choosing to show up.

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How To Find Light in Life’s Darkest Corners (Pt 1) Apr 14, 2026

Most people don’t find purpose after losing a child—Joe Herr did. After his 4 year-old son died from complications of having cerebral palsy, he started Logan’s Heart and Smiles, a nonprofit that’s helped 450 other families with disabilities by building wheelchair ramps and home modifications —and showing us how service can bring light to the darkest corners of our lives (and the lives of others).

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How To Find Light in Life’s Darkest Corners (Pt 2) Apr 14, 2026

Most people don’t find purpose after losing a child—Joe Herr did. After his 4 year-old son died from complications of having cerebral palsy, he started Logan’s Heart and Smiles, a nonprofit that’s helped 450 other families with disabilities by building wheelchair ramps and home modifications —and showing us how service can bring light to the darkest corners of our lives (and the lives of others).

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Why Your Worst Mistake Doesn't Have to Define You Apr 10, 2026

In this Shop Talk, we unpack how Kobe Bryant’s powerful redemption story proves that your worst mistakes don't have to define you. And how An Army of Normal Folks can make a difference, even when our stories aren’t perfect!

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The Crazy Pastor Teaching Us The Right Kind of Crazy (Pt 1) Apr 07, 2026

Pastor Corey Brooks has helped transform the most violent area of Chicago into one that’s not in even in the top 35! And he’s done it by being utterly crazy—sleeping on a rooftop for 343 days in the Chicago winter to raise money, literally walking across America, and building a $40 million community center in the hood because they deserve it. Brooks will teach you how to act crazy (if you need to), as long as it’s just and for a just cause.

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The Crazy Pastor Teaching Us The Right Kind of Crazy (Pt 2) Apr 07, 2026

Pastor Corey Brooks has helped transform the most violent area of Chicago into one that’s not in even in the top 35! And he’s done it by being utterly crazy—sleeping on a rooftop for 343 days in the Chicago winter to raise money, literally walking across America, and building a $40 million community center in the hood because they deserve it. Brooks will teach you how to act crazy (if you need to), as long as it’s just and for a just cause.

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What Zig Ziglar Got Right (And Modern Self-Help Gets Wrong) Apr 03, 2026

Zig Ziglar didn’t build his success on hype or shortcuts—he built it on discipline, service, and helping others win first. In this Shop Talk, we break down the simple principles that can improve how you live, work, and serve—and why modern self-help has made them far more complicated than they need to be.

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25,000 Babies Experience Withdrawal Every Year—So This Mom Took Action (Pt 1) Mar 31, 2026

Every year, 25,000 babies experience withdrawal from addictive substances after birth. Jill Kingston saw this up close as the very first 2 babies that she decided to decide to foster were withdrawing from heroin. This normal mom felt convicted to do even more and so she founded Brigid’s Path, which helps both these newborns and their parents to heal. And they’re so successful that when 70% of these babies enter foster care, 85% of their babies remain with their families! You’ll walk away from this episode believing that you don’t have to feel qualified to solve a problem—you just have to start.

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25,000 Babies Experience Withdrawal Every Year—So This Mom Took Action (Pt 2) Mar 31, 2026

Every year, 25,000 babies experience withdrawal from addictive substances after birth. Jill Kingston saw this up close as the very first 2 babies that she decided to decide to foster were withdrawing from heroin. This normal mom felt convicted to do even more and so she founded Brigid’s Path, which helps both these newborns and their parents to heal. And they’re so successful that when 70% of these babies enter foster care, 85% of their babies remain with their families! You’ll walk away from this episode believing that you don’t have to feel qualified to solve a problem—you just have to start.

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Wanna Make A Difference? Join An Army of Normal Babymakers! Mar 27, 2026

America’s birth rates have fallen below replacement level—we’re no longer having enough children to sustain the country. In this Shop Talk, we explore why building and supporting families might be one of the most radical acts of hope—and service—there is.

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You Walk Past Them—Here’s How to Actually Help (Pt 1) Mar 24, 2026

Most of us walk past someone on the street because we don’t know how to help—or if it will even make a difference. Jonathan Kumar built Samaritan to change that, giving normal folks a simple way to offer relational and financial support that empowers people experiencing homelessness. They’ve helped over 5,000 people so far and they need us, An Army of Normal Folks, in the game to serve the over 650,000 people who experience homelessness!

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You Walk Past Them—Here’s How to Actually Help (Pt 2) Mar 24, 2026

Most of us walk past someone on the street because we don’t know how to help—or if it will even make a difference. Jonathan Kumar built Samaritan to change that, giving normal folks a simple way to offer relational and financial support that empowers people experiencing homelessness. They’ve helped over 5,000 people so far and they need us, An Army of Normal Folks, in the game to serve the over 650,000 people who experience homelessness!

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What Happens When a Country Stops Living Together Mar 20, 2026

Charles Murray’s book Coming Apart revealed a hard truth: we stopped living with people who aren’t exactly like us. This Shop Talk looks at the destruction it birthed and how proximity can bring us back together again.

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The American Dream Needs Mentors—Here’s How You Can Help (Pt 1) Mar 17, 2026

Is the American Dream real if you lack access to the Holy Trinity of mentors, education, and capital? The truth is that it's a distant dream for too many Americans. In this episode, Sky’s the Limit co-founder Bo Ghirardelli shares how he built the leading digital platform for connecting 100,000 underrepresented entrepreneurs to all three, including 10,000 mentors! And how the American Dream needs us—An Army of Normal Folks—to be fully realized for all Americans.

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The American Dream Needs Mentors—Here’s How You Can Help (Pt 2) Mar 17, 2026

Is the American Dream real if you lack access to the Holy Trinity of mentors, education, and capital? The truth is that it's a distant dream for too many Americans. In this episode, Sky’s the Limit co-founder Bo Ghirardelli shares how he built the leading digital platform for connecting 100,000 underrepresented entrepreneurs to all three, including 10,000 mentors! And how the American Dream needs us—An Army of Normal Folks—to be fully realized for all Americans.

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The Soldier Who Stared Down a Nazi Officer—and Saved 200 Lives Mar 13, 2026

After being captured at the Battle of the Bulge, Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds unexpectedly became the commanding officer of 1,200 American POWs. The Nazis demanded that he present the Jewish American soldiers to them and his heroic response risked his own life—and ultimately saved over 200 Jewish lives! The newly announced Medal of Honor recipient will teach you what real moral courage looks like.

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How One Person Can Fix a Broken Justice System (Pt 1) Mar 10, 2026

After helping free his childhood friend who spent 18 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, Georgetown professor Marc Howard couldn’t return to his normal life. Instead, he built programs that have exonerated 13 innocent people, educated 250 incarcerated people, helped 150 people return to society, and have brought to normal folks into 30 prisons across the country. This powerful conversation challenges us to rethink justice, redemption, and the role each of us can play in bringing light into broken systems.

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How One Person Can Fix a Broken Justice System (Pt 2) Mar 10, 2026

After helping free his childhood friend who spent 18 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, Georgetown professor Marc Howard couldn’t return to his normal life. Instead, he built programs that have exonerated 13 innocent people, educated 250 incarcerated people, helped 150 people return to society, and have brought to normal folks into 30 prisons across the country. This powerful conversation challenges us to rethink justice, redemption, and the role each of us can play in bringing light into broken systems.

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What An 18-Year-Old Can Teach Us About Pride, Purpose, and Work Mar 06, 2026

An 18-year-old clocked into Burger King on his graduation night—not because he had to, but because his teammates needed him to. In this Shop Talk, we unpack how his quiet dedication sparked a viral ripple of generosity and what it can teach all of us about pride, purpose, and work.

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The Preacher Developer: How to Change Your Neighborhood Without Moving Away (Pt 1) Mar 03, 2026

Most people think success means getting out of the hood. Reverend Kevass Harding chose to stay—and is a highly unusual preacher who will have developed 50 affordable homes by the end of the year and generational change in the very Wichita neighborhood that raised him. In this episode, you’ll learn a practical blueprint for turning your own zip code into a place of opportunity instead of escape.

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The Preacher Developer: How to Change Your Neighborhood Without Moving Away (Pt 2) Mar 03, 2026

Most people think success means getting out of the hood. Reverend Kevass Harding chose to stay—and is a highly unusual preacher who will have developed 50 affordable homes by the end of the year and generational change in the very Wichita neighborhood that raised him. In this episode, you’ll learn a practical blueprint for turning your own zip code into a place of opportunity instead of escape.

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What Happens When You See the Person Everyone Else Ignores Feb 27, 2026

Before Helen Keller changed the world, someone saw her when others didn’t. This Shop Talk is a reminder that how normal people like us can quietly unlock extraordinary potential.

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How to Turn Your Spending Into Someone's Second Chance. Or First Chance (Pt 1) Feb 24, 2026

What if the thing that changed someone’s life wasn’t charity — but a purchase?

In this episode, Lauren McCann shares the deeply personal story of her brother’s struggles with mental health, addiction, and homelessness — and the $10,000 art purchase that helped spark his transformation. That moment didn’t only restore his confidence, it also inspired Lauren to build Procure Impact, an extraordinary marketplace connecting businesses to mission-driven suppliers such as ones who employ survivors of trafficking, people in recovery, adults with disabilities, and those returning from prison.

You’ll learn why opportunity often works better than intervention, how bottom-up solutions outperform top-down programs, and how your everyday spending decisions can become part of your service journey. This conversation might just change the way you think about helping others.

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How to Turn Your Spending Into Someone's Second Chance. Or First Chance (Pt 2) Feb 24, 2026

What if the thing that changed someone’s life wasn’t charity — but a purchase?

In this episode, Lauren McCann shares the deeply personal story of her brother’s struggles with mental health, addiction, and homelessness — and the $10,000 art purchase that helped spark his transformation. That moment didn’t only restore his confidence, it also inspired Lauren to build Procure Impact, an extraordinary marketplace connecting businesses to mission-driven suppliers such as ones who employ survivors of trafficking, people in recovery, and those returning from prison.

You’ll learn why opportunity often works better than intervention, how bottom-up solutions outperform top-down programs, and how your everyday spending decisions can become part of your service journey. This conversation might just change the way you think about helping others.

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How America Lost “We” — And How You Can Help Rebuild It Today Feb 20, 2026

America wasn’t always this divided or isolated from one another. In this Shop Talk, Coach Bill unpacks Robert Putnam’s fascinating research on the historical forces that pulled us apart — and the simple, local actions normal folks can take right now to bring “we” back to their communities.

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What If We Stopped Treating People Like Mascots? (Pt 1) Feb 17, 2026

What if the problem isn’t a lack of compassion—but a lack of expectation? Ruth Thompson was preparing for retirement when a literal dream led her to open Hugs Cafe, an incredible restaurant in McKinney, TX that employs adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In this episode, you’ll learn why lowering the bar hurts people, how raising it changes lives, and what happens when normal folks decide to stop clapping for effort—and start training for excellence.

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What If We Stopped Treating People Like Mascots? (Pt 2) Feb 17, 2026

What if the problem isn’t a lack of compassion—but a lack of expectation? Ruth Thompson was preparing for retirement when a literal dream led her to open Hugs Cafe, an incredible restaurant in McKinney, TX that employs adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In this episode, you’ll learn why lowering the bar hurts people, how raising it changes lives, and what happens when normal folks decide to stop clapping for effort—and start training for excellence.

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We Don’t Need More Heroes. We Need More Bowling Leagues Feb 13, 2026

For Shop Talk, we unpack Robert Putnam's monumental book "Bowling Alone" and the collapse of the civic habits that once held our communities together — from church groups to bowling leagues. And what we as Army members are going to do about it!

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If You’ve Never Failed, You’ve Never Done Anything Worth Doing (Pt 1) Feb 10, 2026

At 19 years old, King Randall put aside his own self-interest and started taking care of other people’s kids in Albany, Georgia, which has the highest concentrated poverty rate in the state. His summer school program grew into The X School for Boys, a private school that is completely free to 25 families and has hundreds of kids on its waitlist. And King’s social media accounts have grown to over 1 million followers for the same reason that he’s our guest, this dude will teach you about being all-in like no one else!

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If You’ve Never Failed, You’ve Never Done Anything Worth Doing (Pt 2) Feb 10, 2026

At 19 years old, King Randall put aside his own self-interest and started taking care of other people’s kids in Albany, Georgia, which has the highest concentrated poverty rate in the state. His summer school program grew into The X School for Boys, a private school that is completely free to 25 families and has hundreds of kids on its waitlist. And King’s social media accounts have grown to over 1 million followers for the same reason that he’s our guest, this dude will teach you about being all-in like no one else!

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When Normal Folks Became “2nd Responders” Feb 06, 2026

For Shop Talk, we dive into the worst ice storm to ever hit the American South. And the Oxford, MS citizens who became a relentless Army of bloody do-gooders!

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Who Builds a Pro-Bowler? The Heroic Normal Folks Behind Demario Davis (Pt 1) Feb 03, 2026

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis has spent 14 years in the NFL as one of its most respected leaders on and off the field. We could have talked with him about how he’s a two-time Pro-Bowler and his team’s nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, but instead we celebrated his own Army of Normal Folks who’ve supported his greatness— a single mom who gave birth to him at 16, a grandmother who helped raise him, a chaplain who dared to ask him the hard questions, and a wife who has been his rock. His story will show you how your greatest impact just might be some radical love to those surrounding you!

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Who Builds a Pro-Bowler? The Heroic Normal Folks Behind Demario Davis (Pt 2) Feb 03, 2026

New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis has spent 14 years in the NFL as one of its most respected leaders on and off the field. We could have talked with him about how he’s a two-time Pro-Bowler and his team’s nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award, but instead we celebrated his own Army of Normal Folks who’ve supported his greatness— a single mom who gave birth to him at 16, a grandmother who helped raise him, a chaplain who dared to ask him the hard questions, and a wife who has been his rock. His story will show you how your greatest impact just might be some radical love to those surrounding you!

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How Paying Attention Could Help You Save a Life Jan 30, 2026

A mail carrier trusted her gut, made one call, and saved a life. In this Shop Talk, we unpack why paying attention to the people around us is one of the simplest—and most powerful—ways normal folks can make a real difference.

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How To Transform Your Worst Pain Into Unstoppable Purpose (Pt 1) Jan 27, 2026

After mixing antidepressants and alcohol, Christie Luther hit someone with her car and they died. She spent 4.5 years in prison, where she discovered her purpose to create Oklahoma’s first cosmetology school inside a woman’s correctional facility. The R.I.S.E. Program has had 286 students and only 1 of them has ended up back in prison, which is unheard of! And while Christie still lives with extraordinary regret and shame, she will show you how to keep living and transform your worst pain into unstoppable purpose.

To learn more about R.I.S.E, visit riseprograminc.com

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How To Transform Your Worst Pain Into Unstoppable Purpose (Pt 2) Jan 27, 2026

After mixing antidepressants and alcohol, Christie Luther hit someone with her car and they died. She spent 4.5 years in prison, where she discovered her purpose to create Oklahoma’s first cosmetology school inside a woman’s correctional facility. The R.I.S.E. Program has had 286 students and only 1 of them has ended up back in prison, which is unheard of! And while Christie still lives with extraordinary regret and shame, she will show you how to keep living and transform your worst pain into unstoppable purpose.

To learn more about R.I.S.E, visit riseprograminc.com

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Be A Mankiller (But Don't Kill Nobody) Jan 23, 2026

For Shop Talk, we bring you Wilma Mankiller's powerful commencement address. No joke, this lady is Coach Bill's spirit animal!

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How to Love a Child Without Erasing Their Past (Pt 1) Jan 20, 2026

At 50 years old, Charlotte Dance had a 2 year old child placed in her lap. And instead of walking away, Charlotte not only legally adopted the child, she also informally adopted his broken family. She even says that they adopted her too! This episode will teach you about finding love in the most unexpected places like no other story.

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How to Love a Child Without Erasing Their Past (Pt 2) Jan 20, 2026

At 50 years old, Charlotte Dance had a 2 year old child placed in her lap. And instead of walking away, Charlotte not only legally adopted the child, she also informally adopted his broken family. She even says that they adopted her too! This episode will teach you about finding love in the most unexpected places like no other story.

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How Behavior Spreads — Why We Need 20% Of Public To Win Jan 16, 2026

Real change doesn’t start with convincing a majority of the public — it starts with a visible minority. In this Shop Talk, we unpack why movements tip when just 20–25% of people act consistently & visibly, and what that means for transforming our communities.

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Second Place to Peyton Manning: And Other Lessons That Will Level Up Your Life (Pt 1) Jan 13, 2026

For our Supporting Greatness series, two-time Emmy-nominated cartoonist Marshall Ramsey celebrates the Army of Normal Folks that shaped his life. And how we can be that Army for those around us. Plus, his fascinating stories about Peyton Manning, Barbara Bush, and his cousin Dave (yes, that Dave).

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Second Place to Peyton Manning: And Other Lessons That Will Level Up Your Life (Pt 2) Jan 13, 2026

For our Supporting Greatness series, two-time Emmy-nominated cartoonist Marshall Ramsey celebrates the Army of Normal Folks that shaped his life. And how we can be that Army for those around us. Plus, his fascinating stories about Peyton Manning, Barbara Bush, and his cousin Dave (yes, that Dave).

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You Don’t Rise to the Moment — You Fall to Your Training Jan 09, 2026

For Shop Talk, we reflect on a dead Greek poet's wisdom, how an alive Salvadoran immigrant is the perfect example of it, and what we need to do be the heroes we're meant to be.

