Podcast appearances and mentions of Andy Griffith

What happens when a big time movie star gets popped for speeding while rolling through Mayberry? He just may learn the value of connection and community, that's what!Mayberry Man… first a movie, then a series… was inspired by the reverent fervor that is the annual Mayberry Days Festival which takes place annually in Andy Griffith's hometown of Mount Airy, North Carolina. Producer Gregory Schell and Writer/Director Stark Howell are both second generation Mayberry progeny and their experiences at the festival inspired them to crate the Mayberry Man franchise.Greg and Stark both have dads who made two Andy Griffith Show appearances, Hoke Howell and Ronnie Schell. Ronnie then went on to co-star with Mayberry's own Gomer Pyle on Gomer Pyle USMC.Greg and Stark join us in-studio to help us welcome Zoom guests, Allan Newsome who plays the Floyd the Barber re-enactor and Chris Bauman, who brings Gomer to life. They share their histories of falling in love with those characters, stepping into their shoes and clothing, meeting festival fans and now sharing their portrayals onscreen in Mayberry Man.Stark's Dad Hoke was besties with Rance Howard. Together, they pursued their acting and writing careers while Rance's kids Ron and Clint played little league and created early films with the Howell boys.Stark's brother, producer Cort Howell, shares how he used crowdfunding, targeted marketing and fan community building to bring Mayberry Man to life. Plus, Greg reflects on growing up in the shadow of an actor/comedian father and Stark shares his earliest screen role, co-starring with Clint Howard, in a 14-year-old Ron Howard's third Super 8 film classic, Cards, Cads, Guns, Gore & Death.And in current media, Weezy enlightens Fritz as to the internet outrage regarding Big Brother's Rylie and Katharine showmance and Fritz shares his enthusiasm for the new Spike Lee 'joint' Highest 2 Lowest, now in theatersPath Points of Interest:Mayberry Manhttps://www.amazon.com/Mayberry-Man-Brett-Varvel/dp/B0B8NNSYR9https://www.mayberryman.com/home-zMayberry Man The Serieshttps://www.primevideo.com/detail/Mayberry-Man-The-Series/0OW0MU66B6JJM52GUUWO3CQQ8Khttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt24222046/?ref_=nm_ov_bio_lkGregory Schell on InstagramStark Howell on IMDBCort HowellAllan NewsomeTwo Chairs No Waiting PodcastChris Bauman Big BrotherHighest 2 LowestMedia Path PodcastMedia Path on FacebookMedia Path on InstagramMedia Path on XMedia Path on BlueskyLouise Palanker on TiktokFritz Coleman on Tiktok

In this episode of the podcast, we are delighted to welcome back Matt Bromley, an educational author and advisor, to discuss his latest book, 'Why School Doesn't Work for Every Child.' Matt first joined us in February 2024 with Andy Griffith, the co-author of another, similar book, The Working Classroom, and a friend of Ben's from his formative teaching years.This conversation explores themes of inclusion, belonging, and equity in education, emphasising the importance of tailored approaches to meet diverse student needs. Matt shares insights from his experiences and the stories of characters Thomas and Tommy to illustrate the impact of privilege on educational outcomes. The discussion also introduces the ABC model for fostering a culture of inclusion and the significance of community engagement in education. Chapters00:00 Introductions01:31 Revisiting Matt Bromley: Author and Educator 03:27 The Journey of Writing and Education 05:09 Exploring Inclusion and Belonging in Education 07:08 Defining Inclusion and Belonging 11:06 The Importance of Tailored Education 13:25 Understanding Belonging in Schools 17:20 The EDI Framework: Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion 22:51 The Stories of Thomas and Tommy 30:21 The ABC Model for Inclusion 36:24 Attendance: The Foundation of Engagement 39:15 Behaviours for Learning: Beyond Compliance 42:19 Building Community in Education 45:59 Preview of Upcoming Book: Making the Classroom Work for Every Child Get 20% off your copy of Matt's new book using code 25ESE1 at Routledge EducationMatt mentioned a self-evaluation tool which you can access, alongside much of his work around equity hereThanks so much for joining us again for another episode - we appreciate you.Ben & Steve xChampioning those who are making the future of education a reality.Follow us on XFollow us on LinkedInCheck out all about EdufuturistsWant to sponsor future episodes or get involved with the Edufuturists work?Get in touch

When Matt Shea retired in June of 2010, he pursued his lifelong dream of becoming an author. His inspiration has been fueled by being a worker, brother, devoted dad, and loyal son. These gifts motivate him to write about the trials of everyday life for the common man. Matt Shea is a developing author who is greatly inspired by the writings of Andy Griffith and focuses on the common folk that small towns are made of.Website(s): https://www.mattsheabooks.net/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Matt Shea retired in June of 2010, he pursued his lifelong dream of becoming an author. His inspiration has been fueled by being a worker, brother, devoted dad, and loyal son. These gifts motivate him to write about the trials of everyday life for the common man. Matt Shea is a developing author who is greatly inspired by the writings of Andy Griffith and focuses on the common folk that small towns are made of. Website(s): https://www.mattsheabooks.net/

In this episode, we talk to Andy Griffiths. The children’s author has written 40 books, including The Day My Bum Went Psycho, and the wildly popular Treehouse series. Griffiths has been published in more than 35 countries, and sold an astonishing 13 million copies in Australia and New Zealand alone. He’s led an interesting life, too. He wanted to be a frontman in a punk band, but ended up as a schoolteacher. He’s serious about fitness – a former obsessive runner who now loves the gym, flexing wiry muscles that are covered in sticker tattoos. His latest book – You And Me And The Peanut Butter Beast – is out now. Hosting this conversation about the “fusion of hilarity and horror” that inspired Griffiths, and the “sacred moment” when he meets his young readers – is Good Weekend senior writer Konrad Marshall.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Fat One returns to share details of his weekend which included talk about Big Brother, Friday at Fatty's, trips to the Lowell's and the Aldida grocerarlium, sportsball, rain, a funeral and that woman acting like Andy Griffith on the TV machine. Happy National Soft Serve Ice Cream Day.

My mom and marmite, Andy Griffith wants to destroy the world, pregnant pausing, more man on the street wisdom, I don't know shit about binders, a punk band you have to check out, a passable movie scene, a pretty great new thriller, and I've got a secret. Stuff mentioned: Spy Hard (1996), In Living Color "Ice Ice Baby" (February 10, 1991 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdtKBe7sM48), They Call Me Mister Tibbs (1970), Spaceballs (1987), Weapons (2025), Barbarian (2020), Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), and Long Legs (2024).

In this episode of MatTalk, Jason and John break down Matlock Season 6, Episode 16 – “The Big Payoff.” Things take an unexpected turn when Ben Matlock, ever the frugal attorney, hires a hitchhiker to paint his house… who turns out to be none other than country music legend Randy Travis! While Ben deals with a paint job and some southern charm, Michelle Thomas teams up with an insurance adjuster to investigate the suspicious murder of an ad producer. Is this a straightforward case of insurance fraud, or is there a deeper scheme behind the “big payoff”? We explore the episode's dual storylines, share standout moments, and discuss how Matlock masterfully blends humor, mystery, and justice in its signature style. Whether you've been watching since the Andy Griffith days or you're discovering the series for the first time, this review is packed with nostalgia, insight, and TV history.

Generations have grown up watching television's “Andy Griffith Show,” either the original broadcasts that aired from 1960 to 1968 or the infinite number of reruns that still are being broadcast around the world every day.And for many of us, the best episodes are those in which the bluegrass-picking Darling family comes down from the hills to Mayberry to visit with Andy, Barney, Opie and Aunt Bee.Most diehard fans know the boys playing and singing as the Darling brood actually were a real-life Ozark-bred band called The Dillards.Built by brothers Doug and Rodney Dillard on banjo and guitar with Mitch Jayne on bass and Dean Webb on mandolin, the group hailed from Salem, MO, in the early ‘60s.After some initial success in Missouri, the quartet moved to Los Angeles in 1962, quickly signing with Elektra Records. More importantly, the guys also became clients of the William Morris Agency, whose high-powered connections landed that lucrative Andy Griffith gig starting in 1963.About the SongThat same year, Rodney Dillard and Mitch Jayne wrote the band's best-known song. “Dooley” has become an undisputed standard in the string band world after it first appeared on the band's debut album, Back Porch Bluegrass, release in May 1963.But before that, the song was introduced nationally a few weeks earlier on the April 29, 1963, broadcast of "The Andy Griffith Show" in a scene showing it performed by the Dillards alongside Andy on guitar.Recently, Rodney — today at 83, the only surviving member of the original four Dillards — took to Facebook to tell the story of how the song came to be.“It's about an old boy from Salem who made moonshine whiskey for 25 consecutive years,” Dillard wrote in his post. “He would come into town in his pickup truck every Saturday and load five 100-pound sacks of sugar in the back of his truck. He never got caught, never went to jail, but everybody in town knew he was making whiskey. They knew he wasn't making fudge up there on that ridge.”“‘Dooley' has been very, very good to us over the years,” Rodney added.Following The Dilliards' initial performance, “Dooley” right away got other high-profiled coverage, starting with The Kingston Trio and by Porter Wagoner, both in 1965.Exploring Our EclecticityMeanwhile, as The Flood begins to think about going back into the studio later this year to record a new album, the guys are doing a lot of genre-hopping, blues one week, banjo the next, an old rock classic followed by some jazz standard from the rich pages of the Great American Songbook.If you'd like to sample just how eclectic it has been lately, use the free Radio Floodango music streaming service to randomly stream tunes from the past seven months.Or you can just visit the Podcast pages of The Flood website to scroll and check out recent podcasts from January forward.And as you browse, if you come upon a tune you'd especially like to see on the new album, please drop us a line and let us know! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 1937flood.substack.com

Recorded at the World Famous Palm Street Studio on a Monday night. More about the "artist" we ran into in Minden City Friday night, he has lots of followers and definitely drives a Honda Civic. It's another round of Junior's Dumbass Trivia show and another round of Dumbass Whiskey! The subjects for trivia this week are Andy Griffith, SNL, Hip/Hop-Rap, Cheers, and Penis. It was a lot of tough questions this week! A solid diet plan is discussed and busy weekends are now the norm.Featuring Silent S, Mary, Brian "The Blade", The Hall of Famer Junior, and The Grumpy Griller along with your host Sir Phillip and Lord Adam. Make good choices! 

Join me (Jay) and my friend and former co-host Paul Kastava as we discuss the 1957 Elia Kazan film A Face In The Crowd starring Andy Griffith.

