Podcasts about bridgeport

What role will perpetual futures play in the next evolution of crypto trading? On this episode of The Crypto Rundown, Mark Longo sits down with Nirup Ramalingam, CEO and Co-Founder of Bridgeport, to discuss the rise of crypto perps, institutional demand, counterparty risk, custody challenges, capital efficiency, tokenization, 24/7 markets, and the growing influence of traditional finance in digital assets. Plus, we break down the latest action in Bitcoin, Ethereum, IBIT, Hyperliquid (HYPE), Solana, XRP, Dogecoin, Circle, BitMine and more as crypto markets navigate another volatile stretch.

The Boys From Bridgeport 05.30.26 by WCPT 820 Weekend

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Steven Weiniger, posture expert, author, speaker, and creator of the StrongPosture® framework, to explore the deeper science behind posture, movement, and human performance. Together, we challenge the traditional view that posture is simply about spinal alignment and instead examine how the brain, nervous system, and sensory awareness shape the way we move and function. We dive into the relationship between structure and function, the impact of technology and modern lifestyle on movement patterns, and why posture is constantly adapting based on what we repeatedly do every day. Dr. Weiniger also breaks down the concept of interoception, the body's internal awareness system, and explains how it influences posture, balance, breathing, and even longevity. From chiropractic and movement to nervous system retraining and brain-body awareness, this conversation reframes posture as far more than a cosmetic issue. It's a reflection of how the body and brain communicate. If you want to better understand movement, performance, and the future of posture health, this episode will completely change the way you think about the human body.   Key takeaways: Posture is a dynamic reflection of how the brain senses and controls the body, influenced by external and internal cues. Enhancing posture awareness and integrating strong postural movements can significantly impact longevity, resilience, and brain health. Interoception, the awareness of internal body signals, plays a crucial role in how posture is sensed and corrected. Effective posture training encompasses balance, alignment, and motion, encouraging an interconnected approach rather than isolated exercises. A simple longetivity test: Stand tall, lift one leg, and remain balanced for five slow breaths, combining breath awareness with core engagement.   More About Dr. Steven Weiniger: Dr. Steven Weiniger is an internationally recognized posture expert, chiropractor, author, and researcher whose work bridges neuroscience, movement, posture, and healthy aging. He is the creator of the StrongPosture® framework, which explores the connection between posture, interoception, and the brain's predictive processing systems. His research has been published in journals including Frontiers in Neuroscience, and he has presented at the Annual Symposium for Active Inference. Dr. Weiniger is also the author of Stand Taller Live Longer, a practical guide focused on posture, movement, and longevity. Through his StrongPosture® program, he has trained thousands of clinicians worldwide as Certified Posture Exercise Professionals. He also serves on faculty at the University of Western States and teaches at institutions including Northwestern Health Sciences University and the University of Bridgeport. Dr. Weiniger's work has been featured on FOX, CBS, and NBC, helping bring the conversation around posture and brain-body health into the mainstream. 7 Steps to StrongPosture® Self-Help Program Online Continuing Education for Professionals Tools for Professionals CPEP® Certification Instagram Connect with me! Website Instagram Facebook YouTube

When I sat down with Casimir Sienkiewicz (CAZ) from CazTek, I immediately connected with his story because it reminded me so much of the journeys so many shop owners go through. What started with a Bridgeport mill in a garage has evolved over the last 22 years into a growing engineering and precision machining company tackling everything from advanced prototypes to 5-axis machining, Swiss work, automation assemblies, and aerospace and medical projects. But what really stood out to me wasn't just the equipment or the growth. It was Casimir's mindset around creativity, problem-solving, and continuously evolving as a business owner. One of the themes throughout this conversation is how closely personal growth and business growth are tied together. Casimir talked openly about the realization that he had to stop trying to personally carry every responsibility inside the company if he wanted the business to scale. Like many entrepreneurs, he built the company through grit, technical skill, and sheer determination. But eventually, that approach created bottlenecks. Bringing in strong leaders, defining core values, implementing systems, and learning to trust his team became the next phase of growth for both him and the company. We also spent a lot of time talking about the intersection of engineering and manufacturing. CazTek isn't just a machine shop. Their team works through the entire product development lifecycle, from early concepts and mechanical engineering all the way through machining, assembly, testing, and production. That end-to-end visibility gives their employees a unique sense of purpose because they get to see how the products they design and manufacture actually impact the world, whether it's medical devices, aerospace hardware, or industrial systems. This episode is packed with lessons around scaling a manufacturing business, building the right culture, implementing systems like EOS, adopting new technology, and creating an organization that can grow sustainably. Casimir brings a thoughtful and honest perspective to the conversation, and I think listeners will really relate to the challenges, mistakes, and breakthroughs he shares along the way. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... (0:00) Introduction and the origins of CazTek's manufacturing journey (3:18) Overview of CazTek Engineering and CazTek Precision today (8:28) Learning manual machining, CNC setup, and programming at a young age (10:17) Landing in a manufacturing engineering technology program (11:36) Starting the business in a 400-square-foot garage with a Bridgeport mill (15:15) Hiring the first employee and moving out of the garage (16:58) Learn more about IMTS 2026 (and why you should join us) (17:51) Purchasing the first Haas VF-2 and launching the machine shop side (19:44) Expanding into 5-axis machining, turning, and Swiss machining (21:22) Balancing rapid prototyping work with outside contract machining (23:21) Growing through referrals, relationships, and word-of-mouth reputation (24:29) Building a true sales pipeline and moving beyond feast-or-famine growth (28:06) Recognizing personal limitations and bringing in experienced leaders to scale (29:56) Why we love SMW Autoblok workholding  (30:39) Learning to trust others and let go of operational control (34:04) How systems and delegation unlocked the next stage of growth (36:54) Challenges of investing time and resources into organizational growth (38:11) Implementing EOS and building systems for accountability and growth (39:53) Hiring the right personalities and getting people in the right seats (41:08) Why we created Hire MFG Leaders (and why you should use it) (42:04) Coaching employees into roles that fit their strengths (46:25) Building scalable processes and implementing tools like ProShop and Paperless Parts (49:19) Current growth challenges, operational bottlenecks, and scaling in parallel (51:33) Defining CazTek's core values and attracting mission-driven employees (57:03) Thoughts on manufacturing growth, automation, and staying resilient through market shifts Resources & People Mentioned Why you need to join us at IMTS 2026 Why we love SMW Autoblok workholding  The E-Myth Revisited Built to Sell EOS MN Precision Manufacturing Association  Connect with Casimir Sienkiewicz CazTek CazTek Precision Connect on LinkedIn Connect With Machine Shop Mastery The website LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Subscribe to Machine Shop Mastery on Apple, Spotify