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They Call Us The Catholic Hippies (Pt 1) Jan 06, 2026

Do you ever wrestle with how our country’s extraordinary wealth and problems co-exist? Or yearn for a deeper sense of community where we have each other’s backs? Then you’re going to cherish this episode with Jordan Schiele, the co-founder of a Catholic intentional community called Jerusalem Farm. These Catholic hippies, as their neighbors in Kansas City originally called them, live together without salaries and have completed over 300 home repair projects in the last 5 years alone!

Learn more: jerusalemfarm.org

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They Call Us The Catholic Hippies (Pt 2) Jan 06, 2026

Do you ever wrestle with how our country’s extraordinary wealth and problems co-exist? Or yearn for a deeper sense of community where we have each other’s backs? Then you’re going to cherish this episode with Jordan Schiele, the co-founder of a Catholic intentional community called Jerusalem Farm. These Catholic hippies, as their neighbors in Kansas City originally called them, live together without salaries and have completed over 300 home repair projects in the last 5 years alone!

Learn more: jerusalemfarm.org

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Marry Your Best Friend, Don't Be Boring, Stay Faithful Jan 02, 2026

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill shares his 3 keys to a successful marriage!

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What To Do If Wine, Netflix, and "Self-Care" Aren’t Making You Happy (Pt 1) Dec 30, 2025

Society tells us that self-care makes us happy, but Melissa O’Neil discovered that it doesn’t. She’s found happiness through building an identity of someone who serves. Sometimes that shows up in large ways like fostering two boys and other times in smaller, yet meaningful ways like helping a nonprofit write thank you notes. Melissa will show you how to find meaning in every season of life!

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What To Do If Wine, Netflix, and "Self-Care" Aren’t Making You Happy (Pt 2) Dec 30, 2025

Society tells us that self-care makes us happy, but Melissa O’Neil discovered that it doesn’t. She’s found happiness through building an identity of someone who serves. Sometimes that shows up in large ways like fostering two boys and other times in smaller, yet meaningful ways like helping a nonprofit write thank you notes. Melissa will show you how to find meaning in every season of life!

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Is Coach Bill Bad for the Environment?! Dec 26, 2025

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill pontificates on the bad wrap that the lumber industry gets about chopping down trees. When the reality is that their work leads to more trees and so many other fascinating environmental benefits!

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How To Keep Going: When You Literally Lose Your Face. Or Anything Else (Pt 1) Dec 23, 2025

Pat Hardison was a volunteer firefighter, dad, and small business owner when one call changed his life forever. After literally losing his face in a fire and enduring more than 70 surgeries, Pat took the risk of undergoing the most extensive face transplant in history. This episode will show you how to keep going when facing obstacles…. or in Pat’s case losing almost everything.
Check out Pat’s new book Facing The Fire: https://lnk.to/FacingTheFireEP

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How To Keep Going: When You Literally Lose Your Face. Or Anything Else (Pt 2) Dec 23, 2025

Pat Hardison was a volunteer firefighter, dad, and small business owner when one call changed his life forever. After literally losing his face in a fire and enduring more than 70 surgeries, Pat took the risk of undergoing the most extensive face transplant in history. This episode will show you how to keep going when facing obstacles…. or in Pat’s case losing almost everything.
Check out Pat’s new book Facing The Fire: https://lnk.to/FacingTheFireEP

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What A Pencil Can Teach You And Me Dec 19, 2025

For Shop Talk, we dive into the origin story of a pencil and what lessons it has for An Army of Normal Folks. We bet you didn’t see that one coming!

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James Fox: The Dude Who Brought Yoga To Prisons (Pt 1) Dec 16, 2025

James is the founder of Prison Yoga Project, which brings trauma-informed yoga to prisoners to help them heal and rehabilitate. And last year 57,000 prisoners attended their programming! This life-changing work is led by their own Army of Normal Folks who are facilitators.

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James Fox: The Dude Who Brought Yoga To Prisons (Pt 2) Dec 16, 2025

James is the founder of Prison Yoga Project, which brings trauma-informed yoga to prisoners to help them heal and rehabilitate. And last year 57,000 prisoners attended their programming! This life-changing work is led by their own Army of Normal Folks who are facilitators.

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The Contribution Gap…. And What We’re Doing About It Dec 12, 2025

For Shop Talk, we dive into the reality that only 33% of Americans are contributing in their community at the level they’d like. And what we plan to do about it.

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Lydia and Scott Rosencrants: The Normal Folks Who Adopted 11 Kids (Pt 1) Dec 09, 2025

Lydia and Scott Rosencrants have 13 children, 11 of which are adopted and 8 of them have some form of intellectual or physical disability. They didn’t set out to adopt this many kids, but they clearly answered the call a lot of times. And Lydia is the President of our local chapter in Memphis that’s launching soon!

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Lydia and Scott Rosencrants: The Normal Folks Who Adopted 11 Kids (Pt 2) Dec 09, 2025

Lydia and Scott Rosencrants have 13 children, 11 of which are adopted and 8 of them have some form of intellectual or physical disability. They didn’t set out to adopt this many kids, but they clearly answered the call a lot of times. And Lydia is the President of our local chapter in Memphis that’s launching soon!

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We Need To Look In The Mirror About Lane Kiffin Dec 05, 2025

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill shares his outside-the-box take on the Lane Kiffin saga. Even if you're not a college football fan, there's life lessons for our own lives and for the Army in this story!

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Gabrielle Clowdus: We All Have Homelessness In Us (Pt 1) Dec 02, 2025

Dr. Gabrielle Clowdus is the founder of Settled, which helps churches build "Sacred Settlements", tiny home villages on their property where people experiencing homelessness and church members live in community. When she started this work of radical hospitality, she believed it was a homelessness ministry. Today, she believes that it's a ministry to all of us, as we all have some homelessness in us!

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Gabrielle Clowdus: We All Have Homelessness In Us (Pt 2) Dec 02, 2025

Dr. Gabrielle Clowdus is the founder of Settled, which helps churches build "Sacred Settlements", tiny home villages on their property where people experiencing homelessness and church members live in community. When she started this work of radical hospitality, she believed it was a homelessness ministry. Today, she believes that it's a ministry to all of us, as we all have some homelessness in us!

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Why Did Life Expectancy Grow By 4 Decades?! Nov 28, 2025

For Shop Talk, we explore why did human life expectancy stick around 30-40 years old for thousands of years and then suddenly increased by 4 decades in less than 200 years!

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Lisa Steven: The Former Teen Mom Empowering Teen Moms (Pt 1) Nov 25, 2025

Lisa Steven is a former teen mom who went on to build the only home for teen moms in the entire state of Colorado. Their resource center serves over 280 teen moms per year with free empowerment programming and early childhood education. And now 3 other communities have adopted their model!

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Lisa Steven: The Former Teen Mom Empowering Teen Moms (Pt 2) Nov 25, 2025

Lisa Steven is a former teen mom who went on to build the only home for teen moms in the entire state of Colorado. Their resource center serves over 280 teen moms per year with free empowerment programming and early childhood education. And now 3 other communities have adopted their model!

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The Happiest Man on Earth Nov 21, 2025

For Shop Talk, we bring you Army member Anita Marin's awesome recommendation to learn from Eddie Jaku, the Holocaust survivor who called himself the happiest man on earth!

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Steve Wanta: How To Loan Money 100% of The Time (Pt 1) Nov 18, 2025

Steve Wanta is the co-founder of JUST, a nonprofit lender to 14,000 black and brown female entrepreneurs in Texas. And because they’ve built an unheard of system based on trust and community, they’re achieving unheard of results such as loaning money to 100% of applicants while also being repaid 99% of the time!

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Steve Wanta: How To Loan Money 100% of The Time (Pt 2) Nov 18, 2025

Steve Wanta is the co-founder of JUST, a nonprofit lender to 14,000 black and brown female entrepreneurs in Texas. And because they’ve built an unheard of system based on trust and community, they’re achieving unheard of results such as loaning money to 100% of applicants while also being repaid 99% of the time!

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Man's Search for Meaning Nov 14, 2025

For Shop Talk, we dive into Victor Frankl's monumental book, which he wrote in just 9 days after being liberated from a Nazi concentration camp!

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Mik And Tracy Taylor: The Faces of Transracial Adoption (Pt 1) Nov 11, 2025

Transracial adoption is a term that we didn’t know, until we met the Taylors. The black couple adopted 2 white kids and 1 black kid. And we have a fascinating conversation about love, hate, stereotypes, and redemption!

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Mik And Tracy Taylor: The Faces of Transracial Adoption (Pt 2) Nov 11, 2025

Transracial adoption is a term that we didn’t know, until we met the Taylors. The black couple adopted 2 white kids and 1 black kid. And we have a fascinating conversation about love, hate, stereotypes, and redemption!

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What Kids Said About How to Get Them Off Their Phones Nov 07, 2025

For Shop Talk, we bring you fascinating data and wisdom from the righteous troublemakers known as Jonathan Haidt, Lenore Skenazy, and Zach Rausch.

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Vanessa Elias: The Block Party Revolution (Pt 1) Nov 04, 2025

When Vanessa Elias saw a rise of incivility in her Connecticut town, she rallied citizens to host 40 neighborhood block parties that had 1,200 attendees, so that people can get to know their neighbors, realize that they don’t hate them, and even enjoy them. It got so much attention that she started Block Party USA to spread this simple solution across the country!

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Vanessa Elias: The Block Party Revolution (Pt 2) Nov 04, 2025

When Vanessa Elias saw a rise of incivility in her Connecticut town, she rallied citizens to host 40 neighborhood block parties that had 1,200 attendees, so that people can get to know their neighbors, realize that they don’t hate them, and even enjoy them. It got so much attention that she started Block Party USA to spread this simple solution across the country!

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Freed Slaves Bought A Plantation?! Oct 31, 2025

For Shop Talk, we tell the extraordinary story of Madison Park. If freed slaves can figure out how to buy a plantation and build a self-sustaining community, what do you think An Army of Normal Folks in 2025 can achieve?!

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Kellie Lauth: How 25 Students Came To Own Patents! (Pt 1) Oct 28, 2025

At a time when 67% of students are not at grade level, Kellie Lauth is revolutionizing education in America. Her nonprofit MindSpark is spreading an innovative approach called problem-based learning like wildfire across the country. And it’s resulted in over 25 of their students owning patents, starting dozens of companies, and a 15% improvement in STEM and literacy achievement!

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Kellie Lauth: How 25 Students Came To Own Patents! (Pt 2) Oct 28, 2025

At a time when 67% of students are not at grade level, Kellie Lauth is revolutionizing education in America. Her nonprofit MindSpark is spreading an innovative approach called problem-based learning like wildfire across the country. And it’s resulted in over 25 of their students owning patents, starting dozens of companies, and a 15% improvement in STEM and literacy achievement!

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Guess How Much Family Meals Have Declined By?! Oct 24, 2025

You'll have to listen to this edition of Shop Talk to get the answer. Plus, some fascinating data on the impact of family meals on our well-being.

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Atticus LeBlanc: Co-Living Is The Answer (Pt 1) Oct 21, 2025

Atticus LeBlanc is the founder of PadSplit, the largest co-living marketplace in America. It’s like the Airbnb for room rentals, which both saves renters an average of $366 a month and can make property owners 2x as much money. Say hello to the solution to our affordable housing crisis that’s hiding in plain sight!

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Atticus LeBlanc: Co-Living Is The Answer (Pt 2) Oct 21, 2025

Atticus LeBlanc is the founder of PadSplit, the largest co-living marketplace in America. It’s like the Airbnb for room rentals, which both saves renters an average of $366 a month and can make property owners 2x as much money. Say hello to the solution to our affordable housing crisis that’s hiding in plain sight!

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The Kids Who Might Have Saved The Civil Rights Movement Oct 17, 2025

For Shop Talk, when An Army of Normal Teenage Protestors inspired the adults to get back into the game. The little known story of The Children's Crusade!

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Bob Lupton: My Charity Was Toxic. Is Yours? (Pt 1) Oct 14, 2025

Bob Lupton moved into inner-city Atlanta, where he learned the hard lesson that most of his charitable work was toxic. This led him to radically change how he showed up. And to write the bestselling book Toxic Charity that rocked our world and likely will rock yours.

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Bob Lupton: My Charity Was Toxic. Is Yours? (Pt 2) Oct 14, 2025

Bob Lupton moved into inner-city Atlanta, where he learned the hard lesson that most of his charitable work was toxic. This led him to radically change how he showed up. And to write the bestselling book Toxic Charity that rocked our world and likely will rock yours.

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Closing the Loop Oct 10, 2025

For Shop Talk, we deep dive into 211, a nationwide helpline which fields over 16 million requests each year and how a brand-new solution is helping to close the loop on these calls. The story offers great lessons for Army members and a way that you might be able to help the 211 system.

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Adrianne Hillman: My Sneaky Way To Teach People To Love Better (Pt 1) Oct 07, 2025

Adrianne's home of Tulare County has the highest rate of chronically unsheltered homelessness in America, with over 2,500 people experiencing homelessness in a county of 484,000. Despite not wanting to take action, Adrianne felt convicted that she must and her nonprofit Salt + Light built The Neighborhood Village, a brand-new community of 50 housing units with onsite whole-person care. Community changes everything and teaches all of us to love each other better.

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Adrianne Hillman: My Sneaky Way To Teach People To Love Better (Pt 2) Oct 07, 2025

Adrianne's home of Tulare County has the highest rate of chronically unsheltered homelessness in America, with over 2,500 people experiencing homelessness in a county of 484,000. Despite not wanting to take action, Adrianne felt convicted that she must and her nonprofit Salt + Light built The Neighborhood Village, a brand-new community of 50 housing units with onsite whole-person care. Community changes everything and teaches all of us to love each other better.

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The Rising Violence and Assassination Culture Oct 03, 2025

For Shop Talk, we reflect on the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the disturbing share of Americans who think such actions are justified, and what An Army of Normal Folks can do about it.

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Chris Brewster: We Don't Love Kids in Oklahoma (Pt 1) Sep 30, 2025

When 80% of kids aren't reading on grade level in Oklahoma, Chris Brewster believes that they don't love kids in his state. His wife told him "Suck it up princess, get to work" and so Chris did. He founded Santa Fe South Schools, which has an inner-city population of 5,000 students that usually score in the bottom 5-10% in the state, but their elementary and early childhood students are in the top 5-10%!

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Chris Brewster: We Don't Love Kids in Oklahoma (Pt 2) Sep 30, 2025

When 80% of kids aren't reading on grade level in Oklahoma, Chris Brewster believes that they don't love kids in his state. His wife told him "Suck it up princess, get to work" and so Chris did. He founded Santa Fe South Schools, which has an inner-city population of 5,000 students that usually score in the bottom 5-10% in the state, but their elementary and early childhood students are in the top 5-10%!

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Secretly Paying for the Prescriptions of Strangers Sep 26, 2025

For Shop Talk, we honor the story of Hody Childress, an Alabama farmer whose secret generosity came to light after his death.

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Sparky Reardon: The Most Loved Dean Ever (Pt 1) Sep 23, 2025

Sparky Reardon worked in student services for 36 years at Ole Miss, including his final 14 years as the Dean of Students. His stories span the hilarious to the tragic and he is a one-of-a-kind leader who thousands call a mentor and a friend, including Coach Bill Courtney.

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Sparky Reardon: The Most Loved Dean Ever (Pt 2) Sep 23, 2025

Sparky Reardon worked in student services for 36 years at Ole Miss, including his final 14 years as the Dean of Students. His stories span the hilarious to the tragic and he is a one-of-a-kind leader who thousands call a mentor and a friend, including Coach Bill Courtney.

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What the Barber Chair Taught Me About Asking for Help Sep 19, 2025

For Shop Talk, we dive into yet another column from Andrew Peters. On the magic that happens when we ask for help.

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Mike Flynt: The AARP Member Playing NCAA Football (Pt 1) Sep 16, 2025

Mike Flynt got kicked off his college football team for one too many fist fights and lived with the regret of letting down his team for decades. Until, he forged one of the greatest redemption stories you will ever hear, becoming the oldest linebacker in NCAA history at 59 years old! And he's now the subject of Angel Studios’ latest film The Senior.

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Mike Flynt: The AARP Member Playing NCAA Football (Pt 2) Sep 16, 2025

Mike Flynt got kicked off his college football team for one too many fist fights and lived with the regret of letting down his team for decades. Until, he forged one of the greatest redemption stories you will ever hear, becoming the oldest linebacker in NCAA history at 59 years old! And he's now the subject of Angel Studios’ latest film The Senior.

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Is It Well With Your Soul? Sep 12, 2025

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill is joined by his son Max to talk about the day that he flatlined, their full-circle moment that's about to take place, and their friend who asked Max, "Is it well with your soul?"

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Liz Scott: The Lemonade Stand That Inspired A Movement (Pt 1) Sep 09, 2025

Liz Scott's 4 year-old daughter Alex was fighting neuroblastoma cancer and yet Alex decided to host a lemonade stand to raise money for childhood cancer research. From her first stand that raised $2,000 to raising $1 million by the time she died at age 8, Alex inspired a movement that has raised $350 million, with a literal Army of Normal Folks hosting lemonade stands for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.

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Liz Scott: The Lemonade Stand That Inspired A Movement (Pt 2) Sep 09, 2025

Liz Scott's 4 year-old daughter Alex was fighting neuroblastoma cancer and yet Alex decided to host a lemonade stand to raise money for childhood cancer research. From her first stand that raised $2,000 to raising $1 million by the time she died at age 8, Alex inspired a movement that has raised $350 million, with a literal Army of Normal Folks hosting lemonade stands for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.

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The Standard, Or How You Do One Thing Sep 05, 2025

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill dives into a powerful column from Andrew Peters that's titled "The Standard, Or How You Do One Thing". It'll move you to reflect on how you do everything in your life!

