View From a Hearse

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Laugh, think and cry with a country undertaker

Bruce Goddard


    • May 21, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 46m AVG DURATION
    • 164 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The View From a Hearse podcast is truly a gem in the world of storytelling. Hosted by Bruce Goddard, this podcast offers a unique perspective on life and laughter through heartfelt and entertaining stories. Each episode takes you on a journey, helping you see things from a different angle and leaving you with a sense of joy and appreciation for the little moments in life.

    One of the best aspects of The View From a Hearse podcast is Bruce Goddard's talent for storytelling. He has a knack for captivating his audience with his words, drawing you into each story as if you were experiencing it firsthand. His ability to weave humor, emotion, and wisdom together creates a delightful listening experience that is both uplifting and thought-provoking.

    Another great aspect of this podcast is its ability to touch upon universal themes and emotions. The stories told by Bruce Goddard resonate with listeners because they tap into the shared human experience. Whether it's finding humor in everyday situations or exploring deeper topics like love, loss, and personal growth, there is something for everyone in these stories.

    While it's difficult to find any major flaws in The View From a Hearse podcast, one minor drawback could be the occasional lack of variety in storytelling style. Most episodes feature Bruce narrating personal anecdotes from his own life, which can become predictable after listening to several episodes consecutively. However, this format still works well due to the engaging nature of Bruce's storytelling abilities.

    In conclusion, The View From a Hearse podcast is an absolute delight to listen to. Bruce Goddard's talent for storytelling shines through each episode, offering listeners an escape from their daily lives while also providing valuable insights and perspectives on life's ups and downs. With its ability to make you laugh, think, and even shed a tear, this podcast is truly a must-listen for anyone seeking both entertainment and inspiration.



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    Latest episodes from View From a Hearse

    #157 The Rick Knight Story

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 55:34


    Rick Knight was a highly popular radio personality in Macon, GA, during the 1980s and 1990s with the "Rick Knight Road Show" on WDEN until he was terminated from the station, and his life fell apart. Rick ended up serving time in a Federal Penitentiary. This is a story of wrong choices, consequences, accountability, and redemption.

    ga knight macon federal penitentiary
    #156 Sometimes Laughter is All We Need

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 12:45


    A 12-minute or so snippet of a "View from a Hearse" live performance. Funny only. And sometimes that is enough.

    #155 The Coolik and Dreizin Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025 40:18


    Be sure to go to YouTube and search "View from a Hearse Podcast" to see the slides that go along with this incredible story of an immigrant family who moved to a small rural southern town and made a life for themselves and those who came after them. You will be inspired by how these families found the American dream.

    #154 The Sweetest Spot in Georgia

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 28:32


    The Annual Georgia Strawberry Festival will be April 25-26 in Reynolds GA. The festival kicks off with Gospel Fest on Friday evening (25th) and all the other festivities being Saturday morning, April 26th. I have three of the ladies behind it as my guests and they will talk about what you can expect.

    #153 Out of the Fire w/ Randy Toms

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 59:22


    Randy Toms, a former two-term Mayor of Warner Robins, GA, and retired Lieutenant with the Warner Robins Fire Department is my guest. He currently serves as Executive Director at the Georgia Firefighters Standards and Training Council. Randy is an expert on fires: That is literal fires and spiritual fires. A gifted communicator, and ordained minister, he teaches others how to live "Out of the Fire."

    #152 Blog Series: What On Earth Are We Here For?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 12:54


    Ephraim K Johnson was a special needs man who taught me much and had no idea he was teaching. This is his story and his story causes us to consider the real purpose of our lives. If you have a special needs person in your life, this will hit home.

    #151 Steve Mack Unveiled - Ten Years

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 63:19


    On the 10th anniversary of this death, this is a rerelease of "Steve Mack Unveiled,' which was first released in November 2023. My guests are a few of the people who worked for him and with him and they speak of the lessons he taught.

    unveiled steve mack
    #150 A Bulldog Redemption - LB's Letters to Larry

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 52:55


    Laney Blair (LB) Davis is my guest and maybe the biggest 20-year-old UGA football fan ever. Inspired by Loran Smith while in high school, she began writing letters to the late great Larry Munson in heaven to keep him up to date on Georgia football. Her only dream was to become a student at UGA. When the time came to apply, she was rejected. She thought her dream was shattered but realized it was only deferred. For Georgia fans and college football fans everywhere, this story is about the power of college football but, more importantly, a story of never giving up on your dreams.