Join Beth and KC in The Clubhouse as they recap and review the Matlock Pilot movie from 1986, as we continue our Summer TV Movie Extravaganza, where we talk about movies from our favorite tv franchises. Andy Griffith in his first role as the beloved defense attorney, Ben Matlock!Check out our YouTube channel, the MFTV Movie Club: Now Playing! Link: https://www.youtube.com/@MFTVMCCheck out the lists we made on Millionpods!https://www.millionpodcasts.com/movie-club-podcasts/https://www.millionpodcasts.com/80s-podcasts/https://www.tvtango.com/listings/1986/03/03https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090481/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090943/?ref_=ttep_ep_1https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0341431/?ref_=tt_cst_t_1https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0341431/awards/?ref_=nm_awdhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm0504681/?ref_=tt_cst_t_2https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0386676/?ref_=tt_cst_t_3https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0391063/?ref_=tt_cst_t_4

Send us a textSix passionate fans of television gather around the virtual table for a hilarious, nostalgic journey through decades of TV history. Host Fiddy guides this roundtable exploration of what makes certain shows endure in our collective memory while others fade away despite critical acclaim.The conversation opens with a playful debate about Monopoly versus Scrabble before diving into the shows that defined different eras. Miste  reminisces about 80s classics like "A Different World," while others champion everything from "Andy Griffith" to "The Sopranos." What emerges is a fascinating look at how television reflects our values and cultural moments across generations.When the topic turns to "Beverly Hills 90210," the group unpacks how this teen drama revolutionized television by tackling previously taboo subjects like HIV/AIDS, teen pregnancy, and substance abuse. As Dave astutely observes, this trailblazing approach may have inadvertently launched television's ongoing quest for increasingly shocking content—for better or worse.Personal connections make this discussion especially rich. Rusty reveals his great-uncle was one of the original writers for "Jeopardy!" while Chris explains why "Jersey Shore" felt like a harmful caricature of Italian-Americans. These personal insights transform typical TV talk into something more meaningful about representation and cultural impact.The animated smackdown between "Family Guy" and "The Simpsons" divides the room, while universally panned shows like "Jersey Shore" unite them in creative condemnation (with descriptions ranging from "fatalian" to "diabolical"). Throughout it all runs a current of genuine appreciation for how television brings us together, shapes our perspectives, and provides the shared cultural references that connect us.Join this lively conversation about the shows we've loved, hated, and can't stop talking about—and maybe rethink your own television favorites along the Subscribe for exclusive content: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1530455/support Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREETactical BrotherhoodThe Tactical Brotherhood is a movement to support America.Dubby EnergyFROM GAMERS TO GYM JUNKIES TO ENTREPRENEURS, OUR PRODUCT IS FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BE BETTER.Sweet Hands SportsElevate your game with Sweet Hands Sports! Our sports gloves are designed for champions,Deemed FitBe a part of our movement to instill confidence motivation and a willingness to keep pushing forwardBuddy's Beard CareBuddy's Beard Care provides premium men's grooming products at an affordable price.ShankitgolfOur goal here at Shankitgolf is for everyone to have a great time on and off the golf courseDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showFollow us on all social mediaX: @mikebonocomedyInstagram: @mikebonocomedy@tiktok: @mikebono_comedianFacebook: @mikebonocomedy

American Redneck day.  Entertainment from 1973.  Idaho became 43rd state, Battle of Gettysburg ended, George Washington only time he surrendered.  Todays birthdays - Fontella Bass, Kurtwood Smith, Johnny Lee, Johnny Wilder, Jan Smithers, Laura Branigan, Stephen Pearcy, Aaron Tippin, Thomas Gibson, Tom Cruise, Yeardley Smith, Trent Tomlinson.  Andy Griffith died.Intro - God did good - Dianna Corcoran    https://www.diannacorcoran.com/Redneck woman - Gretchen WilsonInside your heaven - Carrie UnderwoodFast cars & freedom - Rascal FlattsBirthday - The BeatlesBirthdays - In da club - 50 Cent  http://50cent.com/Rescue me - Fontella BassLooking for love - Johnny LeeAlways and forever - HeatwaveGloria - Laura BraniganDance - RattYou've got to stand for something - Aaron TippinDrunker than me - Trent TomlinsonExit - Bender coming on - Whiskey Chitto Ramblerscountryundergroundradio.comHistory & Factoids website

You may know Kathy Garver from Family Affair but her career before and since “Cissy” is expansive! She is still extraordinarily prolific with a calendar full of film dates, audio book recordings, and event appearances!Kathy began' singing and dancing at age three and had already racked up 12 screen credits when she was cast as an extra in The Ten Commandments. From high atop his director crane, Cecile B. DeMille spotted her carrying a lamb and jumped down to write her a larger role as “Rachel the Slave Girl,” a part that brought her face to face with Charlton Heston as he parted The Red Sea!  At age 20, she was whisked from her UCLA sorority house to a sitcom set when she landed the role of big-sister “Cissy Davis” in one of CBS's first color shows, Family Affair!Kathy tells us how her mother employed Streaks N' Tips to match her dark locks to those of her TV siblings. The resulting greenish hue did not detract Ed Hartmann  from casting the perfect sibling for Buffy and Jody.Kathy shares her thoughts on why her younger co-stars struggled to adjust into their adult lives. She credits her smooth transition to her supportive family and spending her high school years in San Bernardino, away from the judgement of Hollywood.In IMDB Roulette, Kathy talks about sharing credits with Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby, Kurt Russell, Chuck Connors, Patty Duke, Julie Andrews and Andy Griffith.Kathy has amassed an impressive body of voice work, which includes playing Firestar in Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends. She has also mastered the craft of audio-book narration with her most recent work being, Elvis, Rocky & Me: The Carol Connors Story, coming in July.We hear about Kathy's, many books, her slew of upcoming projects and appearances, her unrelenting optimism and her belief in the 'divine threads' of people and events which are creating the fabric of her life.In recommendations--Weezy: HBO Max Documentary, Pee Wee As HimselfFritz:  Netflix Series, American Manhunt - Osama Bin Laden Path Points of Interest:Kathy GarverKathy Garver - WikiKathy Garver - IMDBKathy Garver - InstagramKathy Garver on FacebookKathy Garver Facebook Fan PageKathy Garver's Photos and BooksKathy's Jun/July 2025 NewsletterWhittier Comic Con on June 22Elvis, Rocky & Me: The Carol Connors Story AudiobookGusPee Wee As HimselfAmerican Manhunt - Osama Bin Laden

00:00 – 13:31 – Tempers flare in Fever/Sun last night, Caitlin Clark gets flagrant fouled and Sophie Cunningham gets ejected, latest on Tyrese Haliburton heading into Game 6, Panthers win back-to-back Stanley Cups 13:32 – 33:27 – Andy Griffith rejoiner, Shams Charania on the latest on Tyrese Haliburton’s injury, his status for Game 6, Pacers make a trade last night 33:28 – 48:52– Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle joins us to discuss Tyrese Haliburton’s status for Game 6, the scenario with Haliburton and without him, TJ McConnell’s abilities, do minutes restrictions go out the window in elimination games, traveling days, Jenny Boucek and why he thinks she’ll be the first female NBA head coach one day 48:53 – 1:00:24 - We play I GOTTA KNOW: Pacers expectations going forward, Colts QB competition decided already?, athletic event you know you could beat everyone else in, childhood trend you wanted to wipe awaySupport the show: https://1075thefan.com/the-wake-up-call-1075-the-fan/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

00:00 – 13:25 – Tempers flare in Fever/Sun last night, Caitlin Clark gets flagrant fouled and Sophie Cunningham gets ejected, latest on Tyrese Haliburton heading into Game 6, Panthers win back-to-back Stanley Cups 13:26 – 20:16– Morning Checkdown 20:17 – 40:10 – Andy Griffith rejoiner, Shams Charania on the latest on Tyrese Haliburton’s injury, his status for Game 6, Pacers make a trade last night and what that all means for the draft and for Myles Turner’s potential contract extension 40:11 – 1:06:26 – Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle joins us to discuss Tyrese Haliburton’s status for Game 6, the scenario with Haliburton and without him, TJ McConnell’s abilities, do minutes restrictions go out the window in elimination games, traveling days, Jenny Boucek and why he thinks she’ll be the first female NBA head coach one day, Morning Checkdown 1:06:27 – 1:15:22 – Game 6 gameplan, Kevin references Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault’s comment about team menus when it comes to gameplans, Kevin and James discuss some Colts storylines 1:15:23 – 1:26:53– We play I GOTTA KNOW: Pacers expectations going forward, Colts QB competition decided already?, athletic event you know you could beat everyone else in, childhood trend you wanted to wipe away 1:26:52 – 1:51:22 – Our golf outing coming up in August, if Haliburton can’t go tomorrow then what happens?, our conversation with Rick Carlisle earlier today, 1:51:23 – 2:02:14 – Oklahoma City Thunder reporter for the Associated Press Cliff Brunt joins us to discuss the Thunder being on the verge of an NBA Championship, Thunder roster aside from SGA, Mark Daigneault’s coaching abilities, his thoughts as Game 4 looked like the Pacers were going to win, unlocking Jalen Williams, does he think he’ll be working a Game 7 on Sunday 2:02:15 – 2:07:36– Limp Bizkit, Fever/Sun dust up yesterday, Jiffy Lube Stat of the Day, Carlisle update on HaliburtonSupport the show: https://1075thefan.com/the-wake-up-call-1075-the-fan/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The most important thing that I've learned as a storyteller is that I have to treat every character in the show as though they're the lead in the show, and they are never doing anything so that I can prompt a move from another character. They are doing things that are true to what they want and their motivation. So that's what makes that architecture hard, because you know you want things to happen, but they have to happen coming out of character, not coming out of what the room wants to see happen. So it's like the merging of those two. We know what architecture we want, but if it doesn't feel true to the character, the character wouldn't do it. Every time, you've got to say no, even though it's tempting, because that is who you have to protect – your characters,” says Jennie Snyder Urman, creator and showrunner of Matlock, about creating story architecture in a series.  On today's episode, we talk with Jennie Snyder Urman, who created the reboot of Matlock starring Kathy Bates as Madeline Matlock. We chat about reinventing the beloved character once played by Andy Griffith, the joy of building a show around an older female lawyer and the generational changes in social attitudes women experience, and the sacrifices women often make when it comes to sexual harassment, including Matty herself.   “[Matty] realizes now, coming back [to the legal profession], what it cost her. And it's not like every day she was thinking about it. It was just, ‘Oh my gosh, I made these changes to avoid this. And why do I have to make these changes? Why didn't that person make the changes so I could be in the space where I was comfortable?' And I think what's so exciting about Maddie is that she's still learning new things at 75. I think there's also a little bit of a wish fulfillment, that you can still evolve, and you still learn, and you still feel new things,” says Urman.  To hear more about Matlock, what we can expect from season 2, and Urman's advice for writers, listen to the podcast. 

Okay so you know how just like... the general concept of "art" is mostly considered good, like a good thing that most people enjoy. Well, that's wrong, and Andy Griffith is gonna tell you why. It's Season 6. Episode 14 "Otis the Artist"If you like this, leave a rating and review, follow us on Bluesky, visit our Patreon or email us at breakingmayberry@gmail.com.

(2024) National Go Bare Foot day.  Entertainment from 1968.  Kentucky Became 15th state, Tennessee became 16th state, 1st pay phones installed, Coldest temp ever in South America.  Today birthdays - Andy Griffith, Marilyn Monroe, Pat Boone, Morgan Freeman, Rene Auberjonois, Powers Booth, Ronnie Dunn, Teri Polo, Heidi Klum, Alanis Morissette, Tom Holland.  Helen Keller died.Intro - Pour some sugar on me - Def Leppard   http://defleppard.com/Bare Feet - Caroline JonesMrs. Robinson - Simon & GarfunkleHoney - Bobby GoldsboroBirthday - The BeatlesBirthdays - In da club - 50 Cent    http://50cent.com/Andy Griffith TV themeGoodbye Norma Jean - Elton JohnAint' that a shame - Pat BooneCrazy Train - Pat BooneBoot scoot & boogie - Brooks & DunnYou outta know - Alanis MorissetteExit - Its not love - Dokken    http://dokken.net/

"Millions of girls will grow up thinking that this is the right way to act. That they can never be anything more than vacuous ninnies whose only goal is to look pretty, land a rich husband, and spend all day on the phone with their equally vacuous friends talking about how damn terrific it is to look pretty and have a rich husband!" - Lisa Simpson Malibu Stacy speaks for the first time, and her sexist sound bites inspire Lisa to track down the doll's creator and develop a feminist alternative. Meanwhile, a run-in with TV's Matlock causes Abe to enter the competitive world of fast food if only to avoid ending up a tired, old freak like Andy Griffith. Our guest: Rebecca Sugar, creator of Cartoon Network series Steven Universe Support this podcast and get over 200 ad-free bonus episodes by visiting Patreon.com/TalkingSimpsons and becoming a patron! And please follow the official Twitter, @TalkSimpsonsPod, not to mention Bluesky and Instagram!