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Peter Mutabazi: The Single Dad Who's Fostered 47 Kids (Pt 1) Sep 02, 2025

Peter Mutabazi is a Ugandan immigrant didn’t accept the cultural narrative that only white married people can foster and adopt kids. So far, this single dude has fostered 47 kids, adopted 3 of them, and he’s in the process of adopting 2 more of them! His radical love also happened to go viral, making him the most famous foster dad in America, with 2.5 million followers across social media.

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Peter Mutabazi: The Single Dad Who's Fostered 47 Kids (Pt 2) Sep 02, 2025

Peter Mutabazi is a Ugandan immigrant didn’t accept the cultural narrative that only white married people can foster and adopt kids. So far, this single dude has fostered 47 kids, adopted 3 of them, and he’s in the process of adopting 2 more of them! His radical love also happened to go viral, making him the most famous foster dad in America, with 2.5 million followers across social media.

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America's Leadership Crisis Aug 29, 2025

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill reflects on US News and World Report's recent article titled “New Poll: Americans Say the U.S. Is in a Leadership Crisis”. And offers a solution to this crisis.

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Stephanie Simpson: Donating 25,000 Flower Arrangements Aug 26, 2025

After large events like weddings, the flowers are too often thrown away. But Stephanie Simpson had an idea, couldn't we repurpose these flowers and bring joy to folks at nursing homes, cancer centers, and schools? 901 POP (Petals of Purpose) has their own Army of 580 volunteers who've donated 25,000 arrangements!

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Sonic Wrappers, Mickey Ears, and My Movie Debut Aug 22, 2025

For "Shop Talk", Coach Bill tells the story of his hilariously unconventional experience watching Undefeated for the very first time.

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Pam Rosener: 33,000 Moms And Sons Serving Together (Pt 1) Aug 19, 2025

Pam was a member of National Service League, where moms and daughters do service projects. But she's got 3 sons, so she thought why not start something for moms and sons to do this too?! 24 years later, Young Men’s Service League has 199 chapters with 33,000 moms and sons serving together!

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Pam Rosener: 33,000 Moms And Sons Serving Together (Pt 2) Aug 19, 2025

Pam was a member of National Service League, where moms and daughters do service projects. But she's got 3 sons, so she thought why not start something for moms and sons to do this too?! 24 years later, Young Men’s Service League has 199 chapters with 33,000 moms and sons serving together!

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The Matheny Manifesto Aug 15, 2025

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill dives into "The Matheny Manifesto: A Young Manager's Old-School Views on Success in Sports and Life."

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Peggy Halvorsen: The Wisconsin Mom in Liberia (Pt 1) Aug 12, 2025

Peggy Halvorsen was "only" trying to adopt a kid from Liberia. Shortly after they agreed to adopt his brother too, he died from cholera and Peggy insisted that this could not be the end of the story. 14 years later, their accidental ministry Teamwork Africa has built 216 wells, repaired over 500 existing ones, sponsor the education of 180 kids, and they're about to open their second school.

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Peggy Halvorsen: The Wisconsin Mom in Liberia (Pt 2) Aug 12, 2025

Peggy Halvorsen was "only" trying to adopt a kid from Liberia. Shortly after they agreed to adopt his brother too, he died from cholera and Peggy insisted that this could not be the end of the story. 14 years later, their accidental ministry Teamwork Africa has built 216 wells, repaired over 500 existing ones, sponsor the education of 180 kids, and they're about to open their second school.

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I'm Back Baby! Aug 08, 2025

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill talks about coaching football again this season after a several year hiatus! And the amazing kids he's coaching.

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Nancy Carbone: The Best Friend of Firefighters (Pt 1) Aug 05, 2025

After black snow rained down on her on 9/11, Nancy knocked on the door of local firehouses to see how she could help. When several firefighters told her that they’d need counseling, this non-therapist and normal mom got to work. 24 years later, Friends of Firefighters has provided over 1,000 firefighters and their families with mental health and wellness services at no cost to them!

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Nancy Carbone: The Best Friend of Firefighters (Pt 2) Aug 05, 2025

After black snow rained down on her on 9/11, Nancy knocked on the door of local firehouses to see how she could help. When several firefighters told her that they’d need counseling, this non-therapist and normal mom got to work. 24 years later, Friends of Firefighters has provided over 1,000 firefighters and their families with mental health and wellness services at no cost to them!

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The Vietnamese Refugees Who Changed America Aug 01, 2025

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill tells the story of An Army of Normal Refugees who changed America... at least in one aspect.

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Michelle Penczak: Binders Full of Military Spouses (Pt 1) Jul 29, 2025

Military spouse unemployment is 21%, which is 5 times the national average, often because employers don't want to hire people like Michelle Penczak who move every 3-4 years. So Michelle started a virtual assistant company called Squared Away where location wouldn't be an issue. And it's skyrocketed to employing 400 military spouses who serve 1,000 clients!

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Michelle Penczak: Binders Full of Military Spouses (Pt 2) Jul 29, 2025

Military spouse unemployment is 21%, which is 5 times the national average, often because employers don't want to hire people like Michelle Penczak who move every 3-4 years. So Michelle started a virtual assistant company called Squared Away where location wouldn't be an issue. And it's skyrocketed to employing 400 military spouses who serve 1,000 clients!

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Favorite Nonfiction Books Jul 25, 2025

For Shop Talk, Bill and Alex reflect on 4 of their favorite nonfiction books. What's yours?!

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An Army of Normal Social Workers (Pt 1) Jul 22, 2025

Dr. Rhonda Smith has assigned the podcast to over 400 of her social work students at the University of Southern Mississippi. In this episode we meet 7 of them, who are sure to inspire you about this rising generation!

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An Army of Normal Social Workers (Pt 2) Jul 22, 2025

Dr. Rhonda Smith has assigned the podcast to over 400 of her social work students at the University of Southern Mississippi. In this episode we meet 7 of them, who are sure to inspire you about this rising generation!

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Our Favorite Books Jul 18, 2025

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill and Alex reflect on some of their favorite books. And want to hear about yours!

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Jenn Andrews: I Want To Be The Person That I Needed (Pt 1) Jul 15, 2025

Jenn had to amputate her right leg due to sarcoma cancer. She committed to helping patients like herself and she soon found her cause in the tragedy of insurance companies not paying for prosthetics for running, swimming, or any other athletic activity. The Move for Jenn Foundation has since paid for 63 activewear prosthetics!

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Jenn Andrews: I Want To Be The Person That I Needed (Pt 2) Jul 15, 2025

Jenn had to amputate her right leg due to sarcoma cancer. She committed to helping patients like herself and she soon found her cause in the tragedy of insurance companies not paying for prosthetics for running, swimming, or any other athletic activity. The Move for Jenn Foundation has since paid for 63 activewear prosthetics!

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3 Things I Learned From FedEx's Founder Jul 11, 2025

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill reflects on the extraordinary life of Fred Smith, the founder of FedEx who recently passed away.

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Father Mark Hanna: The 3 Civilians Who Saved Upwards of 77 Lives (Pt 1) Jul 08, 2025

An Egyptian engineer, a Hispanic Navy Seal, and an Italian construction manager walk into a building. It sounds like the beginning of a joke, but it’s the beginning of real-life heroism. The building was the World Trade Center’s North Tower and Father Mark Hanna is the only one of the 3 amigos to survive 9/11.

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Father Mark Hanna: The 3 Civilians Who Saved Upwards of 77 Lives (Pt 2) Jul 08, 2025

An Egyptian engineer, a Hispanic Navy Seal, and an Italian construction manager walk into a building. It sounds like the beginning of a joke, but it’s the beginning of real-life heroism. The building was the World Trade Center’s North Tower and Father Mark Hanna is the only one of the 3 amigos to survive 9/11.

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The 50-Year Old Version Jul 04, 2025

For Shop Talk, we feature Army member Erik Lokkesmoe's reflections on what he wishes someone had told him when he was 30 or 40 years old.

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Michael Gosman: Buy A Home, Build A Community (Pt 1) Jul 01, 2025

When Father Dennis Lewis was assigned to St. Michael’s parish in Milwaukee, he discovered a growing number of Hmong and Laotians seeking refuge from the Vietnam War. Many were subjected to a terrible slumlord and so Father decided to start a homebuying ministry that helped coach them through the process. 33 years later, Acts Housing has helped 4,000 low-income families purchase homes!

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Michael Gosman: Buy A Home, Build A Community (Pt 2) Jul 01, 2025

When Father Dennis Lewis was assigned to St. Michael’s parish in Milwaukee, he discovered a growing number of Hmong and Laotians seeking refuge from the Vietnam War. Many were subjected to a terrible slumlord and so Father decided to start a homebuying ministry that helped coach them through the process. 33 years later, Acts Housing has helped 4,000 low-income families purchase homes!

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For All The 50-Year Old Men Who... Jun 27, 2025

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill reflects on Army member Erik Lokkesmoe's powerful article, "For All The 50-Year Old Men Who..."

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Kevin Adler: Reuniting 1,100 People Experiencing Homelessness With Their Families (Pt 1) Jun 24, 2025

Kevin was tired of walking by people experiencing homelessness, not doing anything, and undermining his own humanity and theirs each time. So he finally did something and his accidental nonprofit Miracle Messages has since reunited over 1,100 people with their families!

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Kevin Adler: Reuniting 1,100 People Experiencing Homelessness With Their Families (Pt 2) Jun 24, 2025

Kevin was tired of walking by people experiencing homelessness, not doing anything, and undermining his own humanity and theirs each time. So he finally did something and his accidental nonprofit Miracle Messages has since reunited over 1,100 people with their families!

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Experimenting With Local Chapters Jun 20, 2025

For Shop Talk, we explore the idea of potentially experimenting with a few local chapters of the Army this year.

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An Army of Normal Teenagers (Pt 1) Jun 17, 2025

Ginny Manguno, a teacher at Briarcrest Christian School, assigned listening to the podcast in her high school class. And so we decided to interview Ginny and her 15 students!

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An Army of Normal Teenagers (Pt 2) Jun 17, 2025

Ginny Manguno, a teacher at Briarcrest Christian School, assigned listening to the podcast in her high school class. And so we decided to interview Ginny and her 15 students!

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I Was Miserable On Father's Day, Until... Jun 13, 2025

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill shares his deeply personal experience with Father's Day.

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Tim Brown: 100 Friends Were Murdered on 9/11 (Pt 1) Jun 10, 2025

9/11 firefighter Tim Brown helped save lives that fateful day, but he also lost 100 friends who chose to save others knowing it would likely be the last act of their lives. His mission is to honor this Army of Normal Folks and make sure that America never forgets them.

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Tim Brown: 100 Friends Were Murdered on 9/11 (Pt 2) Jun 10, 2025

9/11 firefighter Tim Brown helped save lives that fateful day, but he also lost 100 friends who chose to save others knowing it would likely be the last act of their lives. His mission is to honor this Army of Normal Folks and make sure that America never forgets them.

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We Are Not What We Do Jun 06, 2025

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill reflects on Army member Andrew Maue's email.

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Kim Emch: The Only 3 Generation Family ESL Program (Pt 1) Jun 03, 2025

When Kim found out that thousands of kids in her suburban community were going hungry in the summer, she couldn’t look away from the problem. Her nonprofit Festa now feeds over 800 children in the summer, but as Kim puts it, they don’t just want to help people live in poverty a little bit better. So they serve 1,166 people with America's only 3-generation family English as a Second Language program, to help their families escape poverty.

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Kim Emch: The Only 3 Generation Family ESL Program (Pt 2) Jun 03, 2025

When Kim found out that thousands of kids in her suburban community were going hungry in the summer, she couldn’t look away from the problem. Her nonprofit Festa now feeds over 800 children in the summer, but as Kim puts it, they don’t just want to help people live in poverty a little bit better. So they serve 1,166 people with America's only 3-generation family English as a Second Language program, to help their families escape poverty .

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Don't Be Afraid To Ask For Help May 30, 2025

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill reflects on some fascinating studies that show people are far more willing to help us than we might expect. And what this means for the Army.

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John Norman: 170 Platelet Donations (Pt 1) May 27, 2025

John Norman is a normal dude who made a blood platelet donation one day. When his colleague told him that donated platelets helped save her life, John decided to keep rolling with the donations. He donates every other week, which is now over 170 times! After this episode aired, John also became the founder of our local service club ANF Ozaukee.

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John Norman: 170 Platelet Donations (Pt 2) May 27, 2025

John Norman is a normal dude who made a blood platelet donation one day. When his colleague told him that donated platelets helped save her life, John decided to keep rolling with the donations. He donates every other week, which is now over 160 times! After this episode aired, John also became the founder of our local service club ANF Ozaukee.

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When I Learned About "Church Schools" May 23, 2025

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill tells the story of learning about "church schools" from his football players. It's a sad history that is not well known.

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Tanya Rae Piper: The Cake Lady (Pt 1) May 20, 2025

Tanya is a hairstylist who decided to bake some cakes for some firemen. And next thing you know, she’s baking over 450 cakes a year for firemen on their birthday! We cannot wait for you to meet “The Cake Lady”.

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Tanya Rae Piper: The Cake Lady (Pt 2) May 20, 2025

Tanya is a hairstylist who decided to bake some cakes for some firemen. And next thing you know, she’s baking over 450 cakes a year for firemen on their birthday! We cannot wait for you to meet “The Cake Lady”.

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Could Potluck Dinners Save America? May 16, 2025

For Shop Talk, we feature portions of Eboo Patel's powerful talk "Could A Potluck Dinner Save Our Democracy?".

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Erin Steele: When Seniors and Children Help Each Other (Pt 1) May 13, 2025

When Erin Steele saw seniors light up around children, she had an idea for combining a senior living facility and a childcare center into one place! And there's all kinds of benefits for both generations by being with one another everyday. Meet The Heritage Home in Alma, Kansas.

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Erin Steele: When Seniors and Children Help Each Other (Pt 2) May 13, 2025

When Erin Steele saw seniors light up around children, she had an idea for combining a senior living facility and a childcare center into one place! And there's all kinds of benefits for both generations by being with one another everyday. Meet The Heritage Home in Alma, Kansas.

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On Being A Junkman May 09, 2025

For Shop Talk, Army member Charlotte Dance shares a beautiful tribute to her late dad that's titled, "On Being A Junkman". And how it relates to the Army.

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Supporting Greatness: Scottie Pippen, Sugar Ray Leonard, Top 100 Golfers (Pt 1) May 06, 2025

For our special series “Supporting Greatness”, where we typically interview those who’ve achieved public greatness about their own Army of Normal Folks that supported them, this time we interviewed award-winning sportswriter Michael Arkush. He's written books with Scottie Pippen and Sugar Ray Leonard, about the top 100 golfers in history, and he celebrates each of their Army of Normal Folks that supported them.

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Supporting Greatness: Scottie Pippen, Sugar Ray Leonard, Top 100 Golfers (Pt 2) May 06, 2025

For our special series “Supporting Greatness”, where we typically interview those who’ve achieved public greatness about their own Army of Normal Folks that supported them, this time we interviewed award-winning sportswriter Michael Arkush. He's written books with Scottie Pippen and Sugar Ray Leonard, about the top 100 golfers in history, and he celebrates each of their Army of Normal Folks that supported them.

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Giving $5,600 To Your UPS Driver May 02, 2025

UPS driver Tim Daniels and his customers in the East Lake neighborhood of Atlanta truly love each other. So when Tim had a surgery that took him out of commission for a few months, his customers stepped up and showed him just how much they love him. And "The Dancing UPS Man" decided to surprise all of them.

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Autism Acceptance Month: Erin's Hope for Friends (Pt 1) Apr 29, 2025

April is National Autism Acceptance Month. And in honor of it, we wanted to bring back to you one of our most compelling episodes about autism, with Army member Stacy Horst. Her daughter Erin was bullied and excluded by her peers because she had autism, which led to taking her own life at 17 years old. Only four days later, Stacy and her husband Darren heroically decided that they would do everything in their power to prevent any other family from going through this. Their non-profit, Erin’s Hope for Friends, opened a physical location called “e’s Club” where more than 400 teens and young adults with autism go on the weekends and build friendships.

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Autism Acceptance Month: Erin's Hope for Friends (Pt 2) Apr 29, 2025

April is National Autism Acceptance Month. And in honor of it, we wanted to bring back to you one of our most compelling episodes about autism, with Army member Stacy Horst. Her daughter Erin was bullied and excluded by her peers because she had autism, which led to taking her own life at 17 years old. Only four days later, Stacy and her husband Darren heroically decided that they would do everything in their power to prevent any other family from going through this. Their non-profit, Erin’s Hope for Friends, opened a physical location called “e’s Club” where more than 400 teens and young adults with autism go on the weekends and build friendships.

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Tariffs, Uncertainty, and the Army Apr 25, 2025

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill and Alex dive into the tariff war. And what we can learn from it as Army members.

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Welles Crowther: The 24-Year-Old Who Saved 12 Lives (Pt 1) Apr 22, 2025

On September 11th, Welles saved 12 of the only 18 survivors who were at or above the floors where the plane struck the World Traded Center’s South Tower. He’s known as “The Man In The Red Bandana”, because that’s what he wore that day and had with him every day since he was a young boy. His mother Alison pays tribute to her late son.

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Welles Crowther: The 24-Year-Old Who Saved 12 Lives (Pt 2) Apr 22, 2025

On September 11th, Welles saved 12 of the only 18 survivors who were at or above the floors where the plane struck the World Traded Center’s South Tower. He’s known as “The Man In The Red Bandana”, because that’s what he wore that day and had with him every day since he was a young boy. His mother Alison pays tribute to her late son.

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The Army That Eradicated Polio Apr 18, 2025

For Shop Talk, Tom Purcell celebrates the 70th anniversary of the polio vaccine.