Kevin Nealon (SNL, Weeds, Hiking with Kevin) joins us this week for a quietly honest conversation that goes a lot deeper than you would expect. Kevin tells the story of an active shooter scare at his Bridgeport stand up show that ended with him hiding behind a dumpster, the audiences who keep dropping mid set as his fans get older, and why the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, not SNL, was the real dream he was chasing the whole time. We also get into Garry Shandling as his mentor and dearn late friend, the Sandler private jet tour where he only did ten minutes a night, and the surprises that came with walking into Carrie Fisher's house. Thank you to our sponsors:

Remembering country music. Why do people fight so crazy nowadays? Anger at home and in schools. Drop anger: drop "you."

Memorial Day

We welcome Fr. Joseph Gill of the Diocese of Bridgeport to examine the question of whether we are living in the last days and how Christians ought to respond in light of that possibility. How can we cultivate an eternal perspective and persevere with hope amid mounting cultural confusion and hostility? Father finishes with Timeless Thoughts. Show Notes Are We in the End Times? Soothsayers of the Second Advent Apocalypse: A Catholic Perspective on the Book of Revelation 4 Things we should do to prepare for judgment day How do we maintain perspective in this battle between darkness and light? Will You Sleep Through the Apocalypse? Lutheran minister and House candidate under fire after recounting her part in satanist couple's wedding FedEx: Doomed commercial iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

Following a major investment from the state for Bridgeport schools, we spoke with interim superintendent of schools, Dr. Royce Avery. How is Bridgeport looking heading into the next school year and are we any closer to having a permanent superintendent?

The Boys From Bridgeport 05.16.26 by WCPT 820 Weekend

The Boys From Bridgeport 05.09.26 by WCPT 820 Weekend

Last November, Bridgeport voters overwhelmingly supported charter reforms really focusing on local ethics policies and bolstering oversight of elections. Apparently, the money needed to hire a solid director for the Office of Ethics is potentially not being invested properly. We asked John Hosier, vice chair of the 13-member bipartisan Charter Revision Commission, what's going on.

Westfair Communications held an awards ceremony on April 20th, 2026 to honor Fairfield County's 2026 40 Under Forty Honorees, a distinguished group of young professionals recognized for their exceptional dedication and leadership across Fairfield County. More than just an accolade, this program serves as a powerful platform to celebrate high-caliber individuals who embody grit and a bold commitment to redefining success. By showcasing those who achieve remarkable industry milestones and inspire others with innovative ideas, the honor significantly enhances professional visibility and opens doors to future opportunities. The evening celebrated the passion and innovation of those daring enough to make a lasting impact on our community and the regional business landscape.Fairfield County Talk Radio was there to capture the excitement. Bobbi Brown, CEO, #100 GirlsLeadingInc, spoke with host Joan Franzino. Bobbi discussed the mission of her non-profit to provide "interactive mentorship" to girls in Bridgeport. She emphasized the importance of showing young women career opportunities in diverse fields like the trades, medical science, and entrepreneurship to help them build their own legacies. 

This segment celebrates a new program out of the University of Bridgeport that is placing Honors Civic Fellows into Bridgeport schools to lead interactive workshops for students focusing on civic responsibility, leadership, and community engagement. 

Connecticut recently moved the needle in a big way with committed funding to agencies supporting rural health initiatives. So, we'll reconnect with the leader from the New England Rural Health Assoc. to learn how our state is setting the pace on a number of public health fronts impacting our rural communities, as well as how our neighboring states are coming to grips with similar challenges.Then we'll celebrate a new program out of the University of Bridgeport that is placing Honors Civic Fellows into Bridgeport schools to lead interactive workshops for students focusing on civic responsibility, leadership, and community engagement. And we'll close continuing our celebration of 2026 - the International Year of the Woman Farmer - by introducing Kies Orr-LaVack, a fourth-generation dairy farmer and co-owner of Fort Hill Farms in Thompson who was a former CT Outstanding Young Farmer, and whose farm was the 2025 New England Green Pastures award winner! 

Greg Carey with a preview of WVU/Kansas State BaseballJoe Brocato from the LKC baseball championships.Bridgeport baseball coach Robert Shields as he approches 1,000 career victories.

A recap from social media of the Foo Fighters at Irving Plaza, and the girl who couldn't burp for 6 years. (0:00) Cody Carlson was on the phone with Chaz and AJ this morning, to talk about his job cutting hair for the Foo Fighters. Cody first was asked to do this before their show at Toad's Place last year, and was called back by the band again this week for the Bridgeport show. (8:48)  Chaz and AJ covered the Cleveland Guardians fan, who has gone viral for stealing a baseball from a little girl. After playing some audio, they asked the Tribe to call in with their biggest regrets. (19:02)The one and only Cedric the Entertainer was on the phone with Chaz and AJ this morning. Cedric is in a new movie, "Swapped" on NetFlix with Michael B. Jordan and Tracy Morgan. Plus, the beginning his comedy career starting with guys like Jamie Foxx, Chris Tucker, and Earthquake and surviving the audience at the Apollo. (33:16) Commander Keith was in studio with Chaz and AJ to share his Top 5 rules for everyone to follow on airplanes. He was immediately distracted by AJ's breakfast, and then a surprise visit from children wandering the hallway. (41:36)Photo courtesy: Cody Carlson

Live Nation's Jimmy Koplik was on with Chaz and AJ this morning to talk about the Foo Fighters in Bridgeport, the pop-up shows they just announced in New York, and the food he had prepared for them backstage. Plus, an Axl Rose story from the 90's, where a drunken fan was able to make it onstage and bear hug him during a song. 