Katie Kelly, The Director of Small Business Development at MSSU, and Andy Griffith, owner of SoloLinkIO, joined NewsTalk KZRG to talk about an exciting event discussing the future of AI in business. The event features guest speakers, a meet and greet, and panels! Join Ted, Steve, and Lucas for the KZRG Morning Newswatch!

we talk about how the pirates are a shitty organization and will never be good. then we talk about the failing economy and trumps plans to reset it. then i don't know how we get into it but leave it to beaver Andy Griffith shows and of course JFK

0:00 Segment 1 John Kassir, the voice of The Cryptkeeper, talks about attending cons, working on the “Tales from the Cryptkeeper” cartoon, western and atomic age comics, his appearance on Star Search, and performing The Wizard of Oz in 10 minutes while doing all the voices.Buy tickets to 2 Rivers Comic Con coming to St. Charles in May 2025 https://2riverscomiccon.com/ Sign up for the 2 Rivers Comic Con Newsletter at https://2riverscomiccon.com/stay-in-touch/   26:10 Segment 2 John Kassir talks about getting cut out of the shows “Moonlighting” and “Friends”, and playing The Atom in a Justice League movie.41:22 Segment 3 John Kassir talks about being on Star Trek, working with actor Larry Drake, working on Rick and Morty, and working with Andy Griffith on the Leslie Nielsen movie “Spy Hard”.Buy tickets to 2 Rivers Comic Con coming to St. Charles in May 2025 https://2riverscomiccon.com/ Sign up for the 2 Rivers Comic Con newsletter to find out about the latest guests https://2riverscomiccon.com/stay-in-touch/   Check out the ‘Justice League Revisited Podcast' with Susan Eisenberg and James Enstall at https://anchor.fm/justiceleague Thanks to our sponsors Historic St. Charles, Missouri (https://www.discoverstcharles.com/), Bug's Comics and Games (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070575531223)Buy Me a Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/3Y0D2iaZl Patreon -   https://www.patreon.com/GeekToMeRadio Website -   http://geektomeradio.com/   Podcast -   https://anchor.fm/jamesenstall Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/GeekToMeRadio/  Twitter -   https://twitter.com/geektomeradio  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/geektomeradio/ Producer - Joseph Vosevich https://twitter.com/Joey_Vee 

When you want to confront someone about an issue, you better have some authority or you'll get laughed at to your face! In the episode of Andy Griffith where Barney confronts the two men for selling fruits and vegetables on the side of the road without a permit, they threaten to beat him up. Barney leaves because of fear but comes back to confront them pointing out that his badge represents a higher authority and they better obey it or pay the consequences. Paul tells the church at Galatia, “My authority doesn't come from any man but from Jesus himself and it is in your best interest to obey the gospel I preached to you and not some false gospel some slick talking person is speaking. If not, you'll pay the consequences.” This message we carry and share, the gospel, has our back because Jesus is our authority!

We go back to the 80s-restaurant-of-debatable-quality of "It's A Living" with Max Ludwig. This time around we explore a few episodes with Andy Griffith ties, including one where a group of grown adult women dress as children's fairy-tale characters in a way that's not at all creepy! Also Marty absorbs so much content it breaks him.It's "It's a Living" Season 3, Episode 14 "The Doctor Danny Show" and Season 5 Episode 4 "Sweet Charity"

A Golden Age Hollywood star in every sense, at just 16 Ruta Lee was  cast in the all-time great movie musical, 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers', subsequently becoming the designated smoldering beauty, spicy sexpot and fiery vixen in  iconic TV Westerns, mysteries and dramas of  the '50s and '60s. She is celebrating her 90th birthday in classic Ruta fashion: with a one-woman show, fabulously titled 'Consider Your Ass Kissed! This week she brings her legendary inside showbiz lore and boundless energy to the Media Path studio!Ruta's story begins with her Lithuanian background and parents who escaped the oppression of the Communist regime to Montreal, Quebec, where Ruta was born, singing and dancing. Her mother reached out to a Lithuanian priest in Los Angeles and thus began the plan to head for Hollywood.Ruta's Hollywood High training prepared her to land roles on The George Burns & Gracie Allen Show, The Roy Rogers Show and then iconic films including Funny Face with Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn and Sergeants Three with The Rat Pack! Ruta recounts her heroic efforts to extract her Grandmother from a Siberian internment camp. She took her request straight to Khrushchev! She tells us about her work with The Thalians, an organization founded by Hollywood actors to help children receive mental health care. Also, what is Audrey Hepburn's keep-slim advice? And what job yielded Ruta the most lucrative income? And with public speaking being our number one fear, Rick Mitchell joins us to talk about his new book, one of the most crucial reference guides of all time, 'How to Write a Funny Speech for a Wedding, Bar Mitzvah, Graduation & Every Other Event You Didn't Want to Go to in the First Place'!In recommendations-- Weezy: "Reality Winner Noir" - Reality (2023) on Max and Winner (2024) on HuluFritz: 'Nickel Boys' now streaming on PrimePath Points of Interest:Ruta Lee Consider Your Ass Kissed by Ruta LeeRuta Lee in“CONSIDER YOUR ASS KISSED”At The Purple Room in Palm Springs, Saturday & Sunday, March 29th and 30that The El Portal Theatre, Friday, May 30th, 2025Ruta Lee on WikipediaRuta Lee on FacebookThe ThaliansRick MitchellHow to Write a Funny Speech Buy LinksNickel Boys (2024)Reality (2023) on MaxWinner (2024) on HuluMedia Path Podcast

A little cross promotion is happening on this episode of The PVDcast. The featured conversation is pulled from the vault of my sister podcast: MatTalk (the only Matlock themed podcast on the planet!) My guest is Nancy Stafford, who played Michelle Thomas on the original Matlock. You will hear about Nancy's background, how she landed the role of Michelle, her relationship with Andy Griffith and more! This is a truly delightful edition, full of fantastic stories from the set. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe to the show & new episodes of The PVDcast drop every Thursday!

Listen to today's Laugh Again with Phil Callaway, "Andy Griffith." Enjoy!

GGACP celebrates Women's History Month with this ENCORE of a 2017 interview with veteran stage, film and television actress Joyce Van Patten. In this episode, Joyce laughs it up with the boys and shares fond memories of working with Hollywood icons Lucille Ball, Jack Benny, Danny Kaye, Dean Martin and Peter Sellers (to name just a few). Also, Joyce dines with Vincent Price, tours with Tony Randall, treads the boards with Al Shean (!) and remembers the late, great Herb Edelman. PLUS: Mr. Big converts! Rod Serling stops by the set! Joyce praises Martin Balsam! Andy Griffith hates on Jack Lord! And Bob Denver adopts a monkey!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we welcome @EricMacLain to discuss preseason polls, a Pitt fan with a foolproof four-step plan to win a natty, a UNC fan who thinks the Bill Belichick hiring was reprehensible and unclassy, another Herbstreit conspiracy, Andy Griffith vs. Jesus, and our Genius of the Week! Follow us on Twitter:MBG - @BoardGeniusesCasey - @FromSluggoCourtney - @CourtAnne1225Hoos - @HoosFootballPodcast - @TheMBGPodcast Voice Intro:Virginia Hamilton, https://virginiahamilton.net/ Theme Song:Midnight Blues by lemonmusicstudio, https://pixabay.com/music/modern-blues-midnight-blues-21179/ Find more Message Board Geniuses content at https://messageboardgeniuses.com

Aaaaaaand we're back. Episode 1 of season 14 of the Dana Gould Hour Podcast. Has anything of interest happened since the last episode? Don't think so. Certainly not here in Los Angeles, or America. Okay. Great. Let's get at it!  Drew Friedman is here. Drew Friedman is one of the premiere illustrators and cartoonists in America. You know his work from The New York Observer, the New Yorker, his books, Warts And All, Old Jewish Comedians, More Old Jewish Comedians, Still More Old Jewish Comedians, Too Soon, Drew Friedman's Sideshow Freaks, Heroes Of The Comics, More Heroes Of The Comics, the list goes on and on. In 1987 I discovered his book Any Similarity to Persons Living Or Dead is Purely Coincidental and it quite literally redefined my sense of humor. It is hard to articulate the impact the book had on me. No kidding. Drew has a new book out called Schtick Figures, portraits of people important to Drew. And me. People he refers to as The Cool, The Comical and The Crazy. Portraits of people like Gilbert Gottfried, #2 and #3 as only Drew can draw them. Drew is also the subject of a new documentary that's about to be released entitled The Vermeer Of The Borscht Belt, Drew Friedman is here.  Kurt Sayenga is a writer, director and producer. We first met when Kurt ran the series Eli Roth's History Of Horror. Kurt now has a series on Shudder called Horror's Greatest. Season #2 just dropped, with guests like Davi Dastmalchian, Joe Hill, Jonah Ray, Alex Winter, Mick Garris, yours truly and many, many more. Kurt's here to talk about the show and the topics covered this season as it continues to explore our fascination with all things cinematically horrific.  Cinematically horrific. If you want to examine the realistically horrific, True Tales From Weirdsville takes a deep dive into the 1957 classic A Face In Crowd, starring Andy Griffith, written by Budd Schulberg and directed by Elia Kazan. It tells the cautionary tale of what happens when a corrupt, amoral grifter gains a position of power and influence in America. It was made in 1957 and it was a FREAKISHLY predictive film.  https://www.DanaGould.com

This week, we're discussing Andy Griffith's first big screen role in A Face in the Crowd, the 1957 film from Elia Kazan. Griffith stars as Lonesome Rhodes, a wandering musician who is discovered in a small county jail and goes on to become an influential television star. It is a fascinating and timely examination of fame, influence, and the cult of personality. Additional Reading: Vulture Article: "There Is No Safe Word: How the Best-Selling Fantasy Author Neil Gaiman hid the darkest parts of himself for decades."

Slather on the Justin powa - from Canadian marionettes to catching up on your Orange Goblins, from dickheads with their high beams (and why is it always a Jeep or a Tesla?) to the rules about passing a snowplow, from Ford's exploding batteries to its self-disassembling front suspension (a case of the Teslas?), from Charles Bronson "fixing Emmitt" to the Israelis confiscating a lot of nice shotguns, from crashing into smaller things than you to Honda buying Nissan (why?), it's classic Garage Hour supersauce - spread it on. ...With Orange Goblin, Dire Straits, Masters of Reality, Soundgarden, Kyuss, Solarized, The Sword, Mastodon, Man or Astro Man and High on Fire.  There's also bears, crocodiles, birds and Dad's poor Buick Century.

Slather on the Justin powa - from Canadian marionettes to catching up on your Orange Goblins, from dickheads with their high beams (and why is it always a Jeep or a Tesla?) to the rules about passing a snowplow, from Ford's exploding batteries to its self-disassembling front suspension (a case of the Teslas?), from Charles Bronson "fixing Emmitt" to the Israelis confiscating a lot of nice shotguns, from crashing into smaller things than you to Honda buying Nissan (why?), it's classic Garage Hour supersauce - spread it on. ...With Orange Goblin, Dire Straits, Masters of Reality, Soundgarden, Kyuss, Solarized, The Sword, Mastodon, Man or Astro Man and High on Fire.  There's also bears, crocodiles, birds and Dad's poor Buick Century.

This Week on "The Middle of Culture": Return to The Matrix!Twenty years after Neo and Trinity's supposed final chapter, we're diving deep into 2021's surprise sequel "The Matrix Resurrections." After weeks of defending the oft-maligned sequels, we're here to ask: Does this unexpected return stick the landing? (Spoiler: We might have some hot takes that'll surprise you!)

This week Ken welcomes actor, writer, and all around great human Amy Stoch to the show.   Ken and Amy discuss fabled central time, growing up in Ohio, Love Boat, having a 9pm bedtime, the Clevland Browns, the artistic nature of Clevland, Clevland Playhouse, PhD studies, Mary Martin in Peter Pan, Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, coming into the acting business as a model, Star Search, catalog work, having a sense of humor, how to stand out from the pack, A&P, Rosie O'Donnel, Sinbad, Rebecca Bush, the acting competition on Star Search, the power of a live audience, being discovered, moving to LA for the first time, going out on audictions, the good old days of Hollywood, seeing behind the scenes, walking Hollywood Blvd, The Hollywood Hills, Chicago, how the pros always fly into Burbank, how commercial work has changed, the power of unions, being paid for your work, Chicago productions, taking the time to look back and recognize all the cool things you've gotten to do, working with Andy Griffith, Gunsmoke, how amazing James Arness is, being able to give back to your parents through your work, having a comedic apetitude, Summer School, working with Carl Reiner, the Bill &Ted series, Soul Man, Steve Miner, seeing Barbara Streisand, when they film in Boston, being killed off on Days of Our Lives, being allowed to improv, the new smart dumb genre ushered in in the late 80s, doing or not doing nudity on film, being credited as "girl in bed", keeping momentos from your work, getting your script signed by everyone you worked with, the difference between movie and TV acting, having women behind the scenes on your side as advocates, and how different the entertainment world is today. 