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Jamie Heard: Magnets for Suffering (Pt 1) Apr 15, 2025

Jamie’s 2.5-year-old son died from choking on chicken. And her close friends couldn’t have kids, experienced late-term miscarriage, and breast cancer at 30 years old. They became magnets for others walking through tremendous suffering and realized that not everyone had their support network. Together, they founded Faithfully Restored, which has served 2,929 women with prayers and specialized care packages.

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Jamie Heard: Magnets for Suffering (Pt 2) Apr 15, 2025

Jamie’s 2.5-year-old son died from choking on chicken. And her close friends couldn’t have kids, experienced late-term miscarriage, and breast cancer at 30 years old. They became magnets for others walking through tremendous suffering and realized that not everyone had their support network. Together, they founded Faithfully Restored, which has served 2,929 women with prayers and specialized care packages.

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Oseola McCarty: The Generous Washerwoman Apr 11, 2025

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill tells the story of Oseola McCarty, the washerwoman who donated $150,000 to a school she never visited.

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God’s Billion Dollar Company That Gives Away 50% of Profits (Pt 1) Apr 08, 2025

Alan Barnhart is the CEO of Barnhart Crane & Rigging, which gives away 50% of its profits and he believes is God’s company. His personal commitment to earn a normal person salary makes Alan one of the most unique members of the Army.

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God’s Billion Dollar Company That Gives Away 50% of Profits (Pt 2) Apr 08, 2025

Alan Barnhart is the CEO of Barnhart Crane & Rigging, which gives away 50% of its profits and he believes is God’s company. His personal commitment to earn a normal person salary makes Alan one of the most unique members of the Army.

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Jimmy V: Laugh, Think, Cry Apr 04, 2025

For Shop Talk, we dive into the late Jimmy Valvano’s speech at the ESPY Awards, which he delivered only 58 days before losing his battle with cancer.

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Chris Ullman: Whistling Happy Birthday To 700 People (Pt 1) Apr 01, 2025

Chris is a 4-time international whistling champion who’s whistled for Presidents and 60,000 people. But what makes him an Army member is how he whistles happy birthday to 700 people every year!

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Chris Ullman: Whistling Happy Birthday To 700 People (Pt 2) Apr 01, 2025

Chris is a 4-time international whistling champion who’s whistled for Presidents and 60,000 people. But what makes him an Army member is how he whistles happy birthday to 700 people every year!

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Sweep Streets Like Michelangelo Mar 28, 2025

For Shop Talk, we dive into Dr. Martin Luther King’s incredible speech that’s become known as “The Street Sweeper Speech”.

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Brian Schwartz: I Want to Mow Your Lawn (Pt 1) Mar 25, 2025

After losing his job, Brian felt called to contribute to society in some way while looking for a new gig. He found mowing his own lawn to be therapeutic, so he figured why not offer to do it for folks in need. His accidental nonprofit I Want To Mow Your Lawn has grown into its own army of 1,404 normal folks who’ve mowed the lawns of over 2,000 people!

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Brian Schwartz: I Want to Mow Your Lawn (Pt 2) Mar 25, 2025

After losing his job, Brian felt called to contribute to society in some way while looking for a new gig. He found mowing his own lawn to be therapeutic, so he figured why not offer to do it for folks in need. His accidental nonprofit I Want To Mow Your Lawn has grown into its own army of 1,404 normal folks who’ve mowed the lawns of over 2,000 people!

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What Counts As Serving Others? Mar 21, 2025

For Shop Talk, Clay Routledge challenges our culture's perspective on what counts as serving others.

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Rachel Cohen: I Used To Think Volunteering Was A Harmful Distraction (Pt 1) Mar 18, 2025

Vox writer Rachel Cohen had disregarded individual action as an unhelpful distraction to the more important systemic change that was needed to solve our problems. And then she had a change of heart & mind. She wrote an extraordinary article about her transformation that’s titled "Why I Changed My Mind About Volunteering" and we dive deep into it with her.

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Rachel Cohen: I Used To Think Volunteering Was A Harmful Distraction (Pt 2) Mar 18, 2025

Vox writer Rachel Cohen had disregarded individual action as an unhelpful distraction to the more important systemic change that was needed to solve our problems. And then she had a change of heart & mind. She wrote an extraordinary article about her transformation that’s titled "Why I Changed My Mind About Volunteering" and we dive deep into it with her.

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If... We Can Be Positive Mar 14, 2025

For "Shop Talk", Coach Bill reflects on a listener's question with some inspiration from Rudyard Kipling's powerful poem "If".

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Charmaine Solomon: HIPsters — Hugely Important People (Pt 1) Mar 11, 2025

Charmaine is the founder of My Possibilities, which serves who they call HIPsters (hugely important people), otherwise known as adults with disabilities, with a real college experience that they wouldn’t otherwise get. They started with 10 students and now have 675 students!

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Charmaine Solomon: HIPsters — Hugely Important People (Pt 2) Mar 11, 2025

Charmaine is the founder of My Possibilities, which serves who they call HIPsters (hugely important people), otherwise known as adults with disabilities, with a real college experience that they wouldn’t otherwise get. They started with 10 students and now have 675 students!

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When A Whole City Blinked Their Lights Mar 07, 2025

For Shop Talk, Real Heroes author Larry Reed tells us the epic story of Warsaw's underground radio station during the Soviet occupation of Poland.

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Suzy Hollenbach: 70 Million Homeless Dogs And Cats (Pt 1) Mar 04, 2025

Suzy is the founder of All 4's Rescue League, which has distributed 1,680 doghouses to outside dogs without them in Memphis, have gotten 1,500 dogs spayed and neutered, and 2,460 dogs unchained. And she dives into the local and national crisis of homeless animals that endangers all of us.

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Suzy Hollenbach: 70 Million Homeless Dogs And Cats (Pt 2) Mar 04, 2025

Suzy is the founder of All 4's Rescue League, which has distributed 1,680 doghouses to outside dogs without them in Memphis, have gotten 1,500 dogs spayed and neutered, and 2,460 dogs unchained. And she dives into the local and national crisis of homeless animals that endangers all of us.

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Father Jerzy: The Martyred Chaplain Mar 03, 2025

Father Jerzy Popieluszko was the chaplain for Poland's resistance movement called Solidarity. And the Soviet communists couldn't bear his powerful voice for faith and freedom. Larry Reed celebrates this courageous martyr for An Army of Normal Dead Folks.

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The Triad of Fulfillment Feb 28, 2025

For Shop Talk, we bring you former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy's powerful letter upon his post, "My Parting Prescription for America".

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Khali Sweeney: The Boxing Gym Where No One Boxes (Pt 1) Feb 25, 2025

Khali started Downtown Boxing Gym to use boxing as the hook to teach vulnerable Detroit kids about life. Ironically, none of the kids are now using their boxing ring, but their STEAM Lab and other awesome stuff have helped 1,500 kids graduate high school and 98% go on to post-secondary education!

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Khali Sweeney: The Boxing Gym Where No One Boxes (Pt 2) Feb 25, 2025

Khali started Downtown Boxing Gym to use boxing as the hook to teach vulnerable Detroit kids about life. Ironically, none of the kids are now using their boxing ring, but their STEAM Lab and other awesome stuff have helped 1,500 kids graduate high school and 98% go on to post-secondary education!

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Gail Halvorsen: The Candy Bomber Feb 24, 2025

For An Army of Normal Dead Folks, Larry Reed brings us the story of the pilot who dropped sweets & hope to the children of Berlin.

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The Lorraine Motel Feb 21, 2025

For "Shop Talk", Coach Bill shares the story of the motel where Rev. Martin Luther King Jr was shot and killed. And Jackie Smith's 34 year protest of it being converted into the National Civil Rights Museum.

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Sam Fledderjohann: The Kidney Transplant Chain That Saved 10 Lives (Pt 1) Feb 18, 2025

While 94.6% of kidney donors give them to someone they know, Sam Fledderjohann felt called to give a kidney to anyone who needed it. Her being what is called an “altruistic donor” enabled a whole chain of kidney donations to be unlocked, resulting in 20 transplant surgeries over 2 days that saved the lives of 10 recipients!

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Sam Fledderjohann: The Kidney Transplant Chain That Saved 10 Lives (Pt 2) Feb 18, 2025

While 94.6% of kidney donors give them to someone they know, Sam Fledderjohann felt called to give a kidney to anyone who needed it. Her being what is called an “altruistic donor” enabled a whole chain of kidney donations to be unlocked, resulting in 20 transplant surgeries over 2 days that saved the lives of 10 recipients!

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The Man in the Arena Feb 14, 2025

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill and Alex dive into one of their favorite speeches, President Teddy Roosevelt's "The Man In The Arena", and what the Army can learn from it.

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Travis Moody: Outcompeting Payday Lenders (Pt 1) Feb 11, 2025

In the state of Tennessee, payday lenders can charge interest rates upwards of 459%. Travis Moody and his nonprofit Forward Memphis are on a mission to outcompete them, charging only 10%. In only 20 months, they’ve helped 600 families save a total of $800k!

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Travis Moody: Outcompeting Payday Lenders (Pt 2) Feb 11, 2025

In the state of Tennessee, payday lenders can charge interest rates upwards of 459%. Travis Moody and his nonprofit Forward Memphis are on a mission to outcompete them, charging only 10%. In only 20 months, they’ve helped 600 families save a total of $800k!

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An Army of Normal Blood Donors Feb 07, 2025

For "Shop Talk", we share Army member John Norman's powerful note about donating blood. And a lot more of us need to be doing it.

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Monica Kelsey: I’m Blessed To Have Been Abandoned (Pt 1) Feb 04, 2025

After having been abandoned as a baby, Monica Kelsey has gone on to help save the lives of 227 babies! Her nonprofit Safe Haven Baby Boxes offers a compassionate and secure option for mothers in crisis who are unable to care for their newborns.

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Monica Kelsey: I’m Blessed To Have Been Abandoned (Pt 2) Feb 04, 2025

After having been abandoned as a baby, Monica Kelsey has gone on to help save the lives of 227 babies! Her nonprofit Safe Haven Baby Boxes offers a compassionate and secure option for mothers in crisis who are unable to care for their newborns.

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Be Nice To Old Folks Jan 31, 2025

And they might just impact your life too. Our latest Shop Talk on visiting the elderly.

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Nate Deen: The Teacher Who Saved My Life (Pt 1) Jan 28, 2025

As a 6 year old, Nate saw his parents die right before his eyes. He was living out of his car and then in prison, until his English teacher Stan Deen decided to try to save his life. This extraordinary story is the subject of Angel Studios’ latest film Brave the Dark, which is in theaters now.

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Nate Deen: The Teacher Who Saved My Life (Pt 2) Jan 28, 2025

As a 6 year old, Nate saw his parents die right before his eyes. He was living out of his car and then in prison, until his English teacher Stan Deen decided to try to save his life. This extraordinary story is the subject of Angel Studios’ latest film Brave the Dark, which is in theaters now.

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Witold Pilecki: The Auschwitz Volunteer Jan 27, 2025

For An Army of Normal Dead Folks, Larry Reed tells the story of the Polish hero who spied on the Nazis and the Soviets. And paid the ultimate price for it.

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2024’s Word of the Year Jan 24, 2025

Merriam-Webster’s 2024 Word of the Year was "polarization." For Shop Talk, we explore what we can do to ensure that this never happens again.

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Todd Cioffi: An Army of Normal Prisoners (Pt 1) Jan 21, 2025

Todd is the founding director of Calvin Prison Initiative, an accredited bachelor degree program that’s inside of a prison. And one that’s not only transformed their students’ lives, but most fascinating is how it’s cultivated An Army of Normal Prisoners who've completely transformed the culture inside of Michigan’s prisons!

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Todd Cioffi: An Army of Normal Prisoners (Pt 2) Jan 21, 2025

Todd is the founding director of Calvin Prison Initiative, an accredited bachelor degree program that’s inside of a prison. And one that’s not only transformed their students’ lives, but most fascinating is how it’s cultivated An Army of Normal Prisoners who've completely transformed the culture inside of Michigan’s prisons!

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Nicholas Winton: He Rescued 669 Children Jan 20, 2025

For our series "An Army of Normal Dead Folks", Larry Reed tells the story of his friend Nicholas Winton, who rescued 669 mostly Jewish children who were at risk of being killed by Nazi Germany.

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The Origin of the Army Jan 17, 2025

An Army member asked for producer Alex to share the origin story of An Army of Normal Folks. And so he did.

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Shawn and Inga Arvin: Love City (Pt 1) Jan 14, 2025

Inga Arvin felt called to move to the challenging Louisville neighborhood of Portland, but her husband Shawn didn’t want to because he used to buy drugs there. Their obedience strangely led them to get a house for free if they bought a community center, which of course led them reinvigorating it with over 200 kids playing basketball, a 400 person fish fry, a school, and a thrift store. Welcome to Love City, who’s beating heart is neighbors loving neighbors.

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Shawn and Inga Arvin: Love City (Pt 2) Jan 14, 2025

Inga Arvin felt called to move to the challenging Louisville neighborhood of Portland, but her husband Shawn didn’t want to because he used to buy drugs there. Their obedience strangely led them to get a house for free if they bought a community center, which of course led them reinvigorating it with over 200 kids playing basketball, a 400 person fish fry, a school, and a thrift store. Welcome to Love City, who’s beating heart is neighbors loving neighbors.

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When Normal Folks Are Abnormal Jan 10, 2025

For "Shop Talk", Coach Bill dives into the paradox of An Army of Normal Folks doing abnormal things.

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Branden and Ashley Stathes: An Army of Generous Folks (Pt 1) Jan 07, 2025

50 friends paid off their college debt, 7 families helped them buy a house, and they joined in on buying cars for 4-5 people. Branden and Ashley are members of an extraordinary Army of Generous Folks and show us what living in community can look like!

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Branden and Ashley Stathes: An Army of Generous Folks (Pt 2) Jan 07, 2025

50 friends paid off their college debt, 7 families helped them buy a house, and they joined in on buying cars for 4-5 people. Branden and Ashley are members of an extraordinary Army of Generous Folks and show us what living in community can look like!

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Don't Make Your Babies Bots Jan 03, 2025

For "Shop Talk", Coach Bill reflects on an Army member's email about cell phones and young kids.

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Slingshot: Data-Driven Generosity (Pt 1) Dec 31, 2024

America is one of the most generous countries in the world and yet many of our worst problems aren't getting any better. One of the greatest reasons why is the lack of return on investment analysis that is expected in the business world, but is pervasively absent in philanthropy. Slingshot has conducted this analysis for 55 Memphis nonprofits, which empowers givers to fuel the most effective nonprofits, and this innovative model could be adopted by any community across the country!

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Slingshot: Data-Driven Generosity (Pt 2) Dec 31, 2024

America is one of the most generous countries in the world and yet many of our worst problems aren't getting any better. One of the greatest reasons why is the lack of return on investment analysis that is expected in the business world, but is pervasively absent in philanthropy. Slingshot has conducted this analysis for 55 Memphis nonprofits, which empowers givers to fuel the most effective nonprofits, and this innovative model could be adopted by any community across the country!

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Fanny Crosby: What She Gained By Being Blind Dec 30, 2024

For our series "An Army of Normal Dead Folks", Larry Reed tells the story of Fanny Crosby, who became blind and yet still holds the records for the most number of songs written & most number of Presidents met.

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Army member: I Am A Turkey Person Dec 27, 2024

For "Shop Talk", we share Army member Ken Morris' reflection that he is in fact a Turkey Person. And what he's going to do about it.

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Buddy Osborn: Hope In the Largest Open Air Drug Market (Pt 1) Dec 24, 2024

Buddy was a Golden Gloves boxer who bit his opponent's ear, a union organizer who landed in prison, and ultimately the founder of The Rock Ministries. In the Philadelphia neighborhood of Kensington, The Rock started by serving inner-city boys with boxing and the Gospel, and it’s grown to serving over 11,000 kids through sports, arts, music, and mentoring. And all of this is taking place amidst some of the most dangerous blocks in America.

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Buddy Osborn: Hope In the Largest Open Air Drug Market (Pt 2) Dec 24, 2024

Buddy was a Golden Gloves boxer who bit his opponent's ear, a union organizer who landed in prison, and ultimately the founder of The Rock Ministries. In the Philadelphia neighborhood of Kensington, The Rock started by serving inner-city boys with boxing and the Gospel, and it’s grown to serving over 11,000 kids through sports, arts, music, and mentoring. And all of this is taking place amidst some of the most dangerous blocks in America.

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Harriet Tubman: She Never Lost A Passenger Dec 23, 2024

For “An Army of Normal Dead Folks”, we celebrate Harriet Tubman, the runaway slave who rescued over 100 slaves on the Underground Railroad. And Real Heroes Larry Reed reveals fascinating stories about her that we had never heard before!

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Communist Christmas Trees Dec 20, 2024

For "Shop Talk", Coach Bill's hot take on fake vs. real Christmas trees and somehow he relates this to our legacies.

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JT Olson: Raising Money for Adoptions by Helping Widows (Pt 1) Dec 17, 2024

This title doesn't make much sense, unless you listen to the episode. JT is the founder of Both Hands, whose own Army of nearly 145k normal folks in 45 states has raised $21 million to adopt 1,648 kids by serving 1,632 widows!

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JT Olson: Raising Money for Adoptions by Helping Widows (Pt 2) Dec 17, 2024

This title doesn't make much sense, unless you listen to the episode. JT is the founder of Both Hands, whose own Army of nearly 145k normal folks in 45 states has raised $21 million to adopt 1,648 kids by serving 1,632 widows!

