More2mystory Podcast

Walter Donald "Don" Drover was born in Oklahoma and is a self proclaimed "Baby Boomer".   He studied at General Motors Institute on their 5 year engineering program and then went on to get his MBA at Indiana University.  He has many great qualities including making everyone feel welcome, liked, and appreciated.  After a long career in business and as a business owner, Don retired and kept busy.  He currently volunteers as AARP tax aid, a station captain and regular at the local Sleep in Heavenly Peace chapter, and helping those in need.  We really enjoyed the stories of camping, road trips, almost running out of gas, and more.  Listen in to learn more to Don's story. 

Jennifer was born and raised in Houston.  She excelled at gymnastics at an early age and continued with it through middle school.  After graduating from High School and taking a few college courses she got an opportunity with an insurance company.  This led to a 21 year career with many promotions, certifications, and led to become a Risk Insurance Specialist.  She has overcome many hurdles and challenges throughout her life but has always managed to learn and grow from each.  She currently sings with Northwoods Presbyterian Church Journey Band, has a side business called "Love Desserts", and is a partner in a wellness business called "Redemption Fitness and Wellness Coaching".   Jennifer was so engaging and personal, you will feel you were in the room with us.  Listen up and enjoy.

Todd  was born in Minnesota and raised by his adoptive parents in the small town of Stillwater, Minnesota.  He started taking piano lessons when he was in kindergarten which quickly turned into playing the organ.  In the seventh grade he became a church organist .  One of Todd's first jobs was working at a country club which led to his interests in golf and in cooking.  in addition to working at the country club, he also padded his wallet as a piano player at local bars for tips.   Todd is well traveled and discusses his dream to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain.  We had such a good time speaking with Todd and hearing about his life.  Enjoy!

Bruce Green is a friend to many and to most of the people he meets.  He is a native Texan, having grown up in Porter, Texas among his family and extended family all living next to each other.  He talks about how he gained so much from his parents and working with his father at the grocery store his father owned and operated.  Bruce  talks about working in construction out of high school, playing competitive softball which uniquely led to a career with MBCI for the past 30 years.  He educates us about Freemasonry or the Fraternal order of Masons and how important this is for him.  We discuss him meeting and marrying Alice Green and then the birth of his son, Charlie, and his grandson  Lindon being born on the same day.   We have such a great time with Bruce, we believe you will enjoy it.

We pick up in this episode with John Butler as we discuss his cancer illness, the long road to recovery.  His book and personal story about fighting cancer and the recovery, "Envying Job".   He then gets into how he is spending time during retirement and his continued love of music.   Enjoy Part 2 of John Butler.

We had a great conversation with John Butler.  John has led a life of an educational psychiatrist but there is so much more to his story.   In fact, we recorded an extended interview which is two episodes for your enjoyment.  John Butler is the first spouse of a guest to come on the podcast.  His Wife Becah was our second guest S1:E2.   John discusses his love of sports and music that started during his childhood in Louisiana.   We learn about his career that started at Herman Hospital and then with 5 school districts.  He discusses meeting Becah at a school in service meeting and the first time meeting her family.   Sit back and enjoy learning more to John Butler (part 1). 

Carmalyn, Thomas, and Mike had a lively conversation with Margaret Rodriguez.  Margaret is a native Texan who has spent the majority of her life in Houston.  She overcame a learning disability and eventually received a degree from University of Houston in Graphic Design.  She discusses her childhood of happy times celebrating holidays with extended family and how family has been very important to her.  She discussed meeting and eventually marrying Kara Norwood.   She talks of how they have traveled  and hope to go to Ireland and Hawaii when travel opens up in the near future.  We had such a relaxing and entertaining time speaking with Margaret, we know you will enjoy listening. 

Diane Browning is the first guest who is a spouse of More 2 My Story podcast  team.   Diane is the wife of our Sound Engineer, Mike Browning.  Diane has been in education impacting the lives of kids where ever she has worked.  Having been the daughter of an Air Force father, she moved around in the first 5 years of her life.  She discussing the loss of her father to polio and then remembers when the polio vaccine was invented.  She discusses growing up with her mom, sisters, and brother.  She looks back on the summer she spent in Montana working with her Dad's family on their ranch.  She talks about her first teaching position in Galveston in an all black school.  Later in the episode she explains how she met Mike.   We had a great time learning about Diane and her heart for others.  Enjoy. 