    #149 Blog Series - Lessons on Pain

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 7:09


    A reading of a couple of blog articles I wrote about 15 years ago on pain and the lessons we get from it.

    #148 Boaz Shalgi Update from Israel

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025 35:10


    Boaz Shalgi, who was featured here on Episode #120 in June of 2024, speaks to me again from the land of the Bible with updates on Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the ongoing war and conflicts. He also speaks of how this war has impacted his family. As before, if you want to help him and his family financially, you can contact me at goddardrb54@gmail.com, and I will give you instructions. Also, if you are interested in having Boaz speak to your church or group and how what is going on in Israel is important to the US and all Christians, he is planning a tour of the states and would love to speak to your group. Feel free to contact me at the email address above for more information.

    #147 Blog Series - The Older I Get The Better I See

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025 5:07


    A lesson on kindness. This episode will take only five minutes of your time.

    #146 Whaddaya Got, Loran

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025 57:36


    My guest is the legendary and beloved Loran Smith of the University of Georgia. Among other things, he tells stories of Larry Munson and talks about his friends, such as Butts, Tarkenton, Dooley, and Smart, and gives his unique perspective on the recruitment of Herschel Walker. He also talks about the dilemma of NIL. He also tells how he became the sideline reporter for UGA radio. This is good stuff.

    #145 A Local Pharmacist Speaks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2025 55:07


    Recently retired small town Pharmacist and pharmacy owner, George Launius, talks about how Big Pharma is affecting our lives and our health and the resulting dilemma of the pharmacy industry.

    #144 Friends for Life Part Four

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2025 62:02


    This is the last part of a four-part series with my lifelong friend Jimmy Childre, Jr. Jimmy's dad also joins us. Jimmy, who is on the Board of Councilors of the Carter Center, talks about Jimmy Carter, whose funeral was being held while we recorded this conversation. We end this series with some more profound questions for Jimmy.

    #143 Friends for Life Part Three

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2025 61:08


    i continue the conversation with my lifelong friend, Jimmy Childre, Jr. In this episode, we will discuss our teachers during our formative years and their impact on our lives.   We will also move into our high school years and confess to some shenanigans never made public before - and a high school speech class that changed our lives.

    #142 Friends for Life. Part two

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025 62:42


    My guest is Jimmy Childre, Jr. In Part two of our conversation, we tell stories of growing up in Reynolds, GA, and Little League Baseball. We will discuss some of the merchants in town and some of the history we lived through in the '60s, including the Cuban Missile Crisis and the assassinations of three national leaders. We will also discuss our introduction to the Beatles and Garage Bands and give our perspectives on segregation in the South.

    #141 Friends for Life with Jimmy Childre, Jr

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 56:04


    This is Part One of my conversation with my friend of 70 years, Jimmy Childre, Jr. You will hear some of what Jimmy has accomplished in life, but more than that; you will hear to the importance of his rearing in a small Georgia community. I begin this conversation by talking to his soon to be 90-year old mother.

    #140 A Grief Companion - Randy Gregg

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2024 52:42


    Many are dreading the holiday days coming up due to the loss of a loved one. Raw grief has a way of changing everything, and loneliness can be overwhelming. My guest is Dr. Randy Gregg, who has experienced that grief, sought help, and is now spending his time helping others in a personal manner. If you have experienced loss and dread the upcoming holidays or have someone in your circle struggling with grief, this episode is for you. You can find Randy at crandygregg.com

    #139 A Strong & Intelligent Woman

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 57:58


    My guest is my friend, Jacqueline Byrd McKoon, who is the behind-the-scenes wife and force behind the Chairman of the Georgia Republican Party, Josh McKoon. As we all know, Georgia was in the national spotlight as a swing state in the presidential election. Jacqueline is strong and intelligent, has politics in her blood, and has an attractive combination of vitality and glamour, which translates to charisma. I happen to know she gets it all, honestly. She will give us a behind-the-scenes look at this election and how it played out in Georgia.

    woman intelligent georgia republican party
    #138 United We Stand

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2024 24:14


    The contentious election is over. Donald Trump has been elected President of the United States. Half of the country is pleased. The other half is not. What does our history of contentious elections teach us? Where do we go from here?