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The First Integrated Classroom in America Dec 16, 2024

When Prudence Crandall admitted a black student into her school in 1832, townspeople from Canterbury, CT twice set their building on fire, poisoned their well, and 3 lawsuits were filed to stop her. But Prudence persevered, which is why we're celebrating her on our special series "An Army of Normal Dead Folks".

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The Law of Unintended Consequences Dec 13, 2024

For "Shop Talk", Coach Bill gives a fascinating (and devastating) look at the trade war's unintended effects on the hardwood lumber industry and what it can teach us about our work serving others.

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Supporting Greatness: Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer (Pt 1) Dec 10, 2024

Dakota celebrates his own Army of Normal Folks who’ve supported his greatness: Big Mike, Sergeant Major Hector Soto-Rodriguez, Tana Rattliff, Tim Kennedy, his daughter Sailor, and so many more.

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Supporting Greatness: Medal of Honor recipient Dakota Meyer (Pt 2) Dec 10, 2024

Dakota celebrates his own Army of Normal Folks who’ve supported his greatness: Big Mike, Sergeant Major Hector Soto-Rodriguez, Tana Rattliff, Tim Kennedy, his daughter Sailor, and so many more.

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An Army of Normal Dead Folks: Thomas Clarkson Dec 09, 2024

We’re kicking off a new special series called “An Army of Normal Dead Folks”, where we celebrate normal folks from history who did what they could to serve their fellow man. With our friend Larry Reed, our first episode features abolitionist Thomas Clarkson!

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When A Lack of Parenting Hurts Schools Dec 06, 2024

For "Shop Talk", Coach Bill weighs in on an Army member's suggestion.

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The Fraternity That’s Raised $3.5 Million For Those With Paralysis (Pt 1) Dec 03, 2024

After Ole Miss football player Chucky Mullins’ devastating injury left him as a quadriplegic, Sigma Nu approached him about starting a football game called The Charity Bowl that would raise money for those living with paralysis. Chucky enthusiastically endorsed it and since 1990 these fraternity brothers have raised over $3.5 million! We talk to current students Jagger Mooneyham and Julian Knott.

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The Fraternity That’s Raised $3.5 Million For Those With Paralysis (Pt 2) Dec 03, 2024

After Ole Miss football player Chucky Mullins’ devastating injury left him as a quadriplegic, Sigma Nu approached him about starting a football game called The Charity Bowl that would raise money for those living with paralysis. Chucky enthusiastically endorsed it and since 1990 these fraternity brothers have raised over $3.5 million! We talk to current students Jagger Mooneyham and Julian Knott.

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Never Underestimate The Power of Encouragement Nov 29, 2024

For our "Shop Talk" series, Coach Bill tells the story of a prison football team and their surprising fans.

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Don't Be A Turkey Person Nov 28, 2024

Coach Bill Courtney shares one of the most important life lessons he's ever learned and it was from one of his 17-year-old football players. It's a powerful Thanksgiving reflection.

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Gilbert Hess: Dirt Track Racing In Honor of His Late Daughter and Wife (Pt 1) Nov 26, 2024

Gilbert lost his 8-year-old daughter Samantha to cancer and then lost his 49-year-old wife Nicole. But instead of having a victim mindset about it, he’s honoring them with his dirt track racing car that he named “Nicole’s Dream”, which was to have a car that raises awareness for childhood cancer and funding to cure it. In less than 2 years, he’s raised $46k for St. Jude and other causes.

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Gilbert Hess: Dirt Track Racing In Honor of His Late Daughter and Wife (Pt 2) Nov 26, 2024

Gilbert lost his 8-year-old daughter Samantha to cancer and then lost his 49-year-old wife Nicole. But instead of having a victim mindset about it, he’s honoring them with his dirt track racing car that he named “Nicole’s Dream”, which was to have a car that raises awareness for childhood cancer and funding to cure it. In less than 2 years, he’s raised $46k for St. Jude and other causes.

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When Your Brother Is Your Enemy Nov 22, 2024

On this episode of Shop Talk, Coach Bill responds to an Army member's question about how to heal and hopefully reconcile with his brother.

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Bob Muzikowski: If I Get Half, My Neighbor Gets Half (Pt 1) Nov 19, 2024

After accidentally moving next to the worst housing project in America, Bob Muzikowski dug in. He started a little league for its kids, then intentionally moved into the hood on Chicago’s West Side, and started the largest inner-city little league in the country there. Finally, when Bob sold part of his company, he donated 50% of his earnings to build a world-class school there called Chicago Hope Academy.

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Bob Muzikowski: If I Get Half, My Neighbor Gets Half (Pt 2) Nov 19, 2024

After accidentally moving next to the worst housing project in America, Bob Muzikowski dug in. He started a little league for its kids, then intentionally moved into the hood on Chicago’s West Side, and started the largest inner-city little league in the country there. Finally, when Bob sold part of his company, he donated 50% of his earnings to build a world-class school there called Chicago Hope Academy.

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Building Your Bench Nov 15, 2024

For "Shop Talk", Coach Bill responds to a listener's question about two challenges that nonprofits face: 1) A declining number of volunteers 2) When to transfer leadership to the next generation. And Bill somehow relates this to football.

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Todd Komarnicki: Bringing Bonhoeffer To The Big Screen (Pt 1) Nov 12, 2024

Todd was the producer of Elf, writer of Sully, and is the producer, writer, and director of the upcoming film Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a normal pastor who had the courage to stand up to Hitler, rescued Jews, joined a conspiracy to assassinate Hitler, and was ultimately hanged for his defiance.

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Todd Komarnicki: Bringing Bonhoeffer To The Big Screen (Pt 2) Nov 12, 2024

Todd was the producer of Elf, writer of Sully, and is the producer, writer, and director of the upcoming film Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a normal pastor who had the courage to stand up to Hitler, rescued Jews, joined a conspiracy to assassinate Hitler, and was ultimately hanged for his defiance.

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Joe and Kelli Carson: We Had No Idea How Small Our World Was (Pt 1) Nov 05, 2024

The Carsons had “The American Christian Dream” of a nice house and golfing at the country club. But then their son spent a weekend as a homeless person and everything changed. They have since sold their dental practice, founded the Memphis Dream Center, and have lived life with people who didn’t look just like them.

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Joe and Kelli Carson: We Had No Idea How Small Our World Was (Pt 2) Nov 05, 2024

The Carsons had “The American Christian Dream” of a nice house and golfing at the country club. But then their son spent a weekend as a homeless person and everything changed. They have since sold their dental practice, founded the Memphis Dream Center, and have lived life with people who didn’t look just like them.

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Getting Caught Up With Labels Nov 01, 2024

For our "Shop Talk" series, Coach Bill pontificates on labels, semantics, talking past each other, The Code of the West, and The Code of the Hood. It's more eclectic than ever.

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Dr. Trina Clayeux: Therapists Aren’t The Only Answer (Pt 1) Oct 29, 2024

For every single therapist, there are 350 people looking for that type of support. Dr. Trina and her team at Give An Hour realized that there will never be enough therapists to meet this need. And that the answer is us, their own Army of Normal Folks serving one another in peer support groups and as wellness ambassadors.

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Dr. Trina Clayeux: Therapists Aren’t The Only Answer (Pt 2) Oct 29, 2024

For every single therapist, there are 350 people looking for that type of support. Dr. Trina and her team at Give An Hour realized that there will never be enough therapists to meet this need. And that the answer is us, their own Army of Normal Folks serving one another in peer support groups and as wellness ambassadors.

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Opponent or Enemy? Oct 25, 2024

For our “Shop Talk” series, Coach Bill on the difference between opponents and enemies.

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A Family's Commitment to the City That Saved Their Son (Pt 1) Oct 22, 2024

Pedro Velasquez Jr was diagnosed with leukemia when was 5 years old. His dad Dr. Pedro Sr. pleaded to God that if St. Jude saved his life, he would dedicate his life to the Memphis community that was there for them. He founded Lifedoc Heath, which has helped 1,100 patients a week improve their health outcomes so much that their cost of care has plummeted by 27%!

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A Family's Commitment to the City That Saved Their Son (Pt 2) Oct 22, 2024

Pedro Velasquez Jr was diagnosed with leukemia when was 5 years old. His dad Dr. Pedro Sr. pleaded to God that if St. Jude saved his life, he would dedicate his life to the Memphis community that was there for them. He founded Lifedoc Heath, which has helped 1,100 patients a week improve their health outcomes so much that their cost of care has plummeted by 27%!

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Lean In or Walk Away? Oct 18, 2024

For our latest "Shop Talk", Coach Bill reacts to an Army member seeking his advice about whether to lean into a difficult situation or to walk away entirely.

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Steve Tybor: When 6 Volunteers Turned Into 60,000 (Pt 1) Oct 15, 2024

Steve’s 70 year-old dad told him that they should grab a couple buddies and respond to Hurricane Katrina. The next thing you know 6 guys turned into 684 volunteers, and 20 disasters later their 60,000 volunteers have rebuilt 7,000 homes!

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Steve Tybor: When 6 Volunteers Turned Into 60,000 (Pt 2) Oct 15, 2024

Steve’s 70 year-old dad told him that they should grab a couple buddies and respond to Hurricane Katrina. The next thing you know 6 guys turned into 684 volunteers, and 20 disasters later their 60,000 volunteers have rebuilt 7,000 homes!

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Michael Lignos: The Ultimate Army Member (Pt 1) Oct 08, 2024

Michael has been inspired to volunteer with, donate to, and reach out to 9 different Army members featured on the podcast! Frankly, this normal dude inspires us and we cannot wait for you to meet him.

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Michael Lignos: The Ultimate Army Member (Pt 2) Oct 08, 2024

Michael has been inspired to volunteer with, donate to, and reach out to 9 different Army members featured on the podcast! Frankly, this normal dude inspires us and we cannot wait for you to meet him.

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Lt. Col. Scott Mann: Green Beret, Author, Playwright, Hero (Pt 1) Oct 01, 2024

Scott is the ultimate patriot and renaissance man. He served in Colombia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, co-founded Operation Pineapple Express (which rescued over 750 Afghan allies), wrote the play “Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret,” and is the author of the new book “Nobody is Coming to Save You: A Green Beret’s Guide to Getting Big Sh*t Done”.

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Lt. Col. Scott Mann: Green Beret, Author, Playwright, Hero (Pt 2) Oct 01, 2024

Scott is the ultimate patriot and renaissance man. He served in Colombia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, co-founded Operation Pineapple Express (which rescued over 750 Afghan allies), wrote the play “Last Out: Elegy of a Green Beret,” and is the author of the new book “Nobody is Coming to Save You: A Green Beret’s Guide to Getting Big Sh*t Done”.

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One of the 5 Most Painful Days of My Life Sep 27, 2024

For our latest "Shop Talk", Coach Bill on having to lay off 45% of his employees and the company's character that was their saving grace.

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Gaby Laurent: Adopting A Baby Withdrawing From Opioids (Pt 1) Sep 24, 2024

Right after surviving a life and death battle with cancer, while pregnant, Gaby and her husband decided to adopt a baby that was experiencing withdrawal from opioids in their mother’s womb. Her story that’s chronicled in her new book “Wrinkles Welcome” is an extraordinary one of perseverance, love, and forgiveness.

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Gaby Laurent: Adopting A Baby Withdrawing From Opioids (Pt 2) Sep 24, 2024

Right after surviving a life and death battle with cancer, while pregnant, Gaby and her husband decided to adopt a baby that was experiencing withdrawal from opioids in their mother’s womb. Her story that’s chronicled in her new book “Wrinkles Welcome” is an extraordinary one of perseverance, love, and forgiveness.

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The Football Players I Lost Sep 20, 2024

For our latest "Shop Talk", Coach Bill talks about losing some of his players to the streets. And the necessity of accepting failure like this.

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Antong Lucky: If You Lead for Evil, Imagine What You Could Do For Good (Pt 1) Sep 17, 2024

As a teenager, Antong founded the Dallas Blood gang and ran the city’s roughest streets. This inevitably landed Antong in prison, where a man told him that if he could lead for evil, imagine what he could do for good. He now leads Urban Specialists, which has transformed the lives of 819 OGs like himself.

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Antong Lucky: If You Lead for Evil, Imagine What You Could Do For Good (Pt 2) Sep 17, 2024

As a teenager, Antong founded the Dallas Blood gang and ran the city’s roughest streets. This inevitably landed Antong in prison, where a man told him that if he could lead for evil, imagine what he could do for good. He now leads Urban Specialists, which has transformed the lives of 819 OGs like himself.

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Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone Sep 13, 2024

For our latest "Shop Talk", Coach Bill pays tribute to Sunde Smith, a single woman who left Manhattan and did something really crazy.

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23 Years After 9/11: Sonia Agron (Pt 1) Sep 11, 2024

For the 23rd anniversary of 9/11, we re-run our episode with Sonia Agron. When the World Trade Center was struck, Sonia promised her husband, an NYPD officer who responded to the attack, that she wouldn’t go to the site to help. But she couldn’t keep that promise and volunteered as a recovery worker at Ground Zero on overnight shifts. In addition to grieving their losses, the Agrons soon began to deal with various illnesses brought on by exposure to Ground Zero’s toxic environment. In spite of this, Sonia has continued volunteering by leading tours at the 9/11 Tribute Museum and 9/11 Memorial.

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23 Years After 9/11 : Sonia Agron (Pt 2) Sep 11, 2024

For the 23rd anniversary of 9/11, we re-run our episode with Sonia Agron. When the World Trade Center was struck, Sonia promised her husband, an NYPD officer who responded to the attack, that she wouldn’t go to the site to help. But she couldn’t keep that promise and volunteered as a recovery worker at Ground Zero on overnight shifts. In addition to grieving their losses, the Agrons soon began to deal with various illnesses brought on by exposure to Ground Zero’s toxic environment. In spite of this, Sonia has continued volunteering by leading tours at the 9/11 Tribute Museum and 9/11 Memorial.

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Bishop Martin: My Small Church Adopted 77 Kids (Pt 1) Sep 10, 2024

Bishop is the inspiration for Angel Studio’s latest film, Sound of Hope. And we hope his story will inspire an adoption revolution in America.

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Bishop Martin: My Small Church Adopted 77 Kids (Pt 2) Sep 10, 2024

Bishop is the inspiration for Angel Studio’s latest film, Sound of Hope. And we hope his story will inspire an adoption revolution in America.

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Fred Smith’s Perseverance Sep 06, 2024

For our latest Shop Talk, what the founder of FedEx can teach all of us.

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Seth Kaplan: Repairing America One Zip Code at a Time (Pt 1) Sep 03, 2024

Seth is a leading expert on fragile states across the world. And after a lot of people have asked him if America has become a fragile state, Seth dove into it. The result is his powerful book Fragile Neighborhoods: Repairing American Society, One Zip Code At A Time.

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Seth Kaplan: Repairing America One Zip Code at a Time (Pt 2) Sep 03, 2024

Seth is a leading expert on fragile states across the world. And after a lot of people have asked him if America has become a fragile state, Seth dove into it. The result is his powerful book Fragile Neighborhoods: Repairing American Society, One Zip Code At A Time.

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Carrie and Paul Moore: The Couple Who Had A Secret (Pt 1) Aug 27, 2024

And the story of how it was revealed in the most beautiful way possible, while serving with Sleep in Heavenly Peace! This couple has led their Gadsden, Alabama chapter to delivering 1,656 beds to kids without them.

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Carrie and Paul Moore: The Couple Who Had A Secret (Pt 2) Aug 27, 2024

And the story of how it was revealed in the most beautiful way possible, while serving with Sleep in Heavenly Peace! This couple has led their Gadsden, Alabama chapter to delivering 1,656 beds to kids without them.

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The Gift of a Legacy Aug 23, 2024

For "Shop Talk", Coach Bill pays tribute to his late friend Bill Prest, and it's 12 years after his death. Now that's a legacy which outlasts how much money he made.

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Memphis Allies: The Frontlines of Violence Prevention (Pt 1) Aug 20, 2024

Florence “Flo” Brooks and Renardo Baker used to live the street life. Today with Memphis Allies, they’re on the frontlines of helping folks just like themselves to find a better way.

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Memphis Allies: The Frontlines of Violence Prevention (Pt 2) Aug 20, 2024

Florence “Flo” Brooks and Renardo Baker used to live the street life. Today with Memphis Allies, they’re on the frontlines of helping folks just like themselves to find a better way.

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Serving The Quarterback Who Broke Your Records Aug 16, 2024

For the latest "Shop Talk", Coach Bill's tribute to his late friend Steve Davis, an Oklahoma quarterback and true servant leader.

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Belinda Leto: Throwing Birthdays for 6,000 Kids! (Pt 1) Aug 13, 2024

Belinda never dreamed of starting a birthday charity, until she was asked to provide a birthday party for a boy who wouldn’t otherwise have one. And only 5 years later, Celebrate Birthdays and their own Army of Normal Folks, have provided birthday celebrations to over 6,000 kids.

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Belinda Leto: Throwing Birthdays for 6,000 Kids! (Pt 2) Aug 13, 2024

Belinda never dreamed of starting a birthday charity, until she was asked to provide a birthday party for a boy who wouldn’t otherwise have one. And only 5 years later, Celebrate Birthdays and their own Army of Normal Folks, have provided birthday celebrations to over 6,000 kids.

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Tara Sundem: Helping Babies With Opioid Withdrawal (Pt 1) Aug 06, 2024

Tara is a NICU nurse who experienced the epidemic of newborns withdrawing from their moms’ drugs that they got in the womb. And she also experienced that they weren’t given great treatment. Tara stumbled into a solution that’s better for everyone (babies, parents, taxpayers), and her Hushabye Nursery has helped 695 infants & their families!