Send us a textEpisode 518"The Fugitive", "Terrifier 3" and "The Munsters"Actor: Daniel Roebuck.The very kind Dan Roebuck joins me to talk his lengthy acting career from Matlock to Rob Zombie and his role in the iconic "The Fugitive". Plus Dan clears the air once and for all as to what happened with his casting in "Home Alone."Having made his feature film debut starring in the teen comedy Cavegirl Daniel Roebuck quickly realized that there was only one direction to travel in his career. Up!Soon after Cavegirl, Roebuck established himself as one of the industry's youngest character actors with his haunting portrayal as the teenage killer, Samson in The River's Edge.Daniel Roebuck was born and raised in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, At the age of 10, he started performing in talent shows doing impressions of movie stars he loved. He joined a local circus two years later and made his debut as one of the youngest clowns in the country. Roebuck's clown act eventually segued into a magic act and he performed that throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.His film credits are myriad, having starred in blockbusters like The Fugitive, US Marshals,and Final Destination, as well as popular titles including Agent Cody Banks and it's sequel, That's What I Am, Money Talks, Flash Of Genius and so many more.Lately, Roebuck has enjoyed working in a number of horror movies - his favorite genre. He has collaborated with filmmaker Rob Zombie on Halloween, Halloween 2, Devil's Rejects, and Lords of Salem (as well as a commercial for AMDRO, the insecticide). He also appeared in Don Coscarelli's cult favorite Bubba Ho Tep as well as the director's Reggie's Tales and John Dies At The End.Daniel has also been a familiar face on television for nearly 3 decades, he was a regular for three seasons on the evergreen hit drama, Matlock, portraying attorney 'Cliff Lewis," the junior partner of the law firm headed by Andy Griffith's beloved character, 'Ben Matlock.' Interestingly, his landing the role was the fulfillment of a promise made several years earlier with his first appearance on "Matlock" in its inaugural season. At that time, Roebuck was told that Griffith had been so impressed with his work that he would be back as a regular on the show. It took five seasons, two more guest shots as different characters, and a change of networks, but Griffith kept his promise and Roebuck indeed became a series regular.As a television guest star, Daniel has played countless characters. Some of his most memorable are a cop who literally turns into a pig on Grimm, a Romulan on Star Trek, Next Generation, a gun toting hostage taker on NYPD Blue, a cranky studio owner on Sonny With A Chance and a grieving father on Glee. He played other memorable roles on New Adventures of Old Christine, NCIS, Ghost Whisperer, CSI, Boston Legal, CSI Miami, Law And Order, Desperate Housewives and Hot in Cleveland.On the popular show, Lost, Roebuck portrayed the infamous Dr. Leslie Arzt, the aggravating science teacher whose explosive exit in the finale of the first season remains one of television's most surprising and talked about moments.He has starred in dozens of TV Movies. Perhaps his most famous turn was his critically acclaimed portrayal of Jay Leno in The Late Shift. Welcome, Daniel Roebuckwww.mmcpodcast.com#thefugitive #robzombie #horror #homealone #homealone2 #homealone #christmasmovies #themunsters Reach out to Darek Thomas and Monday Morning Critic!Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mondaymorningcritic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mondaymorningcritic/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mondaymorningcriticMondaymorningcritic@gmail.com