In this episode, we tackle one of the hottest debates in the Harley-Davidson community: throwaway paper motorcycle oil filters versus reusable motorcycle oil filters. We break down the confusion surrounding micron ratings, nominal versus absolute filtration, and why comparing one filter's numbers to another without context can be misleading. Instead of getting lost in internet comment wars, this episode explains oil filtration in plain biker language so everyday riders can make smarter maintenance decisions with confidence. SUPPORT US AND SHOP IN THE OFFICIAL LAW ABIDING BIKER STORE We also take a close look at two of the most talked-about reusable options on the market: the Figurati and the PC Racing FLO oil filters. From stainless mesh filtration and cooling fins to magnetic debris capture and serviceable designs, we compare what each system brings to the table. We discuss why oil flow matters just as much as filtration, how overly restrictive filters can create problems, and why reusable filters have been trusted in racing and demanding applications for decades. CHECK OUT OUR HUNDREDS OF FREE HELPFUL VIDEOS ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND SUBSCRIBE! Finally, we bust the common myth that aftermarket oil filters automatically void your Harley warranty, explaining what federal law and Harley's own warranty language actually say. We also explore the added benefits of inspectable filters, magnetic dipsticks, and building a complete contamination-control system for your motorcycle. Whether you're already running a reusable filter or just curious about making the switch, this episode gives you the facts you need—without the hype—so you can stop stressing over microns and get back to riding. NEW FREE VIDEO RELEASED: How To Remove The Fuel Tank On A 2024 & Newer Harley Davidson Touring Why Every Dirt Bike Rider Needs This Strapless Transport System! Yes-Risk Racing! NO To Bike Binderz Sponsor-Ciro 3D CLICK HERE! Innovative products for Harley-Davidson & Goldwing Affordable chrome, lighting, and comfort products Ciro 3D has a passion for design and innovation   Sponsor-Butt Buffer CLICK HERE Want to ride longer? Tired of a sore and achy ass? Then fix it with a high-quality Butt Buffer seat cushion? New Patrons: Matt Dunn of North Olmsted, Ohio Stephen Chavis of Pembroke, North Carolina Kenneth Williams of Jupiter, Florida If you appreciate the content we put out and want to make sure it keeps on coming your way then become a Patron too! There are benefits and there is no risk. Thanks to the following bikers for supporting us via a flat donation: Benjamin Moss of South Charleston, West Virginia Jose Bermudez of Bridgeport, Connecticut Janet Tippett of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina HELP SUPPORT US! JOIN THE BIKER REVOLUTION! #BikerRevolution #LawAbidingBiker #Bikaholics #RyanUrlacher

Ears were still ringing from the Foo Fighters show in Bridgeport last night, when Chaz and AJ started the show at 6 AM. Greg was the first caller of the day, and said the show was "fine" but Dave was "yelling too much." (0:00)In Dumb Ass News, a snake charmer in Egypt lost his audience when a stunt went very, very wrong. (10:17) Brian Blackmore lead the "On the Board" segment this morning, all about the stores we miss visiting in the mall. (16:10) Lydia from Wallingford was in studio with Chaz and AJ this morning, to talk about her recent appearance as a contestant on "Jeopardy!" Lydia got to talk about cheeseballs, and going up against Jamie Ding during his historic win streak. (28:31) Re-visiting "Old Greg" and his complaints about the Foo Fighters performance in Bridgeport last night. (42:39) 

We spoke with Stacie Morgain Lewis and Julie Foldesi about their upcoming shows at the Bijou Theatre in Bridgeport. 2MotherPluckers The Musical is also benefiting local non-profits like Sterling House in Stratford.For tickets and more information: Home | 2Motherpluckers ...a MusicalImage Credit: Eric Urbanowicz

Host Paul Pacelli welcomed Stamford / Greenwich GOP State Rep. Tina Courpas, who's been named to Gov. Ned Lamont's Education Funding Commission. How do we re-vamp and / or update the formula that's used to determine how much state education funding goes to each municipality (00:53). Hearst Connecticut Media Senior Editor and Columnist Dan Haar dropped by to talk about the big state stories, including some good news for Bridgeport (08:21). CBS News Legal Analyst Thane Rosenbaum analyzed a new case being brought against former FBI chief James Comey, as well as action taken by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the Voting Rights Act (15:51). Finally, Paul had some thoughts on politics - and stress - in Connecticut (23:08)

Host Paul Pacelli opened Tuesday's "Connecticut Today" with his thoughts on an overwhelming state House vote that ok'd a statewide "bell-to-bell" school cell phone ban, despite some criticism from Republicans (00:38). Connecticut Inside Investigator reporter Marc Fitch talked about the current controversy surrounding a Bridgeport special education teacher (15:07). Yankee Institute blogger Meghan Portfolio joined the show with her analysis of an omnibus labor bill at the State Capitol (22:29)

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for April 27, 2026 is: boondoggle • BOON-dah-gul • noun A boondoggle is an expensive and wasteful project usually paid for with public money. Boondoggle is also a word for a braided cord worn by Boy Scouts as a neckerchief slide, hatband, or ornament. // Critics say the dam is a complete boondoggle—over budget, behind schedule, and unnecessary. See the entry > Examples: "A controversial proposal to construct a new bridge from Bridgeport to Long Island is either a bold, visionary step into the future or an unaffordable boondoggle that could cost more than $50 billion." — Christopher Keating, The Hartford (Connecticut) Courant, 8 Mar. 2026 Did you know? When boondoggle popped up in the early 1900s, lots of people tried to explain where the word came from. One theory traced it to an Ozarkian word for "gadget," while another related it to the Tagalog word that gave us boondocks. Another hypothesis suggested that boondoggle came from the name of leather toys Daniel Boone supposedly made for his dog. But the only theory that is supported by evidence is much simpler. In the 1920s, Robert Link, a scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America, apparently coined the word to name the braided leather cords made and worn by scouts. The word came to prominence when such a boondoggle was presented to the Prince of Wales at the 1929 World Jamboree, and it's been with us ever since. Over time, it developed the additional sense describing a wasteful or impractical project.