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Tara Sundem: Helping Babies With Opioid Withdrawal (Pt 2) Aug 06, 2024

Tara is a NICU nurse who experienced the epidemic of newborns withdrawing from their moms’ drugs that they got in the womb. And she also experienced that they weren’t given great treatment. Tara stumbled into a solution that’s better for everyone (babies, parents, taxpayers), and her Hushabye Nursery has helped 695 infants & their families!

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The Impact of the Army Aug 02, 2024

For our latest "Shop Talk", Coach Bill answers a premium member's question about the impact of the Army in our first year.

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Russell Butler: The Dancing UPS Man (Pt 1) Jul 30, 2024

The story of the UPS driver who almost committed suicide, found healing, and accidentally started a viral ministry of delivering good vibes through dance. Today Russell is better known as “The Dancing UPS Man”, with 1.6 million followers on TikTok and 1.2 million on Instagram.

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Russell Butler: The Dancing UPS Man (Pt 2) Jul 30, 2024

The story of the UPS driver who almost committed suicide, found healing, and accidentally started a viral ministry of delivering good vibes through dance. Today Russell is better known as “The Dancing UPS Man”, with 1.6 million followers on TikTok and 1.2 million on Instagram.

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The Carpet Capital of The World Jul 26, 2024

75% of the world's carpets and rugs are produced in Dalton, Georgia. For our latest "Shop Talk", Coach Bill tells the community's powerful assimilation story that's made it possible.

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Yuri Williams: The Superhero Doing 50 State Tours (Pt 1) Jul 23, 2024

After losing his mom to cancer, Yuri was depressed and strangely enough found hope when he created an Instagram account. Posts from Army members Officer Tommy Norman and Rodney Smith lifted his spirits, and he even badgered Rodney to join one of his 50 state tours. Next thing you know these guys have gone on 5 Christmas tours together, with Yuri dressed up as a superhero bringing presents to kids with illnesses or disabilities.

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Yuri Williams: The Superhero Doing 50 State Tours (Pt 2) Jul 23, 2024

After losing his mom to cancer, Yuri was depressed and strangely enough found hope when he created an Instagram account. Posts from Army members Officer Tommy Norman and Rodney Smith lifted his spirits, and he even badgered Rodney to join one of his 50 state tours. Next thing you know these guys have gone on 5 Christmas tours together, with Yuri dressed up as a superhero bringing presents to kids with illnesses or disabilities.

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It All Starts With Education Jul 19, 2024

67% of America's students aren't reading at grade level. What is An Army of Normal Folks going to do about it? Coach Bill's latest Shop Talk.

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Daron Babcock: The Urban Farm That’s Cultivating People (Pt 1) Jul 16, 2024

After the loss of his wife, Daron spiraled out of control and into brawls & cocaine. He found redemption in rehab and eventually dedicated his life to helping others write their redemption stories. Today, Bonton Farms is one of the largest urban farms in the country, but produce is far from its most important fruit.

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Daron Babcock: The Urban Farm That’s Cultivating People (Pt 2) Jul 16, 2024

After the loss of his wife, Daron spiraled out of control and into brawls & cocaine. He found redemption in rehab and eventually dedicated his life to helping others write their redemption stories. Today, Bonton Farms is one of the largest urban farms in the country, but produce is far from its most important fruit.

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Everyone Needs a Yardman Jul 12, 2024

Like normal people. So said Coach Bill's daughter... and just wait until you hear his response on the latest Shop Talk.

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Susan Ramirez: Foster Families Need Angels Too (Pt 1) Jul 09, 2024

Susan knew almost nothing about foster care. And when the blinders came off at 27 years old, her whole life completely changed. She started what is now National Angels, whose 19 chapters have volunteers doing life with 3,000 kids experiencing foster care and their foster parents!

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Susan Ramirez: Foster Families Need Angels Too (Pt 2) Jul 09, 2024

Susan knew almost nothing about foster care. And when the blinders came off at 27 years old, her whole life completely changed. She started what is now National Angels, whose 19 chapters have volunteers doing life with 3,000 kids experiencing foster care and their foster parents!

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What Are We Going To Do With These Kids? Jul 05, 2024

For our latest Shop Talk, Coach Bill shares a fascinating perspective about these "ragged kids" coming up.

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Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson: Teaching 100,000 Kids Chess (Pt 1) Jul 02, 2024

And his goal is 1 million kids. But none of this would’ve happened if a high school teacher didn’t make the effort to teach Orrin chess and show him a better path than his gang life.

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Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson: Teaching 100,000 Kids Chess (Pt 2) Jul 02, 2024

And his goal is 1 million kids. But none of this would’ve happened if a high school teacher didn’t make the effort to teach Orrin chess and show him a better path than his gang life.

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Mike Rowe: Something To Stand For Jun 28, 2024

At a time when only 38% of Americans are extremely proud of being American, Mike Rowe tells us about the patriotic tour de force that is his new film "Something To Stand For", which is in theaters everywhere. Coach Bill also surprises Mike with the impact that he's had on one of our Army members.

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Jim and Melinda Hollandsworth: When Dropping Off Christmas Presents Felt Yucky (Pt 1) Jun 25, 2024

When Jim and Melinda brought presents to a low-income family, they felt off and weird that the relationship would stop there. So they kept coming back to their largely immigrant mobile home park and families asked them to help their kids with homework. Today, their accidental nonprofit Path United operates community centers in 7 mobile home parks and serves 600 kids every week!

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Jim and Melinda Hollandsworth: When Dropping Off Christmas Presents Felt Yucky (Pt 2) Jun 25, 2024

When Jim and Melinda brought presents to a low-income family, they felt off and weird that the relationship would stop there. So they kept coming back to their largely immigrant mobile home park and families asked them to help their kids with homework. Today, their accidental nonprofit Path United operates community centers in 7 mobile home parks and serves 600 kids every week!

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Being Governed By Your Inferiors Jun 21, 2024

For our latest “Shop Talk”, Coach Bill responds to a listener who is interested in working in government and disheartened by our tagline that our country's problems won't be solved by fancy people in DC.

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Dr. Rhonda Smith: I Use Your Podcast in My Classes! (Pt 1) Jun 18, 2024

Professor Rhonda has assigned listening to and reflecting on our podcast to over 400 of her college students. And just wait until you hear her story that led to an extraordinary life of purpose.

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Dr. Rhonda Smith: I Use Your Podcast in My Classes! (Pt 2) Jun 18, 2024

Professor Rhonda has assigned listening to and reflecting on our podcast to over 400 of her college students. And just wait until you hear her story that led to an extraordinary life of purpose.

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Coach Bill Courtney: “I Was Miserable On Father’s Day, Until…” Jun 16, 2024

Our host brings us a special short episode on his difficult and yet redemptive experience with Father’s Day.

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Sparky Reardon: The Model of Servant Leadership Jun 14, 2024

For our latest “Shop Talk”, Coach Bill pays tribute to Ole Miss’ former Dean of Students who changed his life and countless others.

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Don Wettrick: 21st Century Learning (Pt 1) Jun 11, 2024

Don is on the frontlines of challenging our broken 20th century education system with 21st century innovations. As a teacher, he brought unheard of things like “Genius Time” and “open-source learning” to his classroom. And his latest innovation is the StartedUp Foundation, which has helped Indiana teachers engage over 6,000 students with the most elite entrepreneurship pitch competition!

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Don Wettrick: 21st Century Learning (Pt 2) Jun 11, 2024

Don is on the frontlines of challenging our broken 20th century education system with 21st century innovations. As a teacher, he brought unheard of things like “Genius Time” and “open-source learning” to his classroom. And his latest innovation is the StartedUp Foundation, which has helped Indiana teachers engage over 6,000 students with the most elite entrepreneurship pitch competition!

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As My Grandma Was Dying Jun 07, 2024

She taught me a whole lot about grace. For our latest “Shop Talk”, Coach Bill pays tribute to his Gram.

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Carly Rice: Food, Friendship, and Life Transformation (Pt 1) Jun 04, 2024

Carly has experienced molestation, prostitution, sex trafficking, addiction, loss, homelessness on Skid Row, and almost every trauma that you could imagine. Her escape and recovery have fueled her radical empathy for the least among us, starting with welcoming the homeless gentleman who appeared in her garden one day. Today, Miss Carly's has fed thousands out of her own home, and most importantly their volunteers walk alongside the homeless, helping 200 people achieve full recoveries and life transformation.

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Carly Rice: Food, Friendship, and Life Transformation (Pt 2) Jun 04, 2024

Carly has experienced molestation, prostitution, sex trafficking, addiction, loss, homelessness on Skid Row, and almost every trauma that you could imagine. Her escape and recovery have fueled her radical empathy for the least among us, starting with welcoming the homeless gentleman who appeared in her garden one day. Today, Miss Carly's has fed thousands out of her own home, and most importantly their volunteers walk alongside the homeless, helping 200 people achieve full recoveries and life transformation.

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I Wasn't Listening May 31, 2024

Not well enough at least. For "Shop Talk," Coach Bill Courtney gets vulnerable.

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Ronda Paulson: Kids Should Never Sleep in Offices (Pt 1) May 28, 2024

When Ronda Paulson found out that kids entering foster care slept in government offices while they waited to be placed, she got mad at God and heard ‘These are my children, what are you going to do?’ What Ronda did is build a beautiful home to welcome them into and there's now 22 of these Isaiah 117 Houses around the country. And they've loved on over 5,000 kids on what is often the worst day of their lives.

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Ronda Paulson: Kids Should Never Sleep in Offices (Pt 2) May 28, 2024

When Ronda Paulson found out that kids entering foster care slept in government offices while they waited to be placed, she got mad at God and heard ‘These are my children, what are you going to do?’ What Ronda did is build a beautiful home to welcome them into and there's now 22 of these Isaiah 117 Houses around the country. And they've loved on over 5,000 kids on what is often the worst day of their lives.

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Flagging Parents for Parental Interference May 24, 2024

For our "Shop Talk" series, Coach Bill Courtney gives his hot take on a topic that a listener recommended he address... travel youth sports.

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Robert Hill: Friends After 5pm (Pt 1) May 21, 2024

Robert was the beneficiary of older black men who assigned him to a church, placed him in a job, bought him $2,200 worth of professional clothing, and mentored him. They challenged him to do the same for the next generation and he's doing just that through his initiative called Friends After 5, which hosts happy hours to fix the sad reality that not enough black and white Americans are friends after the work day is done. By doing so, Robert believes that we can grow the middle class of both.

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Robert Hill: Friends After 5pm (Pt 2) May 21, 2024

Robert was the beneficiary of older black men who assigned him to a church, placed him in a job, bought him $2,200 worth of professional clothing, and mentored him. They challenged him to do the same for the next generation and he's doing just that through his initiative called Friends After 5, which hosts happy hours to fix the sad reality that not enough black and white Americans are friends after the work day is done. By doing so, Robert believes that we can grow the middle class of both.

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Delicious Kids May 17, 2024

For our "Shop Talk" series, Coach Bill Courtney talks about why he calls his kids delicious. And promises that he's not into cannibalism.

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Hakki Akdeniz: The Once Homeless Immigrant Who's Donated 200k Slices of Pizza (Pt 1) May 14, 2024

Turkish immigrant Hakki Akdeniz ended up homeless in New York City after a friend didn't keep his promise to help him settle there. Through hard work and a ton of normal folks supporting his greatness, Hakki has built a food empire with 20 restaurants that includes Champion's Pizza and frozen pizza that's in 1,600 stores! This walking billboard of the American Dream has 35 million followers on Instagram and it’s largely because of his incredible generosity. We celebrate all of this as part of our Supporting Greatness series.

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Hakki Akdeniz: The Once Homeless Immigrant Who's Donated 200k Slices of Pizza (Pt 2) May 14, 2024

Turkish immigrant Hakki Akdeniz ended up homeless in New York City after a friend didn't keep his promise to help him settle there. Through hard work and a ton of normal folks supporting his greatness, Hakki has built a food empire with 20 restaurants that includes Champion's Pizza and frozen pizza that's in 1,600 stores! This walking billboard of the American Dream has 35 million followers on Instagram and it’s largely because of his incredible generosity. We celebrate all of this as part of our Supporting Greatness series.

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Deep Thoughts on Vacuums May 10, 2024

For our "Shop Talk" series, Coach Bill pontificates on vacuums and when they can hurt you.

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Dr. Scott Morris: Serving 80,000 Underinsured Americans (Pt 1) May 07, 2024

Scott is the founder of Church Health, the largest faith-based privately funded health clinic in the country. Over 1,000 doctors volunteer to serve 80,000 underinsured patients in Memphis!

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Dr. Scott Morris: Serving 80,000 Underinsured Americans (Pt 2) May 07, 2024

Scott is the founder of Church Health, the largest faith-based privately funded health clinic in the country. Over 1,000 doctors volunteer to serve 80,000 underinsured patients in Memphis!

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There Is No Finish Line May 03, 2024

For our “Shop Talk” series, Coach Bill tells the inspirational story of Paralympic gold medalist Katie Holloway. And what we can all learn from her.

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Jeff Deskovic: The Wrongfully Convicted Man Freeing Others Just Like Himself (Pt 1) Apr 30, 2024

At 16 years old, Jeff was wrongfully convicted of raping and murdering a classmate. And after sixteen years in prison, he was finally exonerated. Rather than being dominated by victimhood that no one would have blamed him for, Jeff went to work fighting to free others who’ve been wrongly convicted and he's already freed 11 folks!

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Jeff Deskovic: The Wrongfully Convicted Man Freeing Others Just Like Himself (Pt 2) Apr 30, 2024

At 16 years old, Jeff was wrongfully convicted of raping and murdering a classmate. And after sixteen years in prison, he was finally exonerated. Rather than being dominated by victimhood that no one would have blamed him for, Jeff went to work fighting to free others who’ve been wrongly convicted and he's already freed 11 folks!

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Adrien Lewis: The Ultimate Care-Sharing Network (Pt 1) Apr 23, 2024

Adrien and his bride felt called to foster and adopt three boys. And then came another calling of building a technology platform that connects families whose kids shouldn't be in foster care, but are at-risk because they can’t afford basic needs, with churches and individuals in their area who want to serve those needs. CarePortal has helped 265,000 kids to date and they're just getting started!

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Adrien Lewis: The Ultimate Care-Sharing Network (Pt 2) Apr 23, 2024

Adrien and his bride felt called to foster and adopt three boys. And then came another calling of building a technology platform that connects families whose kids shouldn't be in foster care, but are at-risk because they can’t afford basic needs, with churches and individuals in their area who want to serve those needs. CarePortal has helped 265,000 kids to date and they're just getting started!

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The Power of Dreams (Be Real) Apr 19, 2024

For our “Shop Talk” series, Coach Bill Courtney talks about the necessity of dreams, how they’ve built America, and the danger of unrealistic dreams.

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Pat Koch: The Chief Elf of Santa Claus, Indiana (Pt 1) Apr 16, 2024

Pat Koch and an army of figurative elves respond to upwards of 30,000 letters per year that are addressed to Santa Claus and miraculously arrive in their town of Santa Claus, Indiana. No one is paying them to do this, they're just normal folks doing the right thing because they can. And Pat is officially the "Chief Elf" of the town!

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Pat Koch: The Chief Elf of Santa Claus, Indiana (Pt 2) Apr 16, 2024

Pat Koch and an army of figurative elves respond to upwards of 30,000 letters per year that are addressed to Santa Claus and miraculously arrive in their town of Santa Claus, Indiana. No one is paying them to do this, they're just normal folks doing the right thing because they can. And Pat is officially the "Chief Elf" of the town!

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You Can't Stand On A Trophy Apr 12, 2024

For our "Shop Talk" series, Coach Bill Courtney talks about Bill Clinton, standing on trophies, and life's true foundations.

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Richard Casper: The Secret Weapons of Music and Art (Pt 1) Apr 09, 2024

Richard is a Marine veteran who was subject to 4 IED explosions and concussions in Iraq, his best friend being killed next to him, a traumatic brain injury, and post traumatic stress. He came home dealing with a lot and the arts ultimately saved his life. Richard felt called to bring this secret weapon of healing to his fellow veterans and this year alone his nonprofit CreatiVets will serve over 800 veterans!

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Richard Casper: The Secret Weapons of Music and Art (Pt 2) Apr 09, 2024

Richard is a Marine veteran who was subject to 4 IED explosions and concussions in Iraq, his best friend being killed next to him, a traumatic brain injury, and post traumatic stress. He came home dealing with a lot and the arts ultimately saved his life. Richard felt called to bring this secret weapon of healing to his fellow veterans and this year alone his nonprofit CreatiVets will serve over 800 veterans!

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The Life Lesson I Learned from Holiday Inn's Founder Apr 05, 2024

For our "Shop Talk" series, Coach Bill Courtney shares the story of Holiday Inn founder Kemmons Wilson yanking his chain and teaching him an important life lesson.

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The Farmlink Project: Saving Over 200 Million Pounds of Food (Pt 1) Apr 02, 2024

The COVID pandemic led to two problems that strangely existed at the same time. Millions of Americans were going hungry and yet thousands of commercial farmers were literally dumping food when customers such as restaurants and schools shut down. This didn’t make any sense to Ben Collier, Owen Dubeck, and their ragtag group of college friends, so they decided to become the link between these two worlds. Today, The Farmlink Project has delivered over 200 million pounds of food to people who need it!

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The Farmlink Project: Saving Over 200 Million Pounds of Food (Pt 2) Apr 02, 2024

The COVID pandemic led to two problems that strangely existed at the same time. Millions of Americans were going hungry and yet thousands of commercial farmers were literally dumping food when customers such as restaurants and schools shut down. This didn’t make any sense to Ben Collier, Owen Dubeck, and their ragtag group of college friends, so they decided to become the link between these two worlds. Today, The Farmlink Project has delivered over 200 million pounds of food to people who need it!