Allen County, Kansas is not a place most people will be familiar with, but the story is one you've probably heard before. Located in southeast Kansas, an hour and a half from the nearest major city, it features much that's typical of rural America. Iola, the county seat, is a city of 5,300 people. It has a classic town square and lies at the junction of a couple of state highways. The beautiful Flint Hills and its majestic cattle ranches are not far away.But after the community lost its hospital in the early 2000s, the usual questions emerge - is Iola, and the whole county on the verge of permanent decline?Out of this tragic circumstance was born Thrive Allen County Jared Wheeler, their Economic Development Director, joins me to talk about the path that Iola, Humboldt and the whole county have taken since that time. And, the remarkable successes they've achieved. Humboldt, for example, was featured in 2024's “15 Best Small Towns to Visit” in Smithsonian Magazine.You might not know much, or even care much, about rural Kansas. But I think you'll still find this to be an inspiring conversation and story. Jared and I cover a lot of ground, talking about rural community development, place-making, a culture of experimentation, and even bike paths.Find more content on The Messy City on Kevin's Substack page.Music notes: all songs by low standards, ca. 2010. Videos here. If you'd like a CD for low standards, message me and you can have one for only $5.Intro: “Why Be Friends”Outro: “Fairweather Friend”Text Transcript:Kevin Klinkenberg (00:01.158)Welcome back to the Messy City Podcast. This is Kevin Klinkenberg joined in studio today by a special guest from Central, what did you call it? Central Kansas? Southeast Kansas. Southeast Kansas, yeah. Southeast Kansas, all right. Well, shout out to my buddy Jason Carter-Solomon who hooked us up. He said, you know, just was out in Iowa, Kansas and I met this guy doing really cool stuff and it's like, you've got to talk to him.And it sounded intriguing and here we are. So welcome to the show for Jared Wheeler. You got it. Jared Wheeler. I am economic development director for a nonprofit in Southeast Kansas called Thrive Allen County. So I'm thrilled to be to be here today. Well, it should be a lot of fun. I have I've been through the area a little bit, have not stopped in Humboldt, which I know is like the big.tourist draw now. Right, right. Who would have thought that a community of 2,500 people would be in the Smithsonian magazine, New York Times, all these national publications saying you got, you have to come check this place out. Yeah. So why don't we start a little bit by just talking about, first of all, what thrive Allen County is, and how you came to be a part of it. So thrive Allen County.was initiated when the hospital in Iola, Kansas was closing. And as part of the agreement, anytime a hospital closed at that point, the idea that assets would be sold and then the money put it into the, with the intention of creating a 501c3 nonprofit, specifically dedicated towards public health initiatives. So Thrive Allen County was born out of really a crisis. So it's kind of birth from a crucible.the hospital in a small town closes. If you speak rural life fluently at all, that is a recurring theme that the hospital in town closes and you are left with some amalgamation of clinics or some specialty shops or just a general practice with limited beds, no overnight stays, that sort of thing. So the hospital closes, thrive, Allen County is born.Kevin Klinkenberg (02:20.988)And its initial mandate is to improve the community health. Just to interrupt for just a sec. So give people perspective. How big is Iowa? Yeah. Iowa, Kansas is about 5,200 people. Relatively small. It's the county seat of Allen County, Kansas. The next largest community is humble of 2,500 people. So the entire county's population is 12,000. Right. So for those of you who are in urban context, you are.probably struggling to imagine that sort of lack of population density, population scarcity. It's funny. It reminds me. So I went to high school in a small town in central Missouri. That was about 12,000 people. Okay. But when I hear you say, you know, Iowa is 5,200, it just reminds me that like when you're in a smaller town, like the hundreds matter. my. Saying 5,200 versus like 5,600, that's like a big deal. Right. It's the same way, you know,parents of young children still measure their kids age in months. It's like, is it about 27 months? It's the same situation for those of us who are doing our best work in rural communities, like 5,200. Because if I say, it's about 5,000 people, somebody out there is listening going, my graduating class was 5,000 people. That makes no sense. So Thrive, that's our context in which we work. And for the last,17 years Thrive has existed to enrich the health of citizens in Allen County. And that was initially in specifically related to physical health. So we have healthcare navigators that try and make sure that as many people as possible are insured. We operate vaccination clinics throughout the county, especially in even more rural and remote context. And thenabout halfway through the lifespan of Thrive, economic development was added. And economic development is really pursued from the perspective of community health. What is going to be a source of good, benevolent disruption? That's my approach constantly is what is going to disrupt the systems that are in place that contribute to the lack of health?Kevin Klinkenberg (04:45.788)for our community members through economic development. So that's my role and I am part of, technically I'm a one man department, but we all work together at Thrive and with our partners, both public and private partners in the communities. So how big is the organization overall? We have just under 30 employees right now. Yeah, and so we're fortunate in that some of those employees are in a transition period because we operate Allen Regional Transit.which is a public transportation organization in a rural context, which I know some of y'all out there are picturing like covered wagons. That's not exactly what's going on. But so we operate a public transit organization. And then we also have within our organization, the seed of another nonprofit that will probably spin off called Thrive Kansas, which is working for the same sort of rural community health goals.that we do in Allen County, but is trying to create statewide networks to do that. And how did you, are you from the area? Man, my rural bona fides are legit. I am, I am from a town of 500 people originally called Thayer, Kansas and in the same region, Southeast Kansas again, born and raised there. And really, so you have to remember I grew up in the nineties, early two thousands. So my experience of the wider world.was purely through pop culture. We didn't go anywhere. I was as hasty as they come. I knew what sushi was. did not eat. I had not had a bite of sushi until probably when I was on my honeymoon. And my cousin and I had a wonderful time. I'm just kidding. And so that's my baseline understanding of the world. But then I...I lived and worked in churches and schools after that. Did my grad school in Portland, Oregon. And so I did intensive weeks out there. So I was spending time in Portland in the Pacific Northwest for a couple of weeks at a time for four or five semesters. And so I've experienced a lot of different contexts. And then we moved back to Southeast Kansas, my wife and family and I from Kansas City actually. And so we lived up here.Kevin Klinkenberg (07:12.294)and then moved back about nine years ago with the choice to locate our family in a rural context. that's my route towards economic or community development is incredibly circuitous. And I really, I've found that that was a point of embarrassment for me initially when I took the job, because I just thought, everybody knows this stuff better than I do. And now I'm learning more and more about our conversation off mic before that.You were in architecture school before you got into community development. And I think that's, that is true for so many people that the reason they end up in community development, economic development, especially in a rural context is because they love the place. They love the place. They are invested in it and they have lived it. And again, bear the burden of what could be, or they have lived it and they are so quintessentially formed by it.that they believe other people should benefit from that formation as well. And the same is true for me in both directions. So, really the only experience I have with your area has been driving back and forth between Kansas City and Tulsa, which is kind of like the most direct route, really. Maybe not the fastest route, it's hard to say, but it's more interesting anyway, a little more scenic.been through Iowa. don't think I actually have driven through Humboldt yet. Humboldt, as you mentioned, has been a place that's gotten a lot of attention in recent years and it's kind of on the radar for, you know, like glamping and for cycling and everything else. Why don't you talk a little bit about like how and why has the area started to get the level of attention that you mentioned before?I think there's two categories I should speak to. The first is material and then maybe the second is going to sound a little weird, but it's mythological. So materially, one of the reasons that the area has gotten attention is because quite frankly, it's cost effective to develop and to try things in Allen County. The economic ecosystem in rural Kansas has typically been one of either extraction or exploitation historically.Kevin Klinkenberg (09:35.81)It is a wildcatting pioneering economy since my goodness, since the 19th century. And so the, industries that boomed the turn of the 20th century into the 19th century were extraction based businesses. Let's pull things as pull natural resources out. mean, my goodness, near Iola, Kansas, there is literally a city called gas and it is called gas because you, you made your bones.as part of a natural gas business there, that that's the way you made it so that the name stuck and in Humboldt and Iola there, there were massive, concrete businesses. there are these huge firms that, mined a mineral from that area and then use it to turn it into cement and concrete. So it's one that's still an operation monarch cement company in Humboldt, Kansas, butThat is the case. either you're pulling a resource from the landscape and when that is exhausted, you leave. And so that that also funnels into that exploitation idea. It's extraction or exploitation. So there's a sense amongst the folks who live and this may be true if you're a real person listening, you might be nodding along or you might want to fight me either way. WhereThere's an idea, the scarcity mindset that blends in that says, well, everybody who could have left did. Everyone who had the chance and the means and the capacity to leave when it was time to leave did, and we are what remains. I don't think that's accurate. I think that's sometimes, unfortunately, the way that small communities understand themselves. They either become bitterness factories or hope factories. That's very rarely.in a community that is somewhat remote and rural, is it in between those two extremes. You're either a community of hope or you're a community of bitterness. What could have been and what might be. So those are your two extremes. And I'd love to talk to people if they feel like they live in a community that exists right in the middle of those.Kevin Klinkenberg (11:51.238)So the first reason why the community, the area is getting more attention is because materially it's more cost effective to try something new there. That economic ecosystem of extraction or exploitation is given way to one of experiment. Let's try something new. And so there are people who are either coming back to the area or they are relocating from other parts of the country.because they have an idea that is impossible due to the cost constraints of where they live. I am assuming even for our folks who are listening in Kansas City, that if I started doing cost analysis comparison between opening a storefront business of some sort in Prairie Village compared to Iola, Kansas, you will not get the population density for traffic or tail lights, butfor your permit cost, you might be able to buy a building in Iola. So that's really at end of the day, it's more cost effective in our area just because things are cheaper. I don't mean to be crass, but that's what it comes down to. That's the material side. The second one, the one that I'm maybe even more interested in is the mythological side. Why are people so interested in that area? And I wanna ask this question as I hold this off in my head.How do you think people from non-rural contexts experience or how is their perception of the rural world formed by what pop cultural artifacts, so to speak? in the fifties and sixties, I would say it's probably Mayberry, you know, it's the Andy Griffith show. And what's the essence of the rural experience? Well, everybody knows you, you're not going to get away with anything because you'reyour mom's hairdresser's aunt saw you do that. And so they're going to report back. And then as it moves forward, what there's kind of this, it's dearth of pop cultural artifacts that have, kind of monolithic effect, except I believe there is now a new pop cultural phenomenon that everyone at least is aware of that is giving people a lens to look through.Kevin Klinkenberg (14:16.988)and see the rural context. And this is going to be absolutely ridiculous to most people, but stay with me. If you're familiar, if you, if you are familiar with the incredible pieces of art, they're known as hallmark movies. You have had a rural experience because those movies never take place in urban settings. Or if they do, it's only momentary because they're trying to escape it to getto the rural place in which you are going to fall in love, achieve your dreams and feel your stress melt away. And that's silly, it's ridiculous. But at the same time, I believe there is a, I think that is a very kitschy way of seizing on a groundswell ofCollective emotion right now where people are looking for something that is more simple. Our lives are incredibly hectic. We know they're hectic. We know that we are addicted to everything and anything. So how can I simplify? And then how can I take charge of my life and do what I want to do and have some agency? And with a little bit where your dollars go a little bit farther and maybe the pace of life slows down, people feel like they have a little bit more agency.And then finally, where can I still access some version of the American dream, whatever that is? And I think that is a piece of mythology that has been so twisted and turned, but there's, it's still baked in somewhere to us. And I think at the end of the day, part of that dream in a rural context is can I be known by people and can I know other people? I'm sure you are aware of thethe emphasis and the buzzwords of, you know, quality spaces, place making third spaces. mean, we are, we are addicted to those. And in a rural context, I think the perception is when you look through the lens of an artifact, like a hallmark movie, that the entire community is a third space because you're going to bump into the person you work with elsewhere. You're going to see someone.Kevin Klinkenberg (16:38.764)at one of the three restaurants in town that you saw yesterday crossing the street or so on and so forth. So I think that's one reason why the community has been so, or the area has been of interest is because mythologically, it provides an avenue towards some essential thing that we want out of living life in community that may be a little bit more difficult.in, if not an urban context, certainly a suburban context. So if I were to put a dot in Iowa and then draw like a circle 100 miles around it, there's an awful lot of small towns within that circle. Right. What has distinguished Iowa and Humboldt that you see more positiverebound and attraction than maybe some other towns that are within that context. One thing that has really helped so much are collectivist approach to problem solving. for example, my organization Thrive Island County, especially in the area of economic development, we would be completely inept and ineffective if we didn't haveclose and active partnerships with local government and local business leaders and confederations of industry leaders as well. So that's one of the first reasons that Iola Allen County has been successful is because it's taken a collectivist approach to problem solving without any sort of political machinations behind that, or sometimes even completely devoid ofpolitical ideology, just because, something needs to change. What do we do about it? Another reason is because folks who have been successful in Allen County have taken it upon themselves, even though there isn't a whole lot of philanthropic infrastructure, or they don't see philanthropic models that you might see in a larger community. you start a foundation, that foundation does this, this is the way in which you...Kevin Klinkenberg (18:59.088)you know, are able to recoup some of what you've given away through tax breaks and so on and so forth. That infrastructure doesn't really exist in Southeast Kansas and small communities, but successful individuals have taken it upon themselves to think critically about the complex issues that their communities face, identify the areas in which they can have an impact and aggressively pursue that impact. So, andI'll be somewhat discretionary simply because the individual in question is not a huge fan of publicity, but there's an individual, a family in Humboldt, Kansas, that at the time of the pandemic redirected a considerable amount of its workforce towards making community improvements as opposed to laying off workers at their industry. That's turned into almost a parabolic story.but it is exemplary of this individual and this company's approach to community improvement. And even without a model that said, is how you do this. There's no, there's not a Carnegie library in Humboldt, Kansas, even serving as a beacon of what philanthropy looks like. This individual became a quintessential philanthropist to solveproblems and it's in his small community again, because he loves it. And that example has had a profound impact throughout the region where there are more and more folks who have been successful and have realized that their success has resulted because someone else made a provision for them and they've turned around and said, okay.How do I address the complex issues? Not merely I'm gonna endow a scholarship, which by the way, we love that, keep doing that everyone, but we need new curb and gutters in the road. I bet I could do something with that. I bet I could have an effect in that direction. So we've been very beneficial through collectivist solution making and then also,Kevin Klinkenberg (21:19.676)the inspired philanthropy of successful folks. mean, that's so interesting. It kind of hits on a broader topic. know Aaron Wren on his podcast has he's talked about this as well. But like one of