Sam Andrews has been someone Thomas and Carmalyn wanted to learn more to his story.   Sam grew up in La Marque, Texas the 8th of 9 kids.  He remembers when they ended segregation in elementary school and his new school had air conditioning.  He talks of his love of working on cars as a kid that has not waned through adulthood and into retirement.   Sam is a Navy veteran and a shellback.  He worked in various positions prior to finding his place with Spring ISD.  We had a fabulous time talking with Sam and we believe you will find this conversation entertaining. 

Carmalyn, Mike, and Thomas were excited to meet with Jennifer and get to know more to her story.  Jennifer grew up in a Christian household in the Dallas, Texas area.  She was very involved in music most of her life singing in choirs and eventually studying music.  Her journey takes her through college and into different directions from business to law school and becoming a lawyer and working for a law firm in Austin, Texas.  At this time she describes her transition as being in a "textbook" mid-life crisis.  This led to big changes in her life and listening to God and eventually leading her to Spring, TX.   We enjoyed the conversation with Jennifer and learning about her.  We are sure you will enjoy listening to Jennifer's story. 

Season 3 is an interesting season.  We started recording on zoom and then moved to in person for the final 2 guests.  It was great to get back to speaking with friends and learning more to their story.  Here is a little trailer to find out who all we spoke with and how much fun we had. 

Due to the coronavirus lockdown, we decided to take a break to understand how we wanted to move forward with More2mystory podcast.  This is a short update as we made plans to begin again with a new season.  Catch up with Thomas, Carmalyn, and Mike as they come out of lockdown in 2020. 

Mike, Carmalyn, and Thomas knew Dave Barnes would be a great guest.  Dave did not disappoint.   Dave Barnes talks with us about his time in Taiwan, New York, and Mississippi.  His love for baseball and golf and living through a typhoon.  He goes in-depth on the five year period that he states had profound impact on his life and self understanding. We were moved by his experiences and love his laugh.  His story is engaging and endearing we could have spoken with him for a lot longer.    Dave spent his life as a pastor but he did more than lead a congregation.  

Mike, Carmalyn, and Thomas host their first remote podcast at the Ham Family home.  Chelsea says right off the bat that she is that "unicorn" of preacher kids who actually liked being a preacher's kid.  She worked in the "family business" for most of her life starting as an intern and then as a youth leader.  She discusses her mission work from when she was 18 as well as her winding path to being called to be a pastor.  Learn about her "Little House on the Prairie" stories and more.  She is full of energy and we had a great conversation with her.  We thank her for letting us record in her home.  We know you will feel at home learning more 2 Chelsea's story. Youth With a Missionywamla.org  

We know Anthony as the facility director of Northwoods Presbyterian Church.   We didn't know how fascinating he has lived.  Anthony talks to us about his  part time job turning into a career position that led to meeting his wife.  His love for life including being with family, dancing, and being a positive influence on his granddaughter.   He trusts in the lord and is a blessing to those that have gotten to know him.  We truly enjoyed our time with Anthony. 

Abbie Smith  decided to chat with Carmalyn, Mike, and Thomas  and tell us more about her story.   We knew she was smart, funny,  and Kind.   We learned she went from an only child of divorced parents to become a mother of 4 kids, a highly respected teacher, and  lifelong writer.   She wrote her first play that was produced when she was in 5th grade.   She has a unique affinity for Abraham Lincoln.  We travel along her personal journey and enjoyed learning more to her story.  You can also read more about Abbie with her recently published book, “Into breast cancer and out again”.  We hope you enjoy the podcast. 

Thomas, Mike, and Carmalyn had a wonderful time with Phin Washer.  Phin is a great story teller and has led a fascinating life.  A native Texan who was fortunate to have a mentor who helped guide him to his called profession - being a pastor.  Phin talks about growing up in Texas, moving several times during his elementary school times while his father served in the military at Texas and Oklahoma bases during WWII.  Phin worked with 10 different churches and congregations over the years.  He became deeply interested in conflict resolution and peacemaking along the way.  His story on landmines and also working with the Houston United Nations Association are intriguing.   Please take the time to download this episode, you will be entertained and inspired by Phin Washer.