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Corey Brooks: The Rooftop Pastor (Pt 1) Mar 26, 2024

When a naked and bloody victim of gang violence ran into his Sunday service, Pastor Corey Brooks committed to staying on the rooftop of the motel that was the headquarters of this nonsense until he had enough money to buy it. 94 days later he succeeded and today his $38 million community center is being built there. The Pastor, along with his nonprofit Project Hood, has improved their neighborhood of Woodlawn from Chicago's 3rd most violent one to the 15th. And they're just getting started.

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Corey Brooks: The Rooftop Pastor (Pt 2) Mar 26, 2024

When a naked and bloody victim of gang violence ran into his Sunday service, Pastor Corey Brooks committed to staying on the rooftop of the motel that was the headquarters of this nonsense until he had enough money to buy it. 94 days later he succeeded and today his $38 million community center is being built there. The Pastor, along with his nonprofit Project Hood, has improved their neighborhood of Woodlawn from Chicago's 3rd most violent one to the 15th. And they're just getting started.

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If It Weren’t for Lane Kiffin, I Wouldn’t Have Won An Oscar Mar 22, 2024

For our "Shop Talk" series, Coach Bill Courtney shares the behind-the-scenes story of the Oscar-winning documentary Undefeated. It’s on Amazon Prime and Esquire named it one of the top 20 sports films of all-time.

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Big Al Holdren: We Don’t Do Fluffy, We Only Roll Into Hell (Pt 1) Mar 19, 2024

Big Al is our first 2-time guest! After our story about his Christmas charity, Secret Families, Al told us that he and a small army of normal folks also respond to natural disasters. They serve however normal folks like themselves can, but it just can't be fluffy.

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Big Al Holdren: We Don’t Do Fluffy, We Only Roll Into Hell (Pt 2) Mar 19, 2024

Big Al is our first 2-time guest! After our story about his Christmas charity, Secret Families, Al told us that he and a small army of normal folks also respond to natural disasters. They serve however normal folks like themselves can, but it just can't be fluffy.

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My Employee Sam Quinn, A Common Laborer Who Was Anything But Common Mar 15, 2024

For our "Shop Talk" series, Coach Bill Courtney pays tribute to his late employee Sam Quinn, who had an extraordinary redemption story.

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Ben and Jessica Owen: Transforming Dope Houses Into Hope Houses (Pt 2) Mar 12, 2024

The Owens battled addiction in some of Memphis’ worst dope houses. When they left town to escape this life, Ben felt called to eventually come back to help those whom they left behind. Today, their nonprofit We Fight Monsters owns some of the very houses that they once used in, transforming them into hope houses for 75 people touched by recovery and sex trafficking.

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Ben and Jessica Owen: Transforming Dope Houses Into Hope Houses (Pt 1) Mar 11, 2024

The Owens battled addiction in some of Memphis’ worst dope houses. When they left town to escape this life, Ben felt called to eventually come back to help those whom they left behind. Today, their nonprofit We Fight Monsters owns some of the very houses that they once used in, transforming them into hope houses for 75 people touched by recovery and sex trafficking.

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Richard McKinney: I Was Going To Bomb Their Mosque, But Then They Loved Me (Pt 1) Mar 05, 2024

Veteran Richard McKinney hated Muslims and after returning from Iraq, he couldn't stand seeing "the enemy" in his community of Muncie, Indiana. He visited their mosque to justify his planned bombing of it, but their love for him completely transformed his heart. Ultimately, Richard converted to Islam and even served as the mosque’s President.

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Richard McKinney: I Was Going To Bomb Their Mosque, But Then They Loved Me (Pt 2) Mar 05, 2024

Veteran Richard McKinney hated Muslims and after returning from Iraq, he couldn't stand seeing "the enemy" in his community of Muncie, Indiana. He visited their mosque to justify his planned bombing of it, but their love for him completely transformed his heart. Ultimately, Richard converted to Islam and even served as the mosque’s President.

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The Story of Chucky Mullins, Brad Gaines, and the Sigma Nu Charity Bowl Mar 01, 2024

For our "Shop Talk" series, Coach Bill Courtney shares the story of an unlikely hero who inspired the largest collegiate philanthropy event in the country.

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Scott Strode: Rising From The Ashes… Together (Pt 1) Feb 27, 2024

After struggling with addiction for almost 2 decades, Scott Strode found hope while ice climbing. The healing power of nature and community radically transformed his life. And Scott couldn’t not share his secret with the rest of the world too. The Phoenix was born and this year their sober movement is expected to serve more than 400,000 people!

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Scott Strode: Rising From The Ashes… Together (Pt 2) Feb 27, 2024

After struggling with addiction for almost 2 decades, Scott Strode found hope while ice climbing. The healing power of nature and community radically transformed his life. And Scott couldn’t not share his secret with the rest of the world too. The Phoenix was born and this year their sober movement is expected to serve more than 400,000 people!

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I Buried The Man Who Shot At Me Feb 23, 2024

For our “Shop Talk” series, Coach Bill Courtney shares one of the most vulnerable stories of his life.

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Trina Frierson: “I’m a 17-Time Felon Employing a Doctor” (Pt 1) Feb 20, 2024

After racking up 17 felonies, Trina finally had enough and had a vision for a resource center to help other women like herself. Today, her nonprofit Mending Hearts has grown into something far beyond her wildest imagination, owning 15 homes in Nashville that provide shelter, hope, and healing to women who are homeless due to addiction and mental health disorders.

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Trina Frierson: “I’m a 17-Time Felon Employing a Doctor” (Pt 2) Feb 20, 2024

After racking up 17 felonies, Trina finally had enough and had a vision for a resource center to help other women like herself. Today, her nonprofit Mending Hearts has grown into something far beyond her wildest imagination, owning 15 homes in Nashville that provide shelter, hope, and healing to women who are homeless due to addiction and mental health disorders.

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Ask Me Anything: Should Privilege Stop Us From Serving? Feb 16, 2024

Coach Bill Courtney answers this question from a premium member of An Army of Normal Folks.

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Ellen Yarborough: From Schoolhouse to Firehouse (Pt 1) Feb 13, 2024

There are 677,000 volunteer firefighters across America and Ellen Yarborough joined their ranks at 45 years old. The history teacher then accidentally pioneered giving her students academic credit for their service as fire cadets, which they can do as young as 14 years old! Her model called “Schoolhouse to Firehouse” is inspiring the next generation of firefighters and community leaders.

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Ellen Yarborough: From Schoolhouse to Firehouse (Pt 2) Feb 13, 2024

There are 677,000 volunteer firefighters across America and Ellen Yarborough joined their ranks at 45 years old. The history teacher then accidentally pioneered giving her students academic credit for their service as fire cadets, which they can do as young as 14 years old! Her model called “Schoolhouse to Firehouse” is inspiring the next generation of firefighters and community leaders.

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Melvin Cole: Saving Kids Just Like Me (Pt 1) Feb 06, 2024

In Melvin’s family, you were either a drug dealer or a junkie. At 8 years old, he remembers choosing between these two options and joined his family’s cocaine ring that was arguably the largest in West Tennessee history. It led him to one of the most desperate situations you could imagine and making a deal with God to get out of it. He promised to save other inner-city Memphis kids just like him and that’s exactly what PURE Academy has done.

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Melvin Cole: Saving Kids Just Like Me (Pt 2) Feb 06, 2024

In Melvin’s family, you were either a drug dealer or a junkie. At 8 years old, he remembers choosing between these two options and joined his family’s cocaine ring that was arguably the largest in West Tennessee history. It led him to one of the most desperate situations you could imagine and making a deal with God to get out of it. He promised to save other inner-city Memphis kids just like him and that’s exactly what PURE Academy has done.

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William Paul Young: They Saved My Life (Pt 1) Jan 30, 2024

25 million books sold, a film starring Tim McGraw and Octavia Spencer, and tens of millions of lives touched. But the extraordinary impact of The Shack never would have happened if 3 different people didn't save the life of the author, William Paul Young. For our special "Supporting Greatness" series, Paul pays tribute to these unsung heroes.

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William Paul Young: They Saved My Life (Pt 2) Jan 30, 2024

25 million books sold, a film starring Tim McGraw and Octavia Spencer, and tens of millions of lives touched. But the extraordinary impact of The Shack never would have happened if 3 different people didn't save the life of the author, William Paul Young. For our special "Supporting Greatness" series, Paul pays tribute to these unsung heroes.

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Christina Mendez: The Fashion Designer Who Wound Up In The Trades (Pt 1) Jan 23, 2024

While working as a fashion designer, Christina found herself being the only girl volunteering with an army of tradesmen to renovate buildings for nonprofits—and she loved it! The amazing work of Servant’s Heart Ministry has turned out to be her true calling that she never could have expected.

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Christina Mendez: The Fashion Designer Who Wound Up In The Trades (Pt 2) Jan 23, 2024

While working as a fashion designer, Christina found herself being the only girl volunteering with an army of tradesmen to renovate buildings for nonprofits—and she loved it! The amazing work of Servant’s Heart Ministry has turned out to be her true calling that she never could have expected.

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Jane Borochoff: Special Olympics for Jobs (Pt 1) Jan 16, 2024

After marrying her husband whose son Bradley has an intellectual & developmental disability (IDD), Jane heroically gave up her own job to try to help train him for one. In our broken culture where 66% of adults like Bradley are not employed, Jane’s nonprofit called The H.E.A.R.T. Program has broken the mold and helped more than 1,000 adults with IDDs operate 90 vending machines, concession stands at Rockets and Texans games, and achieve their full potential.

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Jane Borochoff: Special Olympics for Jobs (Pt 2) Jan 16, 2024

After marrying her husband whose son Bradley has an intellectual & developmental disability (IDD), Jane heroically gave up her own job to try to help train him for one. In our broken culture where 66% of adults like Bradley are not employed, Jane’s nonprofit called The H.E.A.R.T. Program has broken the mold and helped more than 1,000 adults with IDDs operate 90 vending machines, concession stands at Rockets and Texans games, and achieve their full potential.

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Tim Sittema: Money Isn’t The Only Scorecard (Pt 1) Jan 09, 2024

After decades working as a traditional real estate developer, one day Tim Sittema was shocked by a study that ranked his city of Charlotte as dead last in upward mobility out of the top 50 cities and he couldn’t unsee this reality. Tim felt called to dedicate 50% of his time on a type of development that you would never do if your goal was to make money: affordable housing. He’s since built around 500 affordable housing units, with another 500 on the way!

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Tim Sittema: Money Isn’t The Only Scorecard (Pt 2) Jan 09, 2024

After decades working as a traditional real estate developer, one day Tim Sittema was shocked by a study that ranked his city of Charlotte as dead last in upward mobility out of the top 50 cities and he couldn’t unsee this reality. Tim felt called to dedicate 50% of his time on a type of development that you would never do if your goal was to make money: affordable housing. He’s since built around 500 affordable housing units, with another 500 on the way!

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Alice Marie Johnson: Bloom Where You’re Planted… In Prison (Pt 1) Jan 02, 2024

In 1996, Alice decided to “bloom where you’re planted”—in prison. After receiving an unexpected life sentence, she got to work serving her fellow prisoners by helping them with vocational training, organizing plays, the very first Special Olympics events in a prison, and even loving some as they died as a hospice volunteer. And once she got pardoned, Alice’s service has only accelerated.

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Alice Marie Johnson: Bloom Where You’re Planted… In Prison (Pt 2) Jan 02, 2024

In 1996, Alice decided to “bloom where you’re planted”—in prison. After receiving an unexpected life sentence, she got to work serving her fellow prisoners by helping them with vocational training, organizing plays, the very first Special Olympics events in a prison, and even loving some as they died as a hospice volunteer. And once she got pardoned, Alice’s service has only accelerated.

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Jessica Lamb: Changing Lives One Tattoo At A Time (Pt 1) Dec 26, 2023

Jessica is a survivor of child molestation and human trafficking, who found her calling helping other survivors transform painful reminders of their past into symbols of hope. Her nonprofit Atlanta Redemption Ink, and their network of 80 tattoo shops across the country, have helped 673 people get tattoos removed and covered up that were from their sex traffickers, gangs, addiction, or self-harm.

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Jessica Lamb: Changing Lives One Tattoo At A Time (Pt 2) Dec 26, 2023

Jessica is a survivor of child molestation and human trafficking, who found her calling helping other survivors transform painful reminders of their past into symbols of hope. Her nonprofit Atlanta Redemption Ink, and their network of 80 tattoo shops across the country, have helped 673 people get tattoos removed and covered up that were from their sex traffickers, gangs, addiction, or self-harm.

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Big Al Holdren: An Army of Normal Elves Dec 19, 2023

Al is the co-founder of Secret Families, which just over two weeks ago provided over 10,000 Christmas gifts to 2,000 kids whose families couldn’t afford them in their community of Muncie, Indiana. Their Army of 2,200 volunteers, more like elves in this case, make it all happen on a single Saturday in only 10 hours!

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Orphans Building Beds For Kids Without Them Dec 12, 2023

After Rev. John Anderson heard our episode on Sleep in Heavenly Peace (who’s built 140k beds for kids without them), he decided to play it for his friend Andre Forges, who started crying. Andre, a former orphan who’s since created a Haitian orphanage called Place of Hope, decided at that moment that their orphans would build beds for Haitian kids without them!

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Lee Robbins: We Don’t Need 2nd Chances, We Need Better Chances (Pt 1) Dec 05, 2023

The pastor and businessman never expected to find himself in prison, and yet there he was. So he decided to dive in, serving the minds and souls of the men around him. When Lee got out, he started a re-entry program called Vital Signs, which has helped over 1,800 returning citizens, boasts a recidivism rate of only 2%, and our favorite part is that it’s self-sustaining!

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Lee Robbins: We Don’t Need 2nd Chances, We Need Better Chances (Pt 2) Dec 05, 2023

The pastor and businessman never expected to find himself in prison, and yet there he was. So he decided to dive in, serving the minds and souls of the men around him. When Lee got out, he started a re-entry program called Vital Signs, which has helped over 1,800 returning citizens, boasts a recidivism rate of only 2%, and our favorite part is that it’s self-sustaining!

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Troy and Erica Andrews: Be A Constant in a Child’s Life (Pt 1) Nov 28, 2023

After suffering through a failed adoption, Troy and Erica put themselves through the process again. It’s a wild story with twists and turns that would have led many to give up, but not these two. Today, there’s around 117,000 kids waiting to be adopted.

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Troy and Erica Andrews: Be A Constant in a Child’s Life (Pt 2) Nov 28, 2023

After suffering through a failed adoption, Troy and Erica put themselves through the process again. It’s a wild story with twists and turns that would have led many to give up, but not these two. Today, there’s around 117,000 kids waiting to be adopted.

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Deb Ellinger: Serving Women Who Are Sexually Trafficked (Pt 1) Nov 21, 2023

Deb had just lost her own house to foreclosure when she decided to start Elli’s House, which builds relationships with women who are sexually trafficked in Detroit and offers them safe shelter for transitioning to a new life. Their army of volunteers are bringing light to one of the darkest places in our country.

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Deb Ellinger: Serving Women Who Are Sexually Trafficked (Pt 2) Nov 21, 2023

Deb had just lost her own house to foreclosure when she decided to start Elli’s House, which builds relationships with women who are sexually trafficked in Detroit and offers them safe shelter for transitioning to a new life. Their army of volunteers are bringing light to one of the darkest places in our country.

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Don't Be A Turkey Person Nov 16, 2023

We've launched a campaign called “Don’t Be A Turkey Person” to challenge all of us this Thanksgiving and holiday season, and it isn’t about not eating turkey. Coach Bill Courtney shares one of the most important life lessons he's ever learned and it was from one of his 17-year-old football players.

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Bob Zaccheo: Therapy Under The Hood of a Car Nov 14, 2023

Realizing that his traditional therapy was failing kids with substance abuse and mental health challenges, Bob Zaccheo was tired of it and so one day he decided to do something wildly different. His Project LIFT now successfully trains over 1,000 troubled teens a year in 11 different trades, while they do therapy in these natural settings, such as "under the hood of a car". They're solving 4 of society's biggest challenges all at once (the skilled trades gap, poverty, mental health, addiction) and there should be a chapter in every region of America.

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Manu Meel: The Accidental Unifier Nov 07, 2023

Manu wasn’t planning to dedicate his life to preserving our democracy, but a riot broke out on his college campus and he accidentally became a unifying force for all sides. Today, he’s trying to unify the country as the CEO of BridgeUSA, whose chapters at 50 colleges and 24 high schools equip the next generation with the skills to navigate conflict and find solutions across differences.

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Shane Young: Inner-City Rugby (Pt 1) Oct 31, 2023

Shane is the co-founder of Memphis Inner-City Rugby, which has brought a sport that was pretty darn foreign to the inner-city to 2,400 students! 100% of them have been accepted into college or the military, 60 of them have played collegiate rugby, and they've helped their players receive more than $5 million in scholarships.

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Shane Young: Inner-City Rugby (Pt 2) Oct 31, 2023

Shane is the co-founder of Memphis Inner-City Rugby, which has brought a sport that was pretty darn foreign to the inner-city to 2,400 students! 100% of them have been accepted into college or the military, 60 of them have played collegiate rugby, and they've helped their players receive more than $5 million in scholarships.

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Chad Houser: Eat, Drink, Change Lives Oct 24, 2023

Chad's life was forever changed when he was asked to teach 8 young men in juvenile detention how to make ice cream. The chef couldn't go back to running a "normal" restaurant and felt he had no choice but to launch Cafe Momentum, an award-winning Dallas restaurant that’s 100% run by youth leaving the juvenile justice system. Over 1,000 youth have worked there as paid interns while also benefiting from 12 months of case management and programming. Their incredible model has expanded into Pittsburgh and they're ready to scale across the country.