    #137 Showing Up with Tim Wilson

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2024 43:08


    Tim Wilson is known in middle Georgia as the man who has not missed a Peach County Trojan football game in 50 years. Although he is a walking encyclopedia of Peach County football, there is much more to him than football. His purpose is bigger. His calling is higher. Showing up doesn't take a lot of talent, but it does take a massive dose of determination and persistence. The results are immeasurable.

    #136 Jim Minter, Former Editor AJC

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024 50:24


    As editor of the Atlanta Journal & Constitution, the South's largest newspaper, Jim Menter was once one of the most influential people in Georgia and the Southeast region. Today, at 94, he looks back and talks about his life, how things used to be, and a few of the people he knew along the way.

    #135 I Told You So with 9yr old Carly Nesmith

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024 34:04


    You will be intrigued and delighted by my conversation with this young girl with a bright mind and loads of talent and potential. Carly Nesmith will talk about elementary school, macroeconomics, Jesus, politics, and life from the eyes of a 9-year-old who is very grateful her parents adopted her. Hopefully, when you look back on this episode years from now, you will remember I said, "I told you so."

    #134 A Conversation with Barney Fife

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024 21:06


    A trip to Mayberry led to a 20-minute conversation with the man himself, Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife. This is some of my best work.

    #133 A Birthday for the Ages

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2024 23:30


    My wife outdid herself for my 70th birthday. Without my knowledge, she planned a birthday celebration with our children and grandchildren sitting together for a Braves game at Truist Park with lots of surprises. I also take a reflective look back at each decade of my life and take a peek into the unpredictable future as I begin my 8th decade. A birthday celebration for the ages.

    This Country Boy Did Good - Jake Woodall

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2024 44:34


    My guest, Jake Woodall, began his life on a farm in a close-knit family whose parents instilled faith in a God in heaven and a strong work ethic. Their strategy could not have turned out better. It is a long way from digging peanuts in rural Taylor County GA to becoming an officer of a New York Stock Exchange publicly traded energy acquisition company based in Houston TX, but he made that journey - and he never forgot his roots or the life principles instilled in him as a child.

    $131 The Tim Worley Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 48:09


    As an All-American running back at the University of Georgia and a Pittsburgh Steeler first-round draft pick, Tim Worley had life by the tail. But despite all the God-given ability and unlimited opportunity at hand, his life began spiraling out of control. The landing was very hard but life-changing for him and many others as he now traverses the country telling his story. Go Dawgs.

    #130 Hank Aaron's Secretary

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2024 46:32


    My guest is Carla Koplin Cohn, who spent years as Hank Aaron's personal secretary and friend. Being beside him during the chase for Babe Ruth's record, she saw, up close, the good, the bad, and the pressure of breaking that record. How does one even become the personal secretary of arguably the greatest of them all? Well, she will tell you. And you might be surprised. This is a story for the ages.

    #129 Looking Back with David Carter

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2024 35:22


    David is another of my high school basketball teammates who became a Division One athlete and got a free ride to college for his talents. David, a Georgia Tech graduate, is a solid human who has done well. You will listen in to a conversation between two old friends.

    #128 Special Edition - Dan Darden & Friends

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2024 27:16


    My guest is Dan Darden and the event coming up on September 5, 6 & 7 in Macon GA is called Dan Darden & Friends. Dan and his talented group of about sixteen musicians and vocalists will put on a show you won't forget. If you like the oldies, you don't want to miss this. Tickets are available by calling 478-474-7101.