the real differences today versus in communities, say 100 years ago, is that 100 years ago, the bank in town was locally owned. Right. The department store was locally owned.Right. You know, most of the, and this is true in cities of towns of almost all sizes, that your local leadership class were people who owned prominent businesses in the town. Right. And that is something that has been lost in an awful lot of communities because of, you know, just changes in the economy and so muchSo much of a shift towards sort of larger corporate owned Businesses that then just have branches in places and you just never have the same buy-in right you're like if you're like the branch manager of a bank that's got 500 Locations right you're gonna have a different buy-in than if you're like the owner of the bank. Yeah and and the same goes for for a lot of industry so I think that's it's really interesting what you mentioned that you sort of start starting from a kernel of somebody who ownedan important business and lives in the town and says, just like you said, I'm not going to just do a scholarship fund, but I'm going to invest in things that make, improve quality of life where I am. Right. And I guess that's, as you were, as you were talking about that, I, I couldn't help but wonder, and I'll, I'll ask you directly if you, do you think a community can outsource its self identity? no. Okay. Okay. So, but that's, that's the tug.When so many things are operated or owned remotely is what happens is this, I really think an existential crisis for a community to go, then what are we and who are we? And if you don't have a thing to point to that provides an place of orientation for your community, it gets really hard to then invite people to invest in that community.Kevin Klinkenberg (23:44.63)And so I think that's, I think you're exactly right. That when, when that autonomy evaporates, then you do have a, identity crisis, so to speak. And so that's one thing that's been really interesting in both Iola and Humboldt is, you know, the businesses that are added, we have some community investment, groups and, some microloan groups andso on and so forth. The businesses that have been added are not, mean, there is no retailer that's saying we'd love to drop a branch in your town of 5,000 people. It doesn't make sense for them. So what's added is homegrown. It's local entrepreneurs who we claw to find capital for them and then they take a swing and we're fortunate in that. I sit on a board of what we call a entrepreneurial community.a lending group, micro loans. although, you know, to us, they're not micro to other folks. might be, we have over 25 loans on the book right now and 99.9 % of them are making their payments with regularity. And we have businesses that are crossing that year to five to year six, year six threshold, which is enormous for anybody in the entrepreneurial world. And we've just been fortunate because, there's nobody coming to rescue us.think that is, that is a shift in mindset for small communities. That's so important and it requires a bit of, I mean, you, have to be brutally honest with yourself that you, you need to empower the folks who are there to ask why not instead of why here. Yeah. AndIf something else comes along, if something locates itself in your community, that is an extra. But if you can empower the folks who are local to take a chance, then I think you're onto something that could be sustainable. Yeah. I wonder if you can talk a little bit more, maybe some specific examples of like the homegrown approach. The reason I ask that is I'm old enough to rememberKevin Klinkenberg (26:09.818)that the standard approach to rural economic development for a long, time was go plat an industrial park on the edge of town, put the infrastructure in, and try to attract what basically were like low wage industrial jobs from big companies. that's how you will save your community. what you're describing is a really different sort of a bottom up approach to working with people who are already there.I wonder if you could talk more about like some of the successes or some of the other couple of stories you can share. Absolutely. and we still do that. I mean, I, got, I got two industrial parks right now that are planning and ready to rock. So if you're out there listening and you, and you want to, know, you need a spot for your biofuel company, hit me up. Cause I am ready to talk. so we're not, we're not opposed to that approach. I just think that, charting that as the only course is, really risky.And to be honest, I don't know how much, how reliable it is. I think it's a part of a solution model. But so for example, we have a coffee shop in Iola, Kansas. Every community has got a coffee shop at this point. It doesn't matter how small you are. This coffee shop, shout out Wild Bloom Coffee in Iola. And this coffee shop got started as alower level commercial space on the square. Like every other cute coffee shop in a small town bought the bare minimum square footage that they could afford as just one half of a building, one half of the lower level of a building. And the coffee shop has been so successful and it's been able toapply for and receive grant funding. It's been able to benefit from a neighborhood revitalization program that's a tax rebate program when they made improvements to the space. It works considerably with our organization in small business coaching and in capital pursuit through our micro loan program. And this coffee shop has now purchased the entire building that they're in. They offerKevin Klinkenberg (28:29.468)kind of a subscription based bourbon taste in nights and cigar bar evenings. And they're going to expand to catering and they they serve brunch now. And in our little coffee shop in Southeast Kansas, the other day I had the best ramen I've had in years. we have, they're really talented folks who are owning and operating that shop, but it's been able to expand consistently.due to again, these collectivist approach because there's so many people, it's not only that they serve a great product, they do. It's not only that they provide a great customer experience, which they do, but it's also because they have been willing to not only want help, but ask for help. And that's an enormous difference. Wanting help is just the awareness that you need something. Asking for help is putting your hand in the air,I said, okay, I'm willing to reach out and grab whomever is going to help out, but I'm asking for it. And so that's an example that we've had in Iola. In Humboldt, Kansas, and I can take no credit for this, there's a group known as a Boulder Humboldt. And that is a confederation of business owners, entrepreneurs, movers and shakers who have added businesses throughout Humboldt. So the best...And from my money, the best little honky tonk in Kansas is the Hitching Post in Humboldt, Kansas. And they have live music every night, every weekend night, excuse me. Probably the most expansive collection of whiskeys that you could want or need. And it is an incredibly successful business and an incredibly successful gathering place. And again, was started.by an individual who moved to Humboldt who had connections with people who had multiple generations of their family within Humboldt. And they were able to continue to build that business and be patient as it was built. they live, to your point earlier, they live and work in the community. The gentleman who owns that business is a city council person in Humboldt, Kansas. And...Kevin Klinkenberg (30:48.88)is really devoted towards overall community health and community growth. those are, and those businesses are now moving beyond. So Hitching Post is moving towards, I think it's third year of operations. So kind of living past that initial start at birth. Wild Bloom, I believe is to year four and five in Iola. So we have some wonderful businesses that are outside of what people would expect in a small community.again, because there've been collectivist approach. So hitching posts exists because of the collective that is a bold or humble and humble. Wild Bloom exists because of multiple collective groups within Iola that were, had a vested interest in these success stories. So the one, I confess the one business I remember from going through Iola is I stopped at the butcher shop right off the highway, which was a pretty incredible operation.And I think at the time I was kind of thinking about, we're not very far from ranch country. I had a cooler with me. want to buy some steaks or whatever and take them home with me. And of course the selection was incredible. The prices were way better than when I get in the city. And it's pretty much like fresh off the ranch. Right. I mean, you might have driven by cattle that were lamenting that their buddy was gone and ended up in your cooler instead.Yeah. So one of the thing I definitely I know about the area is you have this north south bike trail. Yeah. That comes through that goes for, I don't know, 100 miles or something. Yeah. Is that the Prairie Spirit? Prairie Spirit Trail. Yeah. What impact has that had on the area? So one, we have a very high rate of folks who bike or walk to work. Comparatively, I just pulled that data.We are higher than the state average, I think almost twice as high as the state average and people that walk or bike to work. So to me, that signifies two things. is it's pedestrian or bike traffic is built into the community. think part of that is because of the trails. There's 60 miles of trail in Allen County alone.Kevin Klinkenberg (33:09.622)so that's around the, what will become the new state park, Lehigh Portland state park. That's going to be on the edge of Viola. let's say it was a lake that was publicly owned and privately owned and then was deeded over to the state of Kansas and, Kansas department of wildlife and parks is turning that into a new state park. So there's a lot of trails around that and people have access to those trails for a while. Thrive Island County, maintenance is those trails on behalf of KDWP right now.we have trails though, that also we, we think of in, in rural communities, you think of your trails as out somewhere out towards the woods. I mean, you're go ride around and walk around, but there's also dedicated trails in Iola, that go to the hospital. spoiler alert, we did get a new hospital. I started the story talking about the, this, closing of the hospital, new hospitals added, to the elementary school, a new elementary school and to the high school, middle school, and also to around.Not to, we're working on getting trails all through the main thoroughfares in town, but there's also trails around Allen Community College in Iowa as well. So we are addicted to trail building and maintenance because we have a population that in many respects is income challenged. And an automobile, even though to most of us is an automatic purchase to a lot of our neighbors and friends, it's a luxury.And so if you do not have an automobile, but you need to get to work or you need to make your appointment or you need to get to school, you need to have a safe way to do so. And so I think that that trail system is. It's part of a wider, pedestrian and bike travel understanding and folks in our community are not embarrassed to do so. And it's because there's not.There's not the income stratification that exists. I mean, in some communities, if you see someone that is riding their bike to work, there's three categories either, they're, they're a granola type that just wants to show us that they're more fit and better than the rest of us. They are too poor to purchase a vehicle or they get a DUI and they can't drive right now. I mean, that is the truth in, our community because the, because of the prevalence of the trail system.Kevin Klinkenberg (35:35.002)If someone is walking or biking to work, it's really hard to codify them. I wonder if they fall into this category or that category just because it's the norm. So we're very fortunate that those trails exist and they do. It also affects, as you mentioned, the glamping outdoors, outdoor recreation, infrastructure and commercialization that exists in our area. That's very helpful. So again, in Humboldt, there is a camping, kayaking,and BMX riding facility known as Base Camp. And it is located at a trailhead. And so you can jump off Prairie Spirit or Southwind Trail. You can go into Base Camp. The, again, the state park is full of trails and also on Prairie Spirit and connect to Southwind Trails as well. Yeah. And then if you ride it far enough, you'll connect to the Flint Hills Trail. Yeah, exactly. Which is.over a hundred miles East West trail. Right. Exactly. My wife and I have ridden a few times. Okay. Cool. Yeah. we, we, one of our favorite events of the years, we go to the symphony and the foothills. Yeah. which is, I almost hate to talk about it because I don't want, I don't want it to become too popular. You don't want people to show up. Yeah. I really don't want people from the coast flying in and, and, making this, you know, too expensive, but my God, it's an incredible thing. Right.just one of the coolest events that we do on a regular basis with where the Kansas City Symphony goes out onto a active cattle ranch in the Flint Hills and performs a concert. But we've made a habit of going and writing a different section of the Flint Hills Trail every year, which is really a fun experience as well. But haven't done the Prairie Spirit, so I'm...Interested to do that. You absolutely should. mean, we, we talked to cyclists who do the same thing, who are connected using the Prairie Spirit to get to the Flint Hills. We're doing a major ride and they're always impressed with the quality of the trails. the Prairie, I, I can only say I only ride or have ridden a portion of it. so, and if you happen to see me riding, can, you can, guess a, is it.Kevin Klinkenberg (37:46.192)Poverty is a DUI or is it granola? one? What's the reason? But no, we're very fortunate that that trail system exists and fortunate that we are the custodians of that trail system. And that's one thing that I would say to, if you're in a rural context and you're just trying to think of something that you could add that would improve quality of life, would be a quality of life amenity, which by the way is an absolute necessity now.That's reason people are choosing to locate themselves in different places. Obviously housing matters, obviously childcare matters, obviously the possibility of earning a comfortable income matters. But if those three things are satisfied, they're making decisions about where to land based on, you know, is there a quality of life, amenity that I can connect myself with? You have, you have space and you have dirt. You are almost there. You are almost to the, to having a trail.or a system of trails in your community on the edge of your community. Please, please talk to Thrive Allen County. We have a lot of experience of doing trail work. We have blown it and messed it up in different places so we can help you avoid those problems as well. But that is a way in which you can activate your community and you can also contribute to the overall health of your community as well. So I want to talk a little bit more about the place making aspect of this.Like I mentioned before, went to high school in a small town in central Missouri and before that I did first through eighth grade in a small town in southern Minnesota.things that were memories that really stick out for me was, know, if you live in a small community and you're a kid, like riding a bike is a normal thing. Yeah. And I used to ride my bike everywhere. And it was accepted. It was normalized. It was easy to do and safe. There's very little traffic on most of the streets. But as soon as you hit 16 years old, like it is theKevin Klinkenberg (39:54.78)uncoolest thing in the world. You've got to have a car. You've got to be cruising around. there, one of the things that has really interested me that I've tried to, I've tried to articulate, I haven't done a great job of it, but I've thought a lot about, which is most small towns are absolutely natural places for the sort of walking, biking lifestyle that.quote unquote urbanists talk about all the time. it's actually, they were built for that originally. But it also bumps up against like the, there's a culture aspect, which seems to not embrace that in most small towns. And I experienced that. I still see it all the time. And I've often thought like really, I guess maybe I want your reaction to this. One of the things I've thought is thatone of the best economic development approaches for a lot of small towns is to be the antithesis of the big city and the big city, people think of it as urban with all this cool stuff to do. But the reality is most people are spending a ton of time in a car, getting from place to place, commute, whether not just commuting, but going shopping, kids activities, et cetera. Looking for a parking spot. Looking for a parking spot. but in a small town,those, it almost ought to be like, that's the place where you could really sell this idea of a lifestyle where you get on your bike and get to a lot of places. You could walk to the town square and that should be a real competitive advantage. wonder if you could, you think that's. Yeah. So why does that not happen? No, I think that's a, I think that is such an insightful question. and one that we struggle with a lot. so I want to, I want to tackle it in a couple of different ways.One is back to the mythology. What's a marker of success? Marker of success is to be able to have your preferred automobile and typically multiple automobiles. And that doesn't end just because you're in a small town. People still want to virtue or virility signal with their automobiles. And because of the work and the terrain in which people live in small towns in rural Kansas, automobiles are typically bigger. Automobiles are bigger anywhere.Kevin Klinkenberg (42:13.868)Always constantly. that again, back to the American dream model, excess is our love language as a culture. so at the same way you got, you have a lot of big vehicles and we need, we're going to signal that we're doing well via this big vehicle, especially if you struggle with multi-generational poverty. Here's a purchase you can make that is a signal that does not require the type of overhead as a home.So I'm going to buy this vehicle. It's going to show everyone that I'm doing okay. The only way to show everyone that is to use said vehicle until I can't make the payments on it anymore. that's not a, that's not a purely rural experience, but it's one that shows up a lot, especially in socioeconomically, depressed areas. Yeah. Here's my $50,000, vehicle in front of my $40,000 house. Sure. Sure. yeah. So that, that, that occurs a lot. There's still,There's still status signaling through via vehicles. That's the first one. Second one is it costs communities more to provide the infrastructure necessary for safe pedestrian and bicycle traffic. If you have X amount of dollars in your county budget or in your city budget to build roads and it's going to take, you know, 5 % more to add a bike lane.to change the width of your sidewalks and you have to decide either