The Boys From Bridgeport 04.25.26 by WCPT 820 Weekend

Today was the day for AJ. He finally got to sit on a motorcycle and go around the parking lot, one step closer to getting his official state endorsement. Was he able to keep it upright the whole time? (0:00)  Minutes before Jimmy Koplik came on live with Chaz and AJ, Live Nation made an announcement for $30 tickets for summer shows, all over the country. Plus, Jimmy's thoughts on Iron Maiden not showing up for the Rock Hall induction, and the rumored "pop up" show that the Foo Fighters might announce ahead of Tuesday's show in Bridgeport. (12:21) In Dumb Ass News, an arson suspect tried to convince police investigators he was not responsible, despite his numerous burns and missing eyebrows. (38:30) Chaz and AJ had a pretty good round of Stump the Chumps against the Tribe today. The questions were all classic rock related, with assistance from Rob and Rick of the Meriden Daffodil Festival. (45:18)

Today marks the 39th anniversary of the L'Ambiance Plaza collapse in Bridgeport. It involved a 16-story apartment building that was still under construction. The structure used an experimental technique called lift-slab construction, which failed, causing the structure to crumble. We lost 28 construction workers that day, and it remains one of the deadliest construction accidents in US history. We spoke with Dan McInerney of IBEW Local Union 488 about the anniversary and what has changed since the tragedy to better protect construction workers.Image Credit: Eric Urbanowicz

This episode of Focus, the podcast of Catholic Answers, features Fr. Paul Check discussing the passion of Jesus Christ and its significance in our lives. Fr. Check is a priest of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut.  He served in the U.S. Marine Corps for nine years before entering the seminary and being ordained a priest in 1997.  He has served in a variety of roles since, including as a seminary rector, executive director of Courage International and executive director of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Support the show

A conversation with Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz. But first, immigration advocates say a proposal from Governor Hochul on ICE has them concerned. Bridgeport looks to crack down on parking violations. Plus, two Connecticut aquariums are recognized as some of the best in the nation.

The Boys From Bridgeport 04.18.26 by WCPT 820 Weekend

It's a Quick Fix featuring Joe Buono (@IslesFix) and former VP of Communications for the Islanders, Chris Botta (@ChrisBottaNHL).In this episode, Joe and Chris react to “Clean Out Day” interviews with players and GM Mathieu Darche following the bitterly disappointing end to the Islanders' 2025-26 season. We dig into Darche's comments defending his in-season trades, which he says helped the team but didn't lead to team success. Based on his comments, the big changes some expect may not come with a roster that has few spots open, and several contracts that will be hard to move.Later, we discuss the treatment of Anders Lee this season, and the type of deal Darche may make to have the captain return and play his 1,000th game in an Islanders uniform. Plus, Barzal and Ritchie say they're centers, Bridgeport loads up for the post-season, and reasons to be optimistic about next season. Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

Meet Maria.  She's the newest fundraising officer in the Diocese of Bridgeport... and she is a work of autonomous artificial intelligence. Bishop Caggiano is at the tip of the spear, as we become the first diocese in the country to incorporate an AI fundraising officer. Why are we doing this? How will it help? Emily Groccia, of Givzey, and Deacon Pat Toole join Bishop Frank to discuss the plans and implementation, the benefits and drawbacks, of Maria. My input? "I'm perpetually worried about our future robot overlords." (Please don't tell my computer or my phone that I said that.) Pax Christi, Steve Lee The other guy on Let Me Be Frank Notes Email List  Support Veritas Other Veritas Shows The Tangent (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify)  Let Me Be Frank with Bishop Frank Caggiano (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify) The Frontline With Joe & Joe (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify) White Collars (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify)  Restless Catholic Young Adults: (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify)   Daily Gospel Reflections (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify)  

What does it really take to build a $50 million machine shop from scratch? In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, I sit down with David Dussault and Joel Lape, co-founders of P1 Industries, to unpack one of the most impressive growth stories I've come across in manufacturing. They started with a single used lathe and a Bridgeport—and over the past 20 years, they've built a 150-person operation serving the power, defense, and aerospace industries. What stood out to me most in this conversation is that their success isn't just about machines, margins, or scaling revenue—it's about people. They didn't go out and "find" great talent… they built it. By investing in young, inexperienced individuals and developing them into leaders, they've created a culture that drives both performance and loyalty. Many of their leaders today started at the ground level, which says everything about the environment they've built. We also get into the real challenges behind that growth—like relying heavily on one customer early on, making the leap into new industries, and figuring out how to structure a business for scale without losing what made it special in the first place. If you're trying to grow a shop the right way, this episode is full of lessons. This isn't just about getting bigger—it's about building something that lasts. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... (0:00) Introduction to P1 Industries and their growth from startup to $50M (3:46) Founders' roles and early vision for building the business (6:16) The origin story: leaving jobs and taking the leap to start P1 (7:57) Humble beginnings: first machines, first hires, and early challenges (10:01) Leveraging GE as an early customer to gain traction (11:08) Breaking out of customer concentration and expanding into new markets (12:28) Building a sales engine and winning through responsiveness (15:23) Creating a strong culture and empowering the team (17:31) Why we love SMW Autoblok workholding (18:45) Operational flexibility and handling high-mix, urgent work (21:18) Dissecting David's background in manufacturing (24:27) Head to the DN Solutions Manufacturing Without Limits event (25:27) Developing talent: apprenticeships, schools, and internal growth (27:47) Promoting from within and building future leaders (32:57) Core values and maintaining a strong company culture at scale (36:40) Their stance on financial transparency with their team (39:43) Structuring the business for growth: divisions and leadership layers (44:54) Why we created Hire MFG Leaders (and why you should use it) (45:24) The metrics that they track in their business (47:37) Biggest challenges: workforce development and operational complexity (50:00) Training systems and preparing the next generation (53:44) Lean manufacturing journey and future vision (58:02) Key strategic decisions behind P1's success Resources & People Mentioned Why we love SMW Autoblok workholding Head to the DN Solutions Manufacturing Without Limits event BOCES Program (New York) Why we created Hire MFG Leaders (and why you should use it) 2 Second Lean Connect with David W Dussault and Joel Lape P1 Industries Connect with David on LinkedIn Connect with Joel on LinkedIn  Making What Matters Podcast Connect With Machine Shop Mastery The website LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Subscribe to Machine Shop Mastery on Apple, Spotify