    #127 Against All Odds with Elise Torres

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2024 49:08


    This is an incredible story of a young lady we met who was living down the street from us at the lake for the summer. Growing up in a dysfunctional family, including having to testify against her mother in child custody hearings and, as a result, becoming homeless—and then experiencing the illness and death of her beloved father—she overcame all odds. She graduated college with honors, debt-free, and full of faith. Elise Torres's story is inspiring and encouraging. And get ready to be challenged.

    #126 The Professor - Bill Doster

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2024 50:09


    He started with absolutely nothing and somehow learned, despite dropping out of school at a young age, he had genius-type gifts inside him. When he was young, many people in his community called him trash. Today his colleagues call him The Professor. You will meet the professoer himself, Bill Doster.

    #125 Surprised by Jack

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2024 33:39


    My guest is Bob Hereford, who tells his story of how C.S. Lewis's writings and teachings changed his life. One of C.S. Lewis's books is Surprised by Joy." Hereford's book is Surprised by Jack." Jack was C.S. Lewis' nickname. Bob was surprised that C.S. Lewis could make Christianity "make sense." He now realizes that Lewis was not only making Christianity make sense, but given the world we live in today, his writings were prophetic, making our perverse world make sense - and not in a good way.

    #124 Never Again - Abe's Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2024 57:39


    My guest is Helen Bissell. She will tell the story of Abram Korn, a Holocaust survivor who incredibly somehow survived 6 1/2 years of hell on earth and lived to tell his story in a book entitled "Abe's Story." The story is horrific, but it is inspiring and spiritually uplifting and will remind you why you are proud to be an American. To contact Helen to learn more, to order a book or to book her to speak to your group, the website is AbesStory.org

    #123 Hall of Famer Pete Johnson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2024 47:40


    If sports is the great unifier, Pete Johnson was the minister who married us at Peach County High School during school integration in 1970. An elite athlete, Pete stood out in the small town of Fort Valley, Georgia, during tumultuous times, during his senior year of high school in New York, at Ohio State University, and in the NFL. You will see that Pete still stands out today.

    #122 Part 2: Steve Dugan Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2024 47:04


    Part Two: A political child prodigy and close confidant of a future President of the United States and a popular Georgia Congressman, this interview with Steve Dugan is full of entertaining and inspirational stories of two great men. But it is also a story of heartache and faith.

    #121 Part 1: Steve Dugan Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2024 41:08


    A political child prodigy and close confidant of a future President of the United States and a popular Georgia Congressman, this interview with Steve Dugan is full of entertaining and inspirational stories of two great men. But it is also a story of heartache and faith.

    #120 Boaz Shalgi in Israel

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2024 44:03


    If you want to know what is going on in Israel and why it is important to you, please take a few minutes to listen to my Jewish friend Boaz Shalgi. He is in Galilee in Israel and has a unique insight into the Israel - Gaza conflict. If you would like to join us and help Boaz and his family financially during this difficult time, please send checks to EDI Travel, Inc., 650 HWY 27, STE 5 #310, Somerset, KY 42501. Please designate your check for Boaz Shalgi, I whole heartedly encourage you to do so if you are able. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-b-goddard/message

    #119 The Brandon O'Hearn Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024 54:29


    Veteran Major League Baseball Agent Brandon O'Hearn is my guest. Brandon has recently been in the news as being hired as the agent of Georgia Bulldog sensation, Charlie Condon, the potential Number One Draft Pick in MLB this summer. You will learn Brandon's path to the big league business world is an interesting one and he has a story of his own. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-b-goddard/message

    #118 You Don't Have to be a Star

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2024 64:24


    This is the incredible story of ordinary people from a small church doing incredible things almost thirty years ago. This is the story of an Easter Play put on by the First Baptist Church of Butler, Ga. There are huge life lessons included. Steve and Lorianne Skidmore are my guests - along with soundbites from a few others who witnessed it. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-b-goddard/message

    #117 Live & Kickin' Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 44:36


    This is Part 2 of a live performance by Bruce Goddard, produced by Shadow Sound Studio of Macon, GA, and released by Senate Records as a CD in 2007. It is streaming here with their expressed permission. You can purchase an electronic copy of the entire presentation at 3daudioscapes.com, or you can search Live & Kickin' by Bruce Goddard at the Apple iTunes Store or at Amazon Digital. Part 1 was released as Episode #116. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-b-goddard/message

    #116 Live & Kickin' Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2024 30:19


    This is Part 1 of a live performance by Bruce Goddard, produced by Shadow Sound Studio of Macon, GA, and released by Senate Records as a CD in 2006. It is streaming here with their expressed permission. You can purchase an electronic copy of the entire presentation at 3daudioscapes.com, or you can search Live & Kickin' by Bruce Goddard at the Apple iTunes Store or at Amazon Digital. Part 2 will be released as Episode #117. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-b-goddard/message

    #115 One Stellar Career

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2024 52:46


    My new friends, Duwayne and Helen Yantes, are a delightful couple from South Dakota. They have been married for 67 years, raised six kids, and now have over six dozen direct descendants. They have some things to say about marriage, raising kids, and living by faith. Their career was their marriage and their family. I think you will agree, they had a stellar career. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-b-goddard/message

    #114 A Breath of Fresh Air

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2024 56:58


    My guest is Connie Carey, a professional musician, singer, speaker, entertainer, humorist, storyteller, and inspirational communicator. And I left stuff out. I could have talked to her all day. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-b-goddard/message

    #113 Bonus - Gunsmoke w/ Matt Dillon

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2024 19:06


    My wife and I traveled to Dodge City and took a trip back in time. I had the honor to sit down with Matt Dillon to ask him some questions all fans of Gunsmoke want to know. Dodge City is a dangerous place so we were glad to make it back to Georgia alive. The things i do for my podcast audience... --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-b-goddard/message

    #112 The Way it Used to Be

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2024 43:39


    My guest is 92-year-old Peggy Lucas. She will take us back to the way things used to be. Wisdom flows from her like a gentle river. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-b-goddard/message

    #111 Don't Stop Dreaming

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2024 49:17


    My guest is Rudy Underwood, who began on a small farm outside of Reynolds, GA, but through the encouragement of a determined mother, dreamed of bigger things. He recently retired with an office overlooking the United States Capitol in Washington, DC. This is a story of adversity, success, and big dreams that came true. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-b-goddard/message

    #110 A Living Miracle

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2024 55:10


    Mark Mullins is truly a living miracle. At the age of 14, he was an eyewitness to the sudden and violent death of both of his parents. He will talk in detail about that horrific day. But his story is much more. Mark will talk about his meandering journey during the next 43 years of his life, the ups and downs of it all, and how he eventually not only learned to live with what happened but how he found peace.  Due to the graphic nature of part of this story, listener discretion is advised. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-b-goddard/message

    mark mullins
    #109 Affluence to Food Stamps

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2024 49:41


    My guest is my friend and fraternity brother, David Bishop, whose life journey has taken him from a place of affluence to a place of being, in his words, penniless, isolated, and occasionally homeless. This college graduate now depends on a meager government check and food stamps to survive. He is smart, well-read, and articulate but has been debilitated in ways most of us do not understand. His story will shine a light on what can be dark places in our society. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-b-goddard/message

    #108 Funerals on the Big Stage

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2024 45:11


    My guest is Bob Boetticher, Sr., the founder of LHT Consulting Group. If you have watched a high-profile funeral on television in the last twenty years or so, there is a good chance you have seen him. He has led the SCI Ceremonial Funeral Team, which executes with detailed precision on the largest stages. We will take a look behind the scenes at how they operate. Bob is also a funeral historian. He writes columns for several professional publications and has been an expert consultant on several television shows, including the popular "Six Feet Under" series. Bob, the consummate funeral director, will also give sage advice on what it takes to succeed in the funeral profession. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-b-goddard/message

    #107 While She Reads with Katie Dodrill

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2024 48:38


    Katie Dodrill, the granddaughter of my fifth-grade teacher, is now a college professor. Her stories will make you smile, and you will be inspired by her passion for reading. While she was reading, God worked miracles in her life that will make you smile. While she reads, she and her hubby are busy with life - making a living and raising a beautiful little girl. While she reads, she also writes books and has now found time to star in her own YouTube show called (you guessed it) "While I Read." Get ready to be inspired by a special lady, --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/robert-b-goddard/message

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