we do the project without those things or we don't do the project at all because everyone is clamoring for those things. In most cases, they're going to choose to add the infrastructure without these dedicated spaces. Part of my organization's efforts is to educate communities that you can do that in a cost effective way. You can add those things in a way that's cost effective. So,I think we're moving the needle in that direction. I think that that's still a big issue. we have some, so there's some cultural status signaling. We have some infrastructure cost challenges there. And then also the antithesis of the big city idea is very interesting because typically when people see adults riding their bikes, if you are from a rural community,Kevin Klinkenberg (44:34.576)You only see that when you go to larger communities. I remember having, again, I did grad school in Portland and Portland is an incredibly bike friendly community. If you talk to people who drive in Portland, who do not also cycle there, they lament how bike friendly it is. But if you are a person traveling in a large city, from a rural context to a large city, you see for the first time.city infrastructure that has bike lanes, has bike crossing, pedestrian cross, a lot more foot traffic, a lot more bike traffic. And it can be really alarming to your sensibility of what it is to get from place A to place B. And so, man, did we have a scare, I almost hit that person on a bike. Do I really want to deal with that back home? In a place where you're sharing literal traffic lanes as opposed to driving next to a bike lane.so on and so forth. So I think you're right. think there there is a sense in which, you do want to be the antithesis of the big city. But where you say that and you go, so make yourself more walk walkable and bikeable. There are folks in smaller towns who go, yeah, man, there's a lot of cyclists in that big city that I that I visited. And it was really difficult to navigate. I think that's shifting. We're very fortunate in that even in our town of five thousand people, there are folks who are interested in.making a transition from predominantly using their vehicle, their automobile to get around to using their bike or just walking again, twice as high as the state average of folks who getting to work that way. So I think we're seeing that, that shift. And I think that is a selling point for why we're inviting people to spend time in our area or consider moving to our area. Because if that is a lifestyle change you would like to make or that you've already embraced, thenThere's probably a way in which you can get everywhere you need to go in Iola or Humboldt or elsewhere in Allen County on your bike or on your own two feet.Kevin Klinkenberg (46:38.566)Another thing that has been really interesting the last few years, in the wake of COVID and all of the policies and changes that happened, there's been an awful lot written and talked about in regards to like people moving. People leaving cities, looking for smaller towns. Sometimes they're leaving the city and moving to the suburbs. Sometimes they're maybe moving from the suburbs to a small town or an exurb.And obviously, I don't need to rehash all of that, but there's been a lot of conversation about that for the last few years. And it feels a little bit like there's been a shift in perception in the culture about small town living in a positive way. What have you noticed the last four or five years? First, a little bit of a, I don't want to dampen that.that exuberance for small town living. But I think the data is starting to show us that people dip their toe into rural life and then they have went back to the cities or to the suburbs or so on and so forth. But in some cases, that's that's true. Just people have chosen a city, a new city, and they've left. So Austin's a great example. Austin boomed post pandemic and now their vacancy rate in particular apartments, condos, things like that.is astronomical because people are like, well, this was cool. And now I'm ready to go back to where my job is or where I lived previously. And so I think that's happening. The shuffling of the deck is resettling itself, so to speak. I do think you're right that there is a more positive perception of rural living than there used to be. I think it's because COVID taught us that everything could be truly remote.And if you can survive and maybe even thrive, and you talk to some folks and the best years of their life, with all due respect to people who lost loved ones during COVID or struggled with that, or still dealing with the health effects following COVID, there are some people who will tell you that COVID changed my life. I was at home with my family. I was taking more, more direct self-care. I was making efforts toKevin Klinkenberg (49:00.964)identify some things in my character that I want to change. It changed my life. So being remote was a positive. And so I think, what if I did that geographically as well? What if I did that socially as well? And I located myself in someplace a little more remote. Would that also be advantageous to me? And I think COVID also reminded us of the power of knowing people and being known by people.I think that is probably the primary reason in which people are choosing, if they're not business owners or entrepreneurs, people are choosing to live in smaller communities or move to smaller communities, even if the numbers aren't as great as they were immediately post-COVID, because they see an opportunity to be known by their neighbors and to know their neighbors. Because when that was taken away from us, for so many of us,that was relationally cataclysmic. And it made us, it gave us all, but it also gave us time to go, okay, how well do I really know the folks that I'm not seeing anymore? And does that bother me that I don't know them? And could I know them better? And I think in a rural context, there's still that capacity to know the people that live on your street and to really interact with them. And not that it's impossible.in an ex-urban or suburban or urban context, but it might be a little less immediate than it is in a rural context. Yeah, it kind of reminds me of the joke that the best thing about living in a small town is everybody knows everybody. The worst thing about living in a small town is everybody knows everybody. For sure. That's absolutely true. I think maybe COVID reminded us though.The worst thing isn't as bad as the best thing could be good. doubt. What are, what are some of the things that your communities need to get better at? like what, if you were to chart a positive course or continue the improvement, what, what do you need to do better? What are you trying to work on now? So one thing we need to do is accentuate a positive that I mentioned earlier, more firm and reliable collective approaches to problem solving.Kevin Klinkenberg (51:22.138)So that's one thing. A second thing that we need to get better at is our anchor institutions need to position themselves as irrepressible agencies for good. So, for example, our school districts, our community college in Iowa, Kansas, and then the city governments and county governments, they need to, we need to work together to see ourselves as innovation agents.and benevolent disruptors as opposed to status quo maintenance agencies. And again, I think that's applicable in most rural contexts and probably applicable in a lot of community contexts, because again, you are either moving towards becoming a hope factory or bitterness factory and status quo will lead you to bitterness because those who don't achieve it will become in bitter that they didn't achieve it.or those that you're trying to force feed it to as the end result of their life will wonder why you didn't chart a more hopeful course for them. So we need our anchor organizations to see themselves as agencies of good and do so without shame. And I think that is obviously a difficult thing to map out or reverse engineer, but what it requiresis leadership that is constantly in pursuit of not utilitarianism or what works, but what is going to have the best long term effect on the quality of life of the people that work for the organization or that the organization serves. those are two things that I would say even more collective approaches to problem solving. So housing is a great example.Everybody's struggling with housing right now, whether you're in an urban context or a rural context. And the old ways of solving that, just, you know, here's a here's a platable era, you know, several plaits, plaited land that the city owns. And we want a developer to come in and you can build a subdivision. And we're going to give you these tax breaks. We're going to incentivize this in so many different ways. I think that's still maybe possible in certain contexts and rural contexts. It's just not possible.Kevin Klinkenberg (53:44.828)One, because the city typically doesn't own that much land. And two, a developer then has to say, can I, what are the margins going to be? Because I'm going to have to bring a crew down here. I'm going to get supplies down here. Are there already contractors down here? There's already people. There's master craftsmen and so on and so forth. But there's not a contractor and there's not a readily available crew. So, for example, the state of Kansas right now, the Department of Commerce has offered the frame grant.that is going to give capital to community colleges that have a building trades program, construction program to help identify the gap in the housing ecosystem and address it. And I think things like that, ideas like that are going to be so important moving forward because they're going to be necessary for everyone to get on the same page. In Humboldt, Kansas, the most reliable developer, with the exception of maybe in the past year,was the school district. High school built one house every two years or so. And it was a guaranteed reliable development. One house in Kansas City, who no one will notice, in a community of 2,500 people, a new house is, I guarantee you, is the talk of the town. So I think that is something that's going to be necessary is that we continue to embrace and expect collective solutions.collaborative solutions to complex problems. And then that our anchor agencies, and this could even include our anchor institutions and maybe even our industrial partners, see themselves with a responsibility to be benevolent disruptors.One thing kind of as part of that conversation, I might be reading a little bit into this, but I certainly know from my experience that oftentimes in rural communities, there is more of an acceptance of just status quo. It is what it is. I don't mean to say this like an insulting way to anybody, but.Kevin Klinkenberg (55:58.22)not necessarily a push for excellence or striving. Maybe the better way to say it is not as much striving to achieve. And I think part of that's because it's more comfortable and easy to live in a smaller town, costs are less, et cetera, et cetera. In a big city, you find a lot more people who really striving for something. Is that an aspect at all of kind of like, as you think aboutthe next phases are achieving more in your county? No. I'll elaborate. No, if you don't, if you don't believe that striving for excellence is part of the rural expectation, you have not been to a county fair. So if you go to a county fair and see the effort that people put into things that will neverbe recognized outside of a three day event and the sweltering heat at the end of July in rural Kansas, then I don't know what to you. if it's speak with, communicate with folks who are trying to grow the best stand of wheat that they have in their life every year, speak with people who aredo not care about commodity prices, but are proud of the way that they're being fields look, or the person that is growing the best beef you've ever eaten in your life. and I think that pursuit of excellence is still there. I understand what you're saying that, and I think the, what you're, what you're actually articulating is something that's present in rural communities, which is the reluctance to be disruptive. I don't, I don't want.to in any way rock the boat because rocking the boat will, could potentially bring shame on myself. And they still on the honor and shame, social economy and small towns is still very real because most people are multiple or are part of a multiple generation. you know, family tree it's been in that area. So my gosh, if you mess up, then the shame that bring on your family.Kevin Klinkenberg (58:21.628)it moves up and down that family tree. It's not isolated to just yourself. If you are an entrepreneur in Atlanta and you have no connection to the community, you just landed there, and you try a business and it flops, but then you're able to go somewhere else. There's no shame involved in that. You, you are.a pioneer. You are, you know, you're an entrepreneur and everyone is going to be impressed by you because you had a great big idea that just didn't work. And here's 18 reasons it didn't work that you had no control over. If you're an entrepreneur in Iowa, Kansas and your business flops and you still have to live in that community and everybody's going to ask your aunt when she goes to church on Sunday, well, you know.We saw that he started that your, your nephew started that auto body place. Is this, is it still open? Didn't seem like there were many cars there. Didn't seem, didn't seem like he's doing, is he doing okay? he's, they had to close. that's terrible. And your aunt's the one who has to answer that question for you. And so I think, I don't think it's a reluctance to pursue excellence. I think it is a fear that they will somehow.do something that will be shameful. Interesting. And I think that that's very real. And that burden of failure sits heavy in a rural community. failure in a rural community historically is very obvious. It is driving by a field that is fallow. It is driving by a farmhouse that's in disrepair.because there's not money to take care of it. So it is so much louder than it can be in other places. Interesting. I appreciate that. last thing I wanted to ask about, as I've looked before at coming to Humboldt in particular, I was really impressed by just the amount of activity that is programmed in the town on a regular basis.Kevin Klinkenberg (01:00:33.979)That's something that most small towns don't do much of. I wonder if you could speak to a little bit. So like, I always think about that, like in a community there's hardware and there's software and that's like the software side and talk a little bit about what Humboldt has been doing and what that has meant for the overall success of the place. And the credit again goes toward Boulder Humboldt, that group, and then also theirCity Administrator Cole Herder, shout out Cole Herder. Listen, if you want to know what it is to be a good City Administrator in a small town, which is part PR Director, part Public Works Director, part Ombudsman and Accountant and everything else, Cole Herder and Humble Matt Rader in Iowa, those are dues that you need to put on your radar and have a coffee with.In Humboldt, that software analogy is so perfect because that directly connects to their sense of self. And so all of these events take place. For example, they brought back an event called Water Wars in the summer in which the municipal fire department is involved and it's a part parade, part massive citywide water balloon fight, part public water sports.events on the town square. And there is, it is pure frivolity, but they have embraced it because it is a spectacle of joy for the community. And in that capacity as a spectacle of joy, it ceases to be frivolous because again, if you are driving or trying to move your community toa becoming a hope factory, you need spectacles of joy. You need reasons that people can revel in the fact that they live in that place, because so often we are told as rural people, it's a shame you live there. Gosh, wouldn't it be great if you just moved somewhere else? So these spectacles of joy in which people can fully embrace, my gosh, I'm so proud or even because we don't have to defend it.Kevin Klinkenberg (01:02:54.96)And that's typically what a small town person is told they have to do. Defend why you want, why do you live there? No, I'm just going to be happy that I'm here right now. Iola just had their Christmas block party on the square in which, you know, Santa visited and kids played games and the businesses served hot chocolate. And it's, mean, it's, it is very Hallmark movie. By the way, one of the, one of the largesttown squares in Kansas. So come and visit if town squares are your thing. First of all, you and I probably aren't going to hang out at parties, but if that's what you love, come to the Iowa block party for Christmas and you will get a taste of Americana that you have been hankering for. But again, it's just a spectacle of joy and communities need those things.They need those spectacles of joy. And I think that's also to your point earlier about why people are choosing to locate themselves in rural communities, because they can do it in an unabashed way. They don't have to defend why they're doing it. doesn't have to be cool. It doesn't have to be on trend. It can just be a thing that's fun that you can revel in. And in in Humboldt and in Iowa, in Humboldt especially, there have been a group of folks who have sought to addto the community calendar, these spectacles of joy that have become a collective experience of hopefulness and celebration. And I don't know that you need to defend that. And I think we would probably all live in healthier communities if we engaged in those things without the need to qualify why they exist.Jared, I think that's a great place to wrap. Very, very, very interesting. This was a lot of fun. I think at some point down the road, I might like to have you on again and talk some more. There's probably four or five more questions that I still have in my head. I'd love to talk about. But this is super interesting. If people are trying to find you and find your communities, what's the best way to do it?Kevin Klinkenberg (01:05:09.084)ThriveAllenCounty.org. You can find out everything about the organization that I work for and you can connect with all of my colleagues there. You can email me at Jared, J-A-R-E-D at ThriveAllenCounty.org. And that's the best way to get in touch with me. I'm on LinkedIn because I'm trying to be a grownup right now. But other than that, I am willfully disengaged from social media.beyond that, for minutes, not because I'm a rural lead, but because I'm trying to protect my peace in that way. So shoot me an email, find my phone number on, on the internet. And I'd love, I'd love to talk to you. If you are rural and you want to argue with me about this stuff, please, if you are a person living in a different context and you want to chat more about this, I would love to do so. Fantastic. Jared, thanks so much.Good luck with everything and I'll definitely make a point to bring the family down and come visit one of these days. Sounds great. Thank you so much Kevin. Thanks Get full access to The Messy City at kevinklinkenberg.substack.com/subscribe