From Gangster to Child of God with Brian Butler (Episode 290)   Disclaimer: This episode contains thematic material. Listener discretion advised.   2 Corinthians 1:4 NLT “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”   *Transcription Below*   Brian Butler married his wife Pam in 2011. They have four children and eight grandchildren. Brian received his Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana State University in 2009. Arriving in Peoria, Illinois in 2009 Brian began his career working with the impoverished in his community as a Safety Net Monitor at The Salvation Army. He was afforded the opportunity to work with individuals in the community for four years providing case management assisting people to learn the value of work through work therapy and securing income and eventually housing. Brian was called to Peoria Rescue Ministries in 2014 and began his career there as the Assistant Director of the Rescue Mission. In 2018 Brian became the Program Director and in 2021 became the Director of Residential Ministries. In 2024 Peoria Rescue Ministries became Pathway Ministries. Coming from a former lifestyle of drug and alcohol addiction Brian has been able to transform programs at Pathway Ministries that address the needs of the impoverished community he serves to create pathways out of poverty through Jesus with his neighbors in need. Pathway Ministries provides emergency shelter, residential programs, and community services with a focus on counseling, education, and work to help the men and women they serve make transformative changes in their lives. Pathway Ministries is a social enterprise organization and has a partnership with Caterpillar – they reclaim discarded wood and turn it into pallets, mulch for industrial and commercial use, and home décor. Their residents are employed in these businesses while participating in their program.    Pathway Ministries Website   Thank you to our sponsor for today's episode: Midwest Food Bank   Topics We Cover: Growing up in an abusive home Lifestyle choices leading to prison God's miraculous redemption and restoration   Related Savvy Sauce Episode: 143 Prodigal Story: Sexuality, Drugs, and Scripture with Dr. Christopher Yuan   Connect with The Savvy Sauce on Facebook or Instagram or Our Website   Gospel Scripture: (all NIV) Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”   Romans 3:24 “and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”   Romans 3:25 (a) “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.”    Hebrews 9:22 (b) “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”    Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”    Romans 5:11 “Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”   Romans 10:9 “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    Luke 15:10 says “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”   Romans 8:1 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”   Ephesians 1:13–14 “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession- to the praise of his glory.”   Ephesians 1:15–23 “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”   Ephesians 2:8–10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God‘s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“   Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.“   Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”   *Transcription*   Music: (0:00 – 0:08)   Laura Dugger: (0:09 - 3:30) Hey friends! Thank you so much for joining us today. If you're watching this, you may notice that there's a unique screen that's going to pop up periodically.   So, here's the backstory. We delight in getting to do this work, and we do believe it's what God has called our team to do. And yet, we have a very present and active enemy.   And Satan has tried to thwart the progress of these podcast episodes in so many ways.  It's almost uncanny what will happen before a podcast recording. There's almost always something, yet it's different every time.   So, the way it showed up with this episode, first of all, when Brian and I tried to connect, somebody was working in our yard, and they accidentally cut our line for internet.  And so, we had to cancel that and reschedule. And then, when we got the episode rescheduled, Brian and I were chatting, and we haven't recorded.   We were just talking for a little while before the official interview began, and everything was great. And then, as soon as I said, “Welcome to The Savvy Sauce.” The screen went a little wavy, and something happened, and my audio quality was completely distorted. So, sorry for the lengthy explanation, but I wanted you to know how much work has gone into this episode.   So, if you ever have somebody that you want to thank, it should be Natalie, our editor, who had to go back and replace everything that I said to cover up the very convoluted form that was originally recorded. So, I hope it doesn't interrupt this episode or make it difficult for you to listen to, because Brian's story is so powerful, and I believe God has you here listening to this right now for a reason. So, please continue.   Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, where we have practical chats for intentional living.  I'm your host, Laura Dugger, and I'm so glad you're here.   Today's episode includes some thematic material. I want you to be aware before you listen in the presence of little ears.   Thank you to an anonymous donor to Midwest Food Bank who paid the sponsorship fee in hopes of spreading awareness. Learn more about this non-profit organization at MidwestFoodBank.org.   Brian Butler is my outstanding guest for today, and he's going to take us on a very real journey with him from an extremely abusive childhood to a life of addictions and eventually to redemption and restoration all because of Jesus Christ. Brian's humility is so Christ-like, and I think that you're going to leave this conversation as a changed person. Here's our chat.   Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Brian.   Brian Butler: (3:31 - 3:33) Thank you so much for having me here. I appreciate it.   Laura Dugger: (3:34 - 3:42) Well, I would just love to start backwards. Where did you grow up, and what was childhood like for you?   Brian Butler: (3:43 - 9:46) I grew up all over the place, really. I'd spent several years in Danville as a child, Hartsburg, Illinois, eventually settled down in southern Illinois in a little town called Bridgeport. My dad was a professor at a local college, and he ended up being a high school teacher.   Where I went to school, my mom and dad were continually in chaos with their marriage.  My dad had some severe mental health issues. He was a pretty rough guy to be around.    He was a chronic alcoholic. He was abusive, and I'll just say for this podcast, in every kind of way you can imagine how a little boy might be abused by his daddy, that was my dad. Yet, that was just our normal.   I didn't know if it was bad, if it was wrong, whatever. He was very verbally abusive to the whole family, him and my mom. I think my mother, the whole time growing up, was just trying to salvage her marriage and to save face with her family, so on and so forth.   It was a pretty rough childhood, but I want to say that in those moments, it was just the way it was.  We didn't know good from bad. That was still my dad.   I believe that in some weird way that he loved us and cared for us, but there were so many mental health and substance abuse issues with him and the perversion that he had in his life that just leaked over to my little brother and me.  It was a different relationship with my little brother. He was very abusive to my little brother.   My little brother had a lot of behavioral issues and rebellion issues.  I was more of the compliant, the good kid in school. I made the good grades.    I wanted to please my dad, and yet I hated him from the inside. I just couldn't stand him. I rebelled against him.    There were a lot of drugs and alcohol my parents were. My mother was not an abuser by any means. My mother was not an alcoholic by any means, but my mother went along with my dad.   My whole childhood evolved around parties. My dad was a pretty social guy. He was into politics and those kinds of things.   I was exposed to a lot of stuff at an early age. I can remember being seven, eight years old, going around in parties and just sipping whatever it was out of unknown glasses and enjoying the effect that it had on me as a little kid. I was a big fan of Billy Bear.   