We pulled up a chair and had a great conversation with Stephen Jones.  Learning about his upbringing in College Station and then on to Sam Houston State University.  You can tell from the quick recall of people and places that he is a man who is loyal to those who he spends time with.  He talks about his college summers playing with two world renowned Drum and Bugle Corps.  He explains how he got his nickname in college and meeting his lovely wife Tammy.  Music is in his heart and the heart of this conversation.  Pull up a chair with us and listen to more 2 the story of Stephen Jones.In this episode:Sky Riders Drum & Bugle CorpPhantom Regiment Drum & Bugle CorpSam Houston State UniversityHouston Tuba Christmas 

Thomas, Carmalyn, and Mike take time to learn more about Tom Powers.  During the conversation they converse about his upbringing in North Carolina, time in the military, time in South Carolina, his career and family.   Tom is an adventurer.  We are intrigued by his career path, amazed by the amount of his travel, and impressed he is a life long learner.   He started a long running class at Northwoods Presbyterian called "Classics Class".  I strongly suggest you take the time to listen in and learn more to Tom Powers story. In this episodeUniversity of South Carolina www.SC.eduNorthwoods Presbyterian Church www.Northwoods.org

Ann Marie is thoughtful, loyal, and caring. She is another guest who has spent time in the "Golden Triangle" of Texas. She grew up the oldest of 3 girls in Beaumont, Texas. We talk about her childhood, her decision to attend Texas A&M University, and then her decision to pursuit a Masters of Divinity. She has a somewhat public life as a pastor in Houston. However, people close to her say that she is the same no matter the setting - home, friends from college, or serving at the church - everyone experiences the same Ann Marie. In our talks we learn her desire to keep her options open and using pencil on her calendar.  We had a relaxed and fun conversation with Ann Marie.In this episode:Texas A&M University www.tamu.eduNorthwoods Presbyterian Church www.Northwoods.orgUnion Presbyterian Seminary www. upsem.eduUnited Campus Ministry aggieucm.org

Thomas and Carmalyn sit down and talk with Joyce about her story.  What a story it is.  She speaks of growing up on a farm,  in the depression and during WWII, she has always been an independent spirit.  She talks about her time in Chicago, college, and meeting her husband.  We had so much fun learning from her and hearing about her life.  Come sit down with us and you will be entertained. 

Carmalyn and I knew Bill from his love of BBQing.  We know him for much more after our conversation.  Bill is a Texan from Dallas, sharing stories of his time in growing up in Park City area of Dallas.  Bill explains his family history at VMI going back to his Great Great Grandfather - a 1842 VMI Graduate.  Although we discuss Bill's career if clear from the start that he is loyal and loving.  His love of outdoors with his grandfather and father, and now with his wife, kids, and 7 grandkids.  His motto is "don't borrow trouble, 99.9% of things you worry about never happen, .05% you can't control,   and the remaining .05% God will handle if you ask."    Enjoy. In this episodeGinder's Flippin Good BBQVirginia Military Institute  VMI.edu 

Gary has lead a great and interesting life and isn't slowing down a bit.  We  follow along Gary's path from growing up on a farm to meeting a "cute blonde" , to moving to Michigan, Wisconsin, Kansas, and then ultimately to Houston, TX.  He explains his career and how he transitioned his career from a Sales VP to a recruiter (which he still does part time today).  If you know Gary, you know he gives alot of time and energy to charities .  He is also a long time sailor.  Although Gary says you know all about him,  this conversation will most likely let you learn more to his story. From this episode:Habitat for Humanity www.Habitat.orgSleep in Heavenly Peace www.SHPBeds.orgThe Elissa  www.galvestonhistory.org

During our conversation with Becah, we learn about her growing up in the 'Golden Triangle' with her mom, spending time with her cousins, including Dixie.   Becah has multiple degrees and certifications.  Becah walks us through her career working with those with special needs, specifically those with cognitive delays and learning delays.  She has been a teacher, diagnostician, and coordinator in the community.  She has deep faith that has helped her through the good, the ok, and the terrible that many go through in life.  Our conversation with Becah was emotional, honest, and heartwarming.  We believe you will agree. Discussed in the podcast is www.Brookwoodcommunity.orgwww.briarwoodschool.org 

We had a great conversation with Mr Johnie Wood.  Johnie discusses his military career including his work in counter-intelligence, his deployment to Afghanistan after 9/11, and studying different languages.   We discuss his faith journey which crossed into different faiths before circling back the Christianity.  We learn of his heartbreak and recovery from heartbreak.  He talks about his desire to complete his seminary studies and then counsel veterans.   We know you will enjoy learning more about Johnie.   

Carmalyn, Mike, and Thomas take a few minutes to discuss some of the things they liked and learned during their conversations in Season 1.