EPJ reviews an old movie every week in 6 minutes (give or take.) This week, Eric reviews the Andy Griffith whirlwind A Face in the Crowd.

In this gripping episode of MatTalk, hosts Jason and John dive deep into one of Matlock's most chilling cases: Season 6, Episode 3, The Strangler. Ben Matlock faces a devious serial killer who not only manipulates evidence to stay one step ahead but also uses the courtroom as a stage to mock and outwit him. As the stakes rise, the killer's sights turn to Matlock himself, leading to a suspenseful showdown unlike any other. Jason and John break down the intricate twists and turns of this unforgettable episode, from the razor-sharp courtroom battles to the psychological tension that pushes Matlock to his breaking point. They discuss Andy Griffith's standout performance, the show's masterful blend of suspense and heart, and the signature charm that Matlock brings even to its darkest stories. Whether you're a longtime fan of The Strangler or watching it for the first time, Jason and John's insightful analysis and engaging banter will enhance your appreciation of this classic Matlock episode. Got thoughts on The Strangler? Email us at BenMattalk@gmail.com and connect with John on social media at @pvdmvp and @pvdcast, and Jason at @3geekspodcast and @3geeksjay. Tune in now and join the conversation!

In this gripping episode of MatTalk, hosts Jason and John dive deep into one of Matlock's most chilling cases: Season 6, Episode 3, The Strangler. Ben Matlock faces a devious serial killer who not only manipulates evidence to stay one step ahead but also uses the courtroom as a stage to mock and outwit him. As the stakes rise, the killer's sights turn to Matlock himself, leading to a suspenseful showdown unlike any other. Jason and John break down the intricate twists and turns of this unforgettable episode, from the razor-sharp courtroom battles to the psychological tension that pushes Matlock to his breaking point. They discuss Andy Griffith's standout performance, the show's masterful blend of suspense and heart, and the signature charm that Matlock brings even to its darkest stories. Whether you're a longtime fan of The Strangler or watching it for the first time, Jason and John's insightful analysis and engaging banter will enhance your appreciation of this classic Matlock episode. Got thoughts on The Strangler? Email us at BenMattalk@gmail.com and connect with John on social media at @pvdmvp and @pvdcast, and Jason at @3geekspodcast and @3geeksjay. Tune in now and join the conversation!

These children of showbiz legends are ensuring that their fathers' memories and legacies live on. We speak with James Tormé and Melissa Tormé-March about their Velvet Fog of a dad, Mel Tormé, as we approach the 80th anniversary of his incomparable contribution to the holiday music canon, 'The Christmas Song'. Then Joel Brokaw joins us. His new book 'Driving Marilyn: The Life and Times of Legendary Hollywood Agent Norman Brokaw' chronicles the history of William Morris star-maker, Norman Brokaw, known to Joel as Dad.Melissa and James share their enthusiasm for Oy! To the World Christmas with a Twist, a new musical playing this month at North Hollywood's El Portal Theatre, which features their father's music alongside a hit list of Christmas classics composed by Jewish-American songwriters. James and Melissa take us back to the sweltering July day in 1945 when their Dad and Bob Wells attempted to beat the heat with wintery lyrics and remained sweaty but created magic by conjuring “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…”They rushed the song over to Nat King Cole who was in at a few bars and proudly led a parade of 80,064 recorded covers, including James' own version! The Torme kids share their Torme Christmas memories which include their dad and contraband Christmas movies!Then Joel shares his family's history as a Ukrainian vaudeville acrobatic act that segued into the agency business when his Uncle, Johnny Hyde became VP of William Morris, discovered Marilyn Monroe and took on his young nephew, Norman to drive and accompany Marilyn to events.Starting in the mailroom, Norman worked his way up to CEO.  We hear about his working relationships with Marilyn Monroe, Kim Novak, Colonel Tom Parker, Dick Van Dyke, Gerald Ford, Mark Spitz, Barry Gordy and so many other greats.Joel talks about his complicated history with a father whose clients received his primary caregiving. Joel grew up with TV stars spending weekends by his pool, monopolizing his Dad's attention.But what were the qualities that made Norman so affective as a talent mentor? We learn the magic ingredients and hear how Norman took the new fangled TV department and made history with Loretta Young, Barbara Stanwyck, Dick Van Dyke and Andy Griffith.  Joel also talks about Norman's relationship with Bill Cosby and how his father's dementia buffered him from the horrors of Cosby's crimes. And, finally, what was the fate of Norman's sacred, secret keeping Rolodex?Plus, this week Weezy recommends Nutcrackers on Hulu and Fritz is all about Thelma, now in theaters and on streaming platforms.Path Points of Interest:Oy! To The WorldJames Tormé James Tormé on YouTubeJames Tormé  on XThe Christmas Song by James Tormé James Tormé at Kookaburra on 12/21Joel BrokawDriving Marilyn by Joel BrokawNorman Brokaw on WikiNutcrackers on HuluThelma - Streaming in Most Places  

Andy Griffiths is one of Australia's most successful children's book authors, who drew on his experience as a school teacher to redefine what it was that made kids want to read. Anyone who reads books to their kids knows that some are just excellent, and some are pretty ordinary. This conversation peels back the curtain on what makes kids actually want to read – not what we think they should read, but what gets them genuinely excited to turn the page. And in writing about poos, bums, and wees - all in the service of getting more kids to read - Andy has sold Millions and millions of books. As far as Andy is concerned - sometimes the best stories have absolutely no moral lesson whatsoever. There's also a brilliant take on how limiting yourself creatively – like writing a story in just 50 words – can actually make your work better. He brings insights into creative writing, childhood development, and the publishing industry which is really fascinating. It's a conversation about imagination, creativity, and why sometimes the best thing we can do for our kids is let them eat a little dirt. SEE OSHER LIVE at Story Club on Dec 8 tickets here Subscribe to the substack ->https://oshergunsberg.substack.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy is responsible for igniting a love of reading in millions of kids. It's a complex alchemy, but bum jokes have played a large part in it. From The Day My Bum Went Psycho to the hugely popular Treehouse series (which he created with longtime collaborator Terry Denton and which was edited by his wife Jill), Andy has written wild, boundless and very funny adventures that have drawn many kids into the beautiful escapism of books who otherwise may have missed out. With more than 30 books to his name (and as an ex-school teacher), Andy has become an expert in delving into young minds, and knowing what is going to excite, amaze and keep them turning the page. So we were very excited to chat to Andy and see what he might have gleaned from his unique vantage point as a kids author, and of course from his own dadding journey.   Andy is extremely humble, but passes on some wonderful wisdom and also shares perhaps one of the best ideas we've heard for the gathering and preserving family lore. The Family Book. It's near the end of the chat, so listen out for it! Andy is a big believer in creating space for kids to be who they are, not who we want them to be (a familiar refrain we hear from our learned guests dad) and tries to practise a simple ethos through it all.  Loving What Is - because that's what's happening!  Great words to live by, for sure. Massive thanks to Andy - we loved this chat.  You can find out lots more about Andy HERE and find his new book, The Land of Lost Things HERE. — And if you love family adventures, hit the road and take one!  But before you do, get in touch with our best friends and the exclusive sponsor of How Other Dads Dad… HERTZ.  Visit hertz.com.au/hodd to access an exclusive 25% off the base day rate for your next car hire.  T&Cs and exclusions apply. Not all Hertz Locations offer this special discount rate.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Assistant Principal Jeffrey C from the 501st graces us with his presence again in the illustrious Plastic Microphone Studios for his third appearance. This time, we delve into the realm of our five favorite fictional presidents. After a tumultuous week in the US with the Presidential election, we thought it would be a fun distraction to reminisce about those iconic presidential figures from TV, movies, and literature, both good AND bad. And for some reason, we couldn't resist chatting about the classic Andy Griffith series Salvage 1. Where else can you find a podcast that offers such a delightful mix of entertainment? It's a rollicking good time filled with plenty of laughs. We hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed recording it. Cheers to fictional presidents and intergalactic salvage adventures! You can see more of Jeffery on his YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@reddogterrain and Instagram www.instagram.com/reddogterrain  HM- Idiocracy on HULU HM- “What If... Book of Alternative History” from Amazon HM- Dave on Prime ($3.99) 5- Gravity Falls on Prime and Disney+ 5- London Has Fallen on Netflix 4- Independence Day on Disney+ and HULU 3- “Superman: President Luthor” from Amazon 3- Will Ferrell as George Bush on YouTube *Tina Fey as Sarah Palin on YouTube  2- Parcs & Rec on Peacock 2- The President Escape From New York on Prime 1- Air Force One on XumoPlay Watch Salvage 1 on YouTube Links are on our profile page and at www.linktr.ee/hulkboy. Visit & interact on Instagram (www.instagram.com/favefivefromfans), Twitter/X (www.twitter.com/Fave5FromFans), Facebook (www.facebook.com/FaveFiveFromFans), & our website (www.FaveFiveFromFans.com). Also, check out Plastic Microphone Studios Twitter for more fun!  #FaveFiveFromFans #FFFF #podcast #podcasts #podcasting #election #president #Idiocracy #Gravityfalls #HasFallen #AirForceOne #whitehouse #ID4 #independenceday #Superman #SupermanandLois #LexLuthor TinaFey #HarrisonFord DonaldPleasence #WillFerrell #WhatIf #Dave #PresidentialElection #ElectoralCollege --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/fave-five-from-fans/support

TVC 665.1: Ed welcomes William Keck, longtime entertainment reporter for such publications as the National Enquirer, People, Entertainment Weekly, USA Today, and the Los Angeles Times, Emmy-nominated producer for the Hallmark Channel, Discovery Channel, and NBC, and the author of When You Step Upon A Star: Cringeworthy Confessions of a Tabloid Bad Boy, a collection of some of Will's most memorable celebrity encounters that, for one reason or another, all went horribly wrong. Will's book chronicles his evolution from a lonely only child obsessed with Hollywood stars, to an eager tabloid snoop who hid personal secrets of his own, to a well-respected journalist who ultimately learns from his mistakes, changes his ways, and ultimately befriends most of the celebrities that he had once wronged. When You Step Upon A Star is available wherever books are sold through Jacobs Brown Media Group. Topics this segment include Will's longtime love for TV families and the stars of nostalgia TV, and some of his early mishaps with celebrities, including how he came to be the only reporter who managed to tick off both Dick Van Dyke and Andy Griffith.  

Front Row Classics is taking a look at one of the most daring, satirical films to ever come out of Hollywood. Brandon is joined, once again, by author & film historian Chris Yogerst. Chris recently penned "The Warner Brothers" for the University Press of Kentucky. A Face in the Crowd is a signature Warner film directed by Elia Kazan and written by Budd Schulberg. The movie features topics relating to politics & media that are still scarily relevant today. Brandon and Chris discuss those topics as well as the powerhouse performance of Andy Griffith as Lonesome Rhodes. The hosts also praise the performances of Patricia Neal, Walter Matthau, Anthony Franciosa and Lee Remick.  

Linda Purl takes listeners on a fascinating journey through her career in both acting and singing. From her childhood in Japan, where she trained at the prestigious Toho Gyno Academy, to becoming a Hollywood star, Linda reflects on the experiences that shaped her path. She shares stories about her time on iconic shows like Happy Days, Matlock, and The Office, along with behind-the-scenes moments with Hollywood legends such as Henry Winkler and Andy Griffith. Linda also dives into her passion for live music, explaining how performing on stage has been a constant source of joy throughout her life. Episode Highlights: Growing up in Japan and training at the prestigious Toho Gyno Academy. Working with legends like Cloris Leachman and Andy Griffith. The story behind her role as Fonzie's fiancée on Happy Days and the fan reactions. Stories from her time on Matlock and the The Office. How music has played a transformative role in her life and career.   You're going to love my conversation with Linda Purl IMDB Linda's website Instagram YouTube Follow Jeff Dwoskin (host): Jeff Dwoskin on Twitter The Jeff Dwoskin Show podcast on Twitter Podcast website Podcast on Instagram Join my mailing list Subscribe to my Youtube channel (watch Crossing the Streams!) Yes, the show used to be called Live from Detroit: The Jeff Dwoskin Show Ways to support the show: Buy me a coffee (support the show) TeePublic Store: Classic Conversations merch and more! Love the books I talk about on the show? Here is my Amazon store to shop.  

June 23-29th, 2008 This week Ken welcomes the very funny comedian behind the new album ,"Country Queer," and the podcast, "Y'all Gay," Ali Clayton. Ken and Ali discuss growing up with exotic pets, unique regional accents in cartoons, Bugs Bunny's Brooklyn twang, the North Carolina drawl of "The Andy Griffith Show," Andy Griffith's surprising acting range, "A Face in the Crowd,"  Dr. Oz's bizarre Senate campaign, the age-old debate between New York and Chicago pizza, Denise Richards' unexpected shift from the silver screen to reality TV and OnlyFans, experiences with eccentric pets ,bizarre reality TV shows, the absurd premise of "Paralyzed and Pregnant", "20/20," and pet grooming competitions.