I didn't even know what Billy Bear was, but I was drinking Billy Bear. That's a Jimmy Carter beer, so that takes you back in the day. All the music that we listened to back in those days all evolved around afternoon delight and getting high in some kind of form or fashion.   That was just what I clung to as a little boy and as a young man.  I was a full-fledged blackout alcoholic by the time I was a sophomore in high school. I was drinking regularly.   I was able to fly under the radar pretty good because mom and dad were always in the middle of crisis. As long as I wasn't in a lot of trouble, that was easily hidden, even though it was really out in the light, if that makes any kind of sense. It was pretty rough.    Looking back on it, it was rough. In today's standards, we would have been taken away from our homes, and those kinds of things would have been exposed. We just didn't know.   That's just kind of the way it was, but it did lead me into a lifestyle.  I don't want to say they led me into it. I really chose to and clung to a lifestyle.   When I was a little boy, Laura, I grew up Catholic.  We went to parochial schools until I was in fourth grade. I can remember even now.    I loved God. I loved God. He was my refuge.    I didn't know what a refuge meant. I can just say it by language now. I can remember having my crucifix above my bed and I would pray.    I wanted to be a priest. I really did. By the time I got to about 10, 11, 12 years old, the things that had happened and the things that had occurred in my life and my behavior as well just led me to believe that if God was even real because I cried out to him a lot and it didn't seem like he was there.   If he was real, then he really didn't want anything to do with me anyway.  I became kind of anti-God, anti-rebellious. I was just a very rebellious young man.    I went to high school. I mean, I'm getting pretty good grades in high school. My dad was a high school teacher in the same high school I went to.    It was very tumultuous. You can imagine our house. There were split-ups and break-ups, this and that. My dad was a party guy. All the students loved him. I hated him for that.    He was separated from my mom. He was a cheater and a liar. There were a lot of things that bothered me.   After I graduated high school, I had a partial scholarship to go to Eastern Illinois University, but I showed my dad. I got in my little car and drove to Wyoming. That just became my lifestyle, drinking, drugging, roaming all around the country as a young man.    Then I eventually got married to a gal I met down in Kentucky. We had three children really fast. I would say that we got along about three times. That was Emily, Amy, and Mark. We were divorced after five years. Then I was just as a young man and a young adult, just wild and crazy.   Laura Dugger: (9:48 - 10:05) Wow. Brian, thank you for sharing a glimpse of your childhood and even into adulthood. Just for clarification then, when you did get divorced, did you stay in the same state or how did all of that work with your children?   Brian Butler: (10:08 - 16:52) Yeah. No. Like I said, when I was 18, I was out in California for a while.  I was in Wyoming for a while. I landed in Kentucky and met my first wife. We had three kids really fast, divorced after five years.   Then I always wanted to be in a relationship with my children. I don't know if there's anybody out there listening, but I was really stuck in an addictive lifestyle. I was alcohol and drugs, just crazy in it.    I still loved my kids. Now, people on the outside looking in would say, oh, he doesn't love his kids by his lifestyle, but I still love my kids. I paid child support, crying out loud.   I really did. My relationship with my ex-wife was so volatile that she would prevent me from seeing the kids. After several years, I just gave up.   I just didn't give up on the visits and so on and so forth.  I was in Tennessee for a few years. I was all around the country.   Eventually, in the late 90s, I did actually get temporary custody of my kids because my ex-wife had went off the rails bad.  I had my kids for about a year that they lived with me. That was a sweet time.   Once again, my alcoholism and drug addiction and the mom came back into play.  There were just so many issues there. That's when I really got into it.   After the kids went back to their mom, I got into hard drugs, really hard drugs.  I started manufacturing methamphetamine, so on and so forth. There was a time, I'll back this up.   With my childhood and everything that happened there with my dad, before I got divorced from my ex-wife, one of the pivotal moments, I believe, looking back on my life and what led me into just this trajectory of anger and malice and hating God and anything that was good was the moment that my dad called us all together for a family meeting because him and my mom were officially going to get divorced. I was like 21 years old, something like that.   My dad came to tell us that he was a homosexual and that he had been living a homosexual lie for his whole life and that this was the lifestyle that he was choosing. For me, at that age, everything prior to that moment in my life just became a lie. I can't begin to even put into words what that did to me inside because of the perversion that I've experienced with my dad.   My father had made several comments along the way that I was gay, that I was going to be a little queer, a little this and that. I wasn't, but the things that he had done, then you've wrestled with all that stuff. I just became so angry and so fueled with resentment that I really started on this trajectory with my drug and alcohol use that even though I still liked it, I don't want to remove that from it.    I liked being high. I liked being drunk. I enjoyed all the aspects of that lifestyle at the time.   I went at it in a much different way because I didn't really care anymore.  That's just from a looking back perspective. In the moment, I think I cared a lot about everything, but I just had really taken this perspective on in my personal life that nothing matters as much as it did.    It just really didn't matter. I was just going to keep moving forward and doing the things that I to the extreme. I was very extreme on everything.   If it was drinking, I'm going to drink more than you are. If it was smoking something, I'm going to smoke more than you are. If it was snorting, look at the schmoz.    That's just the way I lived my lifestyle. It really took on that trajectory in my adult life until the law started becoming an issue when I was in my 30s. After I'd had the kids for all my life, I tell folks, in those times, I was like a functioning zombie.   I was still getting high, still drinking, but golly, I was the dad that got up and had breakfast for the kids.  I was a strict disciplinarian. I was over the top on so many things.   I was abusive in some ways like my dad was, the way that I spoke to the kids, the way that I treated my children. I didn't certainly know sexual abuse or anything like that with my own children, but I was a really strict disciplinarian. I regret that now.   It's one of my biggest regrets ever, the way that I treated those kids. I tried to make a good life for about a year. Then when they went back to their mom, it just really, really flew apart my life.   It was me doing it. I was flying it apart. I just destroyed everything around me.   If you've cared about me, then that would make me hate you even more. Anyone that cared about me, I would get you to care about me, and then I would hate you for caring about me. It's crazy making stuff, but that's the way that I live my life.    I eventually was introduced to a fellow that knew how to manufacture methamphetamine. He taught me the method. Of course, being the extreme person that I am, I went all in.   I became a methamphetamine manufacturer and dealer and lived that lifestyle for quite some time. It's not like it is now where you're driving around in cornfields with a five-gallon bucket making methamphetamine or Mexican methamphetamine. I had a lab down in Southern Illinois, and I sold a lot of methamphetamines, which is disastrous to me now, but I really became an in-my-own-mind gangster kind of person.    