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John Currence: Saving Willie Mae's Oct 17, 2023

After Hurricane Katrina struck his hometown, Chef John Currence knew he had to do something and he quickly found it in saving the restaurant/home of an 89 year-old News Orleans woman named Willie Mae. He thought renovating Willie Mae’s Scotch House, whose fried chicken has been called the best in the world, would only take a few weeks. But John and an army of volunteers ended up rebuilding it for 16 months. And John, heroically went back and forth almost every single week, between his adopted home of Oxford, MS and his native New Orleans, which was 5 hours away.

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Staff Sgt. David Bellavia: The Only Living Medal of Honor Recipient from the Iraq War Oct 10, 2023

This episode is kind of a “betweener”— part Normal Folks and part our special series Supporting Greatness. It may seem like a stretch to call a Medal of Honor recipient normal, but he wasn’t some big wig general, literally went house to house clearing insurgents in Iraq, and it’s not like he campaigned for the medal. But we definitely wanted to interview David about who’s supported him and he powerfully talks about his grandfather, his dad, the men he served with in the “Ramrods”, and a Gold Star mom.

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Stacy Horst: My Daughter’s Hope for Friends (Pt 1) Oct 03, 2023

Stacy’s daughter Erin was bullied and excluded by her peers because she had autism, which led to taking her own life at 17 years old. Only four days later, Stacy and her husband Darren heroically decided that they would do everything in their power to prevent any other family from going through this. Their non-profit, Erin’s Hope for Friends, opened a physical location called “e’s Club” where more than 400 teens and young adults with autism go on the weekends and build friendships.

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Stacy Horst: My Daughter’s Hope for Friends (Pt 2) Oct 03, 2023

Stacy’s daughter Erin was bullied and excluded by her peers because she had autism, which led to taking her own life at 17 years old. Only four days later, Stacy and her husband Darren heroically decided that they would do everything in their power to prevent any other family from going through this. Their non-profit, Erin’s Hope for Friends, opened a physical location called “e’s Club” where more than 400 teens and young adults with autism go on the weekends and build friendships.

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Enrique: I’m Giving Back To St. Jude For What They Gave To Us (Pt 1) Sep 26, 2023

Enrique’s 3-year-old daughter Arianna was diagnosed with an incredibly rare brain cancer and they were told that she would never turn 4. Arianna was then accepted as a patient by St. Jude, the leading childhood cancer hospital where families don’t pay a dime, and they gave her an additional 4 years of life. Enrique is so grateful to St. Jude that he’s now working for their awareness and fundraising organization.

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Enrique: I’m Giving Back To St. Jude For What They Gave To Us (Pt 2) Sep 26, 2023

Enrique’s 3-year-old daughter Arianna was diagnosed with an incredibly rare brain cancer and they were told that she would never turn 4. Arianna was then accepted as a patient by St. Jude, the leading childhood cancer hospital where families don’t pay a dime, and they gave her an additional 4 years of life. Enrique is so grateful to St. Jude that he’s now working for their awareness and fundraising organization.

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Kagan Coughlin: Coding in Rural Mississippi (Pt 1) Sep 19, 2023

Kagan’s Base Camp Coding Academy trains high school graduates in rural Mississippi to become software developers in 12 months, and it’s 100% free to them! Their over 100 graduates have gone on to work for major corporations such as FedEx, Cspire, and CoreLogic. They’re helping solve the opportunity deficit in rural America, while at the same time solving a talent deficit for companies not based in major tech hubs like Silicon Valley.

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Gina Harris: 1,700 Heroic Photographers (Pt 2) Sep 12, 2023

When Gina’s son was stillborn, she asked Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep for one of their volunteer photographers to capture her only moments with David at the hospital and this remembrance photography is her most cherished possession. There’s 1,700 volunteer photographers around the world who’ve given free portrait sessions to 70,000 families like hers and Gina is now the CEO of this nonprofit that means so much to her. But there’s still many communities without volunteers and hopefully the Army can help.

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Gina Harris: 1,700 Heroic Photographers (Pt 1) Sep 11, 2023

When Gina’s son was stillborn, she asked Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep for one of their volunteer photographers to capture her only moments with David at the hospital and this remembrance photography is her most cherished possession. There’s 1,700 volunteer photographers around the world who’ve given free portrait sessions to 70,000 families like hers and Gina is now the CEO of this nonprofit that means so much to her. But there’s still many communities without volunteers and hopefully the Army can help.

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Sonia Agron: Volunteering at Ground Zero Made Her Sick, But She Doesn’t Regret It (Pt 1) Sep 05, 2023

When the World Trade Center was struck on 9/11, Sonia promised her husband, an NYPD officer who responded to the attack, that she wouldn’t go to the site to help. But she couldn’t keep that promise and volunteered as a recovery worker at Ground Zero on overnight shifts. In addition to grieving their losses, the Agrons soon began to deal with various illnesses brought on by exposure to Ground Zero’s toxic environment. In spite of this, Sonia has continued volunteering by leading tours at the 9/11 Tribute Museum and 9/11 Memorial.

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Sonia Agron: Volunteering at Ground Zero Made Her Sick, But She Doesn’t Regret It (Pt 2) Sep 05, 2023

When the World Trade Center was struck on 9/11, Sonia promised her husband, an NYPD officer who responded to the attack, that she wouldn’t go to the site to help. But she couldn’t keep that promise and volunteered as a recovery worker at Ground Zero on overnight shifts. In addition to grieving their losses, the Agrons soon began to deal with various illnesses brought on by exposure to Ground Zero’s toxic environment. In spite of this, Sonia has continued volunteering by leading tours at the 9/11 Tribute Museum and 9/11 Memorial.

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Wendy Steele: 100 Women Transforming Their Community (Pt 1) Aug 29, 2023

Wendy was frustrated that many women weren’t able to participate in female philanthropy that was usually time-based such as bake sales and events. So one day she dreamt up a whole new world called Impact 100—where 100 women each give $1,000 and together they’d make a transformative gift of $100,000 in their community. Today, there’s Impact 100 chapters in 60 cities and they've collectively given away more than $123 million!

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Wendy Steele: 100 Women Transforming Their Community (Pt 2) Aug 29, 2023

Wendy was frustrated that many women weren’t able to participate in female philanthropy that was usually time-based such as bake sales and events. So one day she dreamt up a whole new world called Impact 100—where 100 women each give $1,000 and together they’d make a transformative gift of $100,000 in their community. Today, there’s Impact 100 chapters in 60 cities and they've collectively given away more than $123 million!

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Tiani Shoemaker Clyde: Little Miracles for Single Moms (Pt 1) Aug 22, 2023

Tiani found herself navigating uncharted territory as a single mother to three children. After struggling for years, she found stability as a real estate agent and felt called to help single mothers like herself, leading her to create Little Miracles. The nonprofit has helped 86 families with home improvements and has inspired an army of over 1,800 volunteers.

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Tiani Shoemaker Clyde: Little Miracles for Single Moms (Pt 2) Aug 22, 2023

Tiani found herself navigating uncharted territory as a single mother to three children. After struggling for years, she found stability as a real estate agent and felt called to help single mothers like herself, leading her to create Little Miracles. The nonprofit has helped 86 families with home improvements and has inspired an army of over 1,800 volunteers.

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Amy Crenshaw’s Cafe: Where The Homeless and Bankers Eat Together (Pt 1) Aug 15, 2023

Amy and her husband Jim adopted 6 kids. And because Amy apparently didn’t have enough on her plate, she then founded ComeUnity Cafe in Jackson, TN. The non-profit, donation-based cafe has a suggested donation amount and if you can’t afford it, you can volunteer there for your meal. This extraordinary model enables everyone to break bread together and be in community with one another.

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Amy Crenshaw’s Cafe: Where The Homeless and Bankers Eat Together (Pt 2) Aug 15, 2023

Amy and her husband Jim adopted 6 kids. And because Amy apparently didn’t have enough on her plate, she then founded ComeUnity Cafe in Jackson, TN. The non-profit, donation-based cafe has a suggested donation amount and if you can’t afford it, you can volunteer there for your meal. This extraordinary model enables everyone to break bread together and be in community with one another.

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Mike Rowe: The Most Normal Abnormal Person (Pt 1) Aug 08, 2023

Mike kicks off our special series “Supporting Greatness” where we interview those who’ve achieved public greatness about the unsung heroes and normal folks who’ve supported them. He hilariously (and beautifully) pays tribute to his father, grandfather, scoutmaster, and high school music teacher.

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Mike Rowe: The Most Normal Abnormal Person (Pt 2) Aug 08, 2023

Mike kicks off our special series “Supporting Greatness” where we interview those who’ve achieved public greatness about the unsung heroes and normal folks who’ve supported them. He hilariously (and beautifully) pays tribute to his father, grandfather, scoutmaster, and high school music teacher.

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Rodney Smith Jr: The 50 Yard Challenge (Pt 1) Aug 01, 2023

When he saw an elderly man struggling to mow his lawn, Rodney felt called to pull over and finish it for him. This single act of generosity transformed Rodney's life forever, inspiring him to challenge kids to cut 50 lawns for free for the elderly, single parents, veterans, and those with disabilities. And his "50 Yard Challenge" has been accepted by 4,948 kids from 8 countries!

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Rodney Smith Jr: The 50 Yard Challenge (Pt 2) Aug 01, 2023

When he saw an elderly man struggling to mow his lawn, Rodney felt called to pull over and finish it for him. This single act of generosity transformed Rodney's life forever, inspiring him to challenge kids to cut 50 lawns for free for the elderly, single parents, veterans, and those with disabilities. And his "50 Yard Challenge" has been accepted by 4,948 kids from 8 countries!

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Arshay Cooper: Inner-City Rowing (Pt 1) Jul 25, 2023

Arshay grew up on the West Side of Chicago and his life was forever changed when he joined the first all-black high school rowing team in the nation (and became the captain). As an adult, Arshay found success as a chef before returning to his true passion by starting inner-city rowing teams. He’s the author of “A Most Beautiful Thing,” which was made into a critically-acclaimed documentary by Common, Dwayne Wade, and Grant Hill.

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Arshay Cooper: Inner-City Rowing (Pt 2) Jul 25, 2023

Arshay grew up on the West Side of Chicago and his life was forever changed when he joined the first all-black high school rowing team in the nation (and became the captain). As an adult, Arshay found success as a chef before returning to his true passion by starting inner-city rowing teams. He’s the author of “A Most Beautiful Thing,” which was made into a critically-acclaimed documentary by Common, Dwayne Wade, and Grant Hill.

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Arshay Cooper: Inner-City Rowing (Pt 3) Jul 25, 2023

Arshay grew up on the West Side of Chicago and his life was forever changed when he joined the first all-black high school rowing team in the nation (and became the captain). As an adult, Arshay found success as a chef before returning to his true passion by starting inner-city rowing teams. He’s the author of “A Most Beautiful Thing,” which was made into a critically-acclaimed documentary by Common, Dwayne Wade, and Grant Hill.

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Luke Mickelson: No Kid Sleeps On The Floor In Our Town! (Pt 1) Jul 18, 2023

In 2012 Luke was inspired to build and donate a bed after learning about a 6-year-old girl in his community who slept on the floor. Realizing how widespread the need was, Luke founded Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), a volunteer-driven nonprofit whose 285 chapters have built around 140,000 beds for kids without them. But there’s many more areas that need chapters and there’s many more kids without beds.

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Luke Mickelson: No Kid Sleeps On The Floor In Our Town! (Pt 2) Jul 18, 2023

In 2012 Luke was inspired to build and donate a bed after learning about a 6-year-old girl in his community who slept on the floor. Realizing how widespread the need was, Luke founded Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), a volunteer-driven nonprofit whose 285 chapters have built around 140,000 beds for kids without them. But there’s many more areas that need chapters and there’s many more kids without beds.

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Cheri Garcia: Hustling for Second Chances (And Cornbread) (Pt 1) Jul 11, 2023

Cheri used to be gripped by meth and alcohol. Even during her own struggles with addiction, she helped formerly incarcerated Americans get jobs. Today, Cheri’s been sober for 4.5 years and her second chance staffing agency Cornbread Hustle hired more than 1,000 returning citizens last year.

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Cheri Garcia: Hustling for Second Chances (And Cornbread) (Pt 2) Jul 11, 2023

Cheri used to be gripped by meth and alcohol. Even during her own struggles with addiction, she helped formerly incarcerated Americans get jobs. Today, Cheri’s been sober for 4.5 years and her second chance staffing agency Cornbread Hustle hired more than 1,000 returning citizens last year.

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Cheri Garcia: Hustling for Second Chances (And Cornbread) (Pt 3) Jul 11, 2023

Cheri used to be gripped by meth and alcohol. Even during her own struggles with addiction, she helped formerly incarcerated Americans get jobs. Today, Cheri’s been sober for 4.5 years and her second chance staffing agency Cornbread Hustle hired more than 1,000 returning citizens last year.

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Chavis Daniels: Mentoring 1,000 Kids (Pt 1) Jul 04, 2023

Chavis Daniels played football for Coach Bill Courtney and was one of the accidental stars of the Oscar-winning film Undefeated. But that’s not why he’s a member of the Army. Chavis went on to found The North Memphis Steelers, a mentoring and athletics nonprofit that helps at-risk kids in the same challenging neighborhood where he grew up.

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Chavis Daniels: Mentoring 1,000 Kids (Pt 2) Jul 04, 2023

Chavis Daniels played football for Coach Bill Courtney and was one of the accidental stars of the Oscar-winning film Undefeated. But that’s not why he’s a member of the Army. Chavis went on to found The North Memphis Steelers, a mentoring and athletics nonprofit that helps at-risk kids in the same challenging neighborhood where he grew up.

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Will the Army Act? Jun 30, 2023

Our episode with Erin Smith and Thomas already inspired one listener to become a volunteer with CASA! But what if the Army could pay off Thomas’ college debt? After a childhood of physical and sexual abuse, this foster youth deserves to be free from a burden that the state forced upon him.

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Erin Smith: Advocating for Thomas (Pt 1) Jun 27, 2023

Thomas is a foster child who’s been physically and sexually abused. He never had an adult advocate until Erin Smith stepped in. Erin is the founder of the North Mississippi CASA program – a program which nationwide has 85,000 volunteers who advocate for 260,000 foster kids in the legal system and in life. But there are still 140,000 kids who need the Army's help.

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Erin Smith: Advocating for Thomas (Pt 2) Jun 27, 2023

Thomas is a foster child who’s been physically and sexually abused. He never had an adult advocate until Erin Smith stepped in. Erin is the founder of the North Mississippi CASA program – a program which nationwide has 85,000 volunteers who advocate for 260,000 foster kids in the legal system and in life. But there are still 140,000 kids who need the Army's help.

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Jon Ponder: Hope for Prisoners (Pt 1) Jun 20, 2023

After 26 years of crime, Jon ironically found hope in prison and committed his life to helping other returning citizens live at levels that they had never dreamed about. His Hope for Prisoners has had over 4,700 clients and boasts a recidivism rate of only 8%, which is over 8 times better than the national average. Most extraordinary is that they've recruited 135 Las Vegas law enforcement officers to mentor returning citizens, which has never been done at this scale before.

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Jon Ponder: Hope for Prisoners (Pt 2) Jun 20, 2023

After 26 years of crime, Jon ironically found hope in prison and committed his life to helping other returning citizens live at levels that they had never dreamed about. His Hope for Prisoners has had over 4,700 clients and boasts a recidivism rate of only 8%, which is over 8 times better than the national average. Most extraordinary is that they've recruited 135 Las Vegas law enforcement officers to mentor returning citizens, which has never been done at this scale before.

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Coach Bill Courtney: “I Was Miserable on Father’s Day, Until…" Jun 18, 2023

Our host brings us a special short episode on his difficult and yet redemptive experience with Father’s Day.

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Anne Mahlum: Homeless Running Clubs (Pt 2) Jun 13, 2023

Anne dives into how she didn't save any homeless Americans. They transformed their own identity through running. And then transformed their lives.

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Anne Mahlum: Homeless Running Clubs (Pt 1) Jun 13, 2023

At 26 years old, Anne was working through a lot of pain and running was her "cheap therapy". After running by a homeless shelter hundreds of times, one day she had the radical idea of inviting the homeless to run with her. Starting with 9 guys in 1 city, her nonprofit Back on My Feet has since helped over 7,500 former homeless Americans get jobs and independent housing in 15 cities. And they should be in every city across our country.

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Officer Tommy Norman: “The Michael Jordan of Community Policing” (Pt 3) Jun 06, 2023

In Part 3, Tommy shares a devastating loss that's all-too-close to home. In spite of his pain, he continues to keep serving his community.

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Officer Tommy Norman: “The Michael Jordan of Community Policing” (Pt 2) Jun 06, 2023

In Part 2, we dive deep into community policing. And just wait until you hear Tommy's version of it.

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Officer Tommy Norman: "The Michael Jordan of Community Policing" (Pt 1) Jun 06, 2023

Tommy is the most famous police officer in America, with 2 million followers on Facebook and 1 million on Instagram. His radical and yet simple love for his community accidentally made him famous. However, that's not what motivates him and he's committed to staying in his same beat in North Little Rock, AR. Whatever your calling, his love will inspire you.

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Introducing: An Army of Normal Folks May 25, 2023

Our country’s problems will never be solved by a bunch of fancy people in nice suits talking big words on CNN and Fox, but by An Army of Normal Folks just deciding “hey, I can help.” Hosted by Coach Bill Courtney from the Oscar-winning Undefeated, this podcast is building the Army and celebrating its extraordinary members. Starting on June 6th, new episodes are released every Tuesday.

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