It was a very violent lifestyle. It was very awful, certainly nothing that you would want to glorify, but that's just who I became. And I lived my life for a number of years, and it was disastrous.   Laura Dugger: (16:53 - 19:27) And now a brief message from our sponsor.   Midwest Food Bank exists to provide industry-leading food relief to those in need while feeding them spiritually. They are a food charity with a desire to demonstrate God's love by providing help to those in need.   Unlike other parts of the world where there's not enough food, in America, the resources actually do exist. That's why food pantries and food banks like Midwest Food Bank are so important. The goods that they deliver to their agency partners help to supplement the food supply for families and individuals across our country, aiding those whose resources are beyond stretched.   Midwest Food Bank also supports people globally through their locations in Haiti and East Africa, which are some of the areas hardest hit by hunger arising from poverty. This ministry reaches millions of people every year, and thanks to the Lord's provision, 99% of every donation goes directly toward providing food to people in need. The remaining 1% of income is used for fundraising, costs of leadership, oversight, and other administrative expenses.   Donations, volunteers, and prayers are always appreciated for Midwest Food Bank. To learn more, visit midwestfoodbank.org or listen to episode 83 of The Savvy Sauce, where the founder, David Kieser, shares miracles of God that he's witnessed through this nonprofit organization. I hope you check them out today.   Well, I'm hearing all of this for the first time, and it's unimaginable what you were endured growing up, and my heart just aches to hear what happened and then hear the choices that were produced out of that and see where that lifestyle was leading you. But Brian, I just appreciate you for so many reasons, and one of those is for being transparent and vulnerable but also sharing the truth that there was some pleasure in it. You were enjoying it for a while, and the Bible does talk about pleasures of sin for a season, but we all know that that trajectory leads to death, even if it's death of relationships.   So, looking at your relationships at that time, were you still in contact with your mom or your brother or your dad throughout all of this?   Brian Butler: (19:28 - 21:37) No, not really. My brother, it's an interesting story. My brother had married a gal right out of high school.    He got born again. He became a Christian. So poor guy, I just tortured him my whole adult life.   I just made fun of him, and I called him weak, and he was a crutch, and we got in even physical fights over it a couple times, but we didn't have much of a relationship as you can imagine. I think that there were several times that we tried to reach out and be in contact, but it just didn't work due to my addictions and my alcoholism and his pride and all those other kinds of things. My mom held on to me for years.   I put my mother through, I tortured her. I was arrested seven times for driving under the influence. I had five DUI convictions.   I was in and out of trouble. I was always in the forefront of her mind, and I've experienced this with my own children after I came to Christ, continually worried that she wouldn't get the phone call that her son was dead, basically. The last two or three years of my being out there, I had no contact with my mom because she finally said, you're dead to me.   I'm done. You're not my son. I don't want to hear from you, and I was like, cool.   I don't care. You've been dead to me for 40 years, right? I blamed her for allowing things to happen.   It just wasn't true, right? I mean, it wasn't her fault at all of any of my childhood, and she was just trying to be a good mom and save her marriage, and she was being abused mentally and stuff that whole time. But you know how we are as sinful creatures.   I didn't want to take the blame on me because it wasn't my fault, so I was blaming everybody else around me. So, I didn't really have any solid relationships as far as family, anything like that goes while I was out there in my addiction. It all changed when I was arrested in 2003.   So that's a story.   Laura Dugger: (21:38 - 21:43) Are you willing to take us back to 2003 and share that story?   Brian Butler: (21:45 - 38:08) Yeah, yeah. So I was, like I said, I had become, you know, I was living a gangster life, so I was in the drug world, and I don't know if anybody knows anything about the drug world, but it's not like the movies. It's worse.    It's worse than they depict in movies. So, I was living that lifestyle for several years. I had a lot of money. I had a lot of guns. I had a lot of property. I had all the methamphetamine I could possibly use because I was manufacturing it.    I was selling more than I could possibly imagine. I was using more than that. I was king of the world is what I thought while everything around me was burning.    I was the king, if that makes any sense. And so that was the lifestyle that had led up to 2003. I'll never forget one time I had married another gal after my first wife and I had divorced several years later, and that was just a relationship based on lies and substance abuse.   So, it really wasn't a marriage at all, but I had been arrested in Vincennes, Indiana for dealing narcotics, and I had some other arrests down in Kentucky for dealing narcotics, and I made bail and all this. And so, what happened was in 2002, I went on the run. I still had my meth lab, and I was still selling lots of methamphetamine, but I had these warrants, and I was king of the world in my mind, and nobody was going to catch me, and I was going out like a gangster.    They were never going to take me alive, this fact. So, she went with me, which is great. She was crazy.    And we went on the run, and we just lived from casino to casino. I would make methamphetamine. I would sell $20,000 worth, and then we just kind of traveled around and lived that kind of lifestyle.    And I'll never forget one time down at the Casino Queen in St. Louis, Missouri. There's a casino down there. I just done a pretty big dope deal, and the casino was hot, and the air conditioning was down, and it was like 5 o'clock in the morning, and I just had to get out of there.   I just had to get away, and I got in my van and took a spin down in Belleville, Illinois, and I ended up in a cemetery on top of this cemetery, and it was looking down this great big hill. And I haven't been there since, but people from that area are like, yeah, I know that cemetery. I'm like, yeah, well, that's where I really had my Lieutenant Dan moment with God almost.    I sat on top of that. I was so, I can't explain it. I had lived my life in that addiction, loving that addiction, and loving getting high, loving drinking.   At that point in my life, I was still doing it. I hated myself, and I wanted to die, and I didn't like it so much anymore. I just wanted it to be over, and I kind of had it out with God.   I was drinking a fifth of whiskey, and I'm smoking methamphetamine. I'm a nine-millimeter pistol, and I'm putting it in my mouth. I was too much of a coward to pull the trigger, so that made me even more angry, and I thought for a moment that God might be real, and that there might be something worth living, but it was just a moment, and I kind of gathered myself together, and I went back to the casino, and just like as if nothing had happened, and just a few weeks later, I was arrested in Washington, Indiana.    I had made arrangements to see my kids. I had my kids for the weekend, which is crazy to think that I was in any kind of shape to be around my kids, but I was. I was always a functioning guy, and I was a gangster, so we had the kids for a weekend, and when the kids left the location I was at, my ex-wife called the police and told them where I was, and so that led into a great big chase, and there was all kinds of SWAT teams and all kinds of things.   I was holed up in a house at one point, and police were banging on the windows and trying to get in the house, and eventually they called on the telephone, and it just kept ringing and kept ringing and kept ringing.  I'm stuck in this house. I didn't have my guns.    I didn't have any drugs. I didn't have a cigarette, right, and the crazy thing about that whole thing is, I'll just back to the subject, so I'm in this chase, right, on foot from the police. I tried to pull a guy out of his pickup truck.   Of all things, God put this guy in the pickup truck. He was an off-duty police officer, and so I'm trying to carjack an off-duty police officer. He's having none of it.    I get away from him. I get in this. I'm running through a residential neighborhood trying to get any door open that I possibly could to get away from the police who were chasing me, and I made it to an open door, and I opened up that door, and it was an insurance company, and there were a bunch of little ladies sitting around computers in this room, and I was just like, hey, can I get a glass of water, and out there I am sweating profusely just in 10 o'clock in the morning with Harley Davidson boots, Hawaiian t-shirt, obviously in distress, and I scared these ladies to death, and I'm hearing them call the police anyway, and I just grabbed a glass of water and went out on that front porch, and some fella drove up in a pickup truck and got out of the truck to come in to do business with the insurance company, and I went and stole his truck, and I was able to get away and get to a safe spot.   I think it's safe because I'm only there for about three or four minutes, and the police show up all the way around that house, and so they're calling.  They're banging on the windows. We know it's you in there.   You need to come out, and eventually after about an hour or so of that, I did answer the phone, and the police officer said, I had a fake ID, and they were like, we know you're not Bill Berkshire.  We know that you're Brian Butler. You need to come out of that house.   You need to come out of there now, or we're going to come and get you, and I said, well, try it, because I'll kill the first three of you through the door. Now, they had already confiscated my fan and guns and all that kind of stuff, but they didn't know what I had. I didn't have anything.   There was a six-foot decorative simmer I swore on the wall that couldn't cut butter that I was arming myself with, and it took about another hour or two, and the SWAT team showed up, and they eventually got me out of that house. I was arrested and facing 120 years in the 20th century. I had multiple carjacking, dealing, manufacturing, every possible imaginable that you could possibly imagine of illegal substances.   I had those on me in my van and the property, and so there was the chase and all that happened, so they were unwilling to run any of those charges concurrent. They took four major charges and said, we're going to run a consecutive, and I was facing 120 years in prison. Honestly, when I was in jail, it was kind of like a relief in a way.    I was so angry. I was delusional. I really thought that the people who owed me money were going to break me out.    That's how delusional I was. They didn't, but that's where I had a moment, and I come back to my mom. I'd been in jail about a month, and what had happened was my mom came to the jail, and she didn't come there for a visit.   She came on a Saturday morning, and the police let her in, and she wanted to know if I would sign papers because I still had temporary custody of my children on paper and if my brother could have legal custody over my kids while all this was going on. Because my children, I'll back that up, my children were in Kentucky with their mom, my youngest daughter at that time. I was 14 years old, and she was using methamphetamine.    She was into alcohol. She wasn't being supervised. She was in abusive relationships with her mother's friends.   She was cutting herself because her daddy was going away forever. That was my daughter, and I loved her, and I was just taken aback that my brother would go down and rescue her. The whole story of how I came to Christ is all involved in this.   I'm kind of all over the place, but the Friday night prior to my mom showing up at the jail, back in those days in jail, there was no overcrowding in Indiana, and there were 16 of us in a six-man cell, and I had been in that jail for, like I said, three or four weeks, and on Friday nights, they would have the Gideons come in. Now, the only thing I knew about a Gideon was those Bibles that they put in hotels, and I was none too interested in any God talk. I didn't believe in that.   I just didn't want anything to do with that. As a matter of fact, I was mad about it, but after three or four weeks of being in there smelling nothing but feet and urine, I was willing to do anything for 15 minutes to get out of that cell, and so I agreed to go, and me and two other guys went up to a visitation booth, and there was a little fella in there, and he was very nice, but I couldn't tell you anything he said for the 15 minutes, nothing.    I wasn't paying attention. I was just sitting there looking around, just glad to be out of that cell, but at the end of that 15 minutes, he knocked on the window, and he pointed at me. He said, can I pray for you, and I said, hell no, you can't pray for me.   I don't want your prayers. I'm not here for your prayer, and whatever language it was, I was very vile. I said, but if you want to pray for something, you think that God of yours is listening, you pray for my daughter, and I kind of told her a little bit about what's going on with my kid.   I said, and so you pray for her, and he did, and I can't tell you what he prayed because I really wasn't listening, but it was nice, and I remember that night going back to my cell, and with my Catholic upbringing and everything that had happened, I think I probably said a little prayer myself that night to this God that I didn't believe in, and then a week later, my mom shows up telling me that my brother in Cleveland, Ohio, born again Christian, that the very night that this guy was praying, my brother and his wife decided to come down to Vincent's, Indiana, and they got my mom, and they drove to Owensburg, Kentucky, and literally kidnapped my daughter and took her back to live with them, and I wasn't, I was just kind of in a haze.   I wasn't putting all that together in the moment, and like I said, mom wasn't there for a visit, and I was just like Mark, would you do that for me?  He went and got Amy. I just couldn't believe it, and she's like, yes, I just need you to sign the paper so I can get out of here, and so I did, and that night, I was back in that jail cell, and all those lights were off, and man, the Holy Spirit of God fell on me, and he told me he was real, and to the best of my ability, I confessed my sins.    I repented for my sins. I was just, I just spent the whole night as a 40-year-old gangster, blubber, and idiot in a jail cell just crying about everything, just about my dad, about my lifestyle. I missed my kids.   It just came crashing down on me, and I believe that that was the night that I was truly born again. I believe that God had his hand on me before the foundation of the world. He knew me, and that he loved me, and he chose me, and that I loved him as a little boy, and for whatever happened in my life that I chose to ignore him and run away from him and hate him, but through his mercy and grace and through even facing 120 years in the penitentiary that he saved me, and I believe that night that I got saved, and I just told him, I know we're not supposed to make a deal with God, but it was just kind of like, man, I believe you're real. I don't know anything about you.   I don't know what, you know, my Catholic brother, I don't know if Mary has anything to do with this. I don't know nothing about you, but I believe you're real, and I'll do anything you tell me for the rest of my life if you just take this taste out of my mouth. I just don't want this addiction. I don't want all this crap anymore, and in that moment, he did.   I really believe that he took that away from me, and I've been following him kind of ever since. The next morning when they opened up the cell, we went out to the day room.  I'll never forget. There was a Bible there. Now, that Bible's been there the whole time, but it's the first time I see the Bible, and I kind of, you know, I'm still struggling.   I've been up all night, and I'm kind of wiped out anyway, drinking instant coffee and, you know, having a God experience, and there's a Bible, and I pick up this Bible, and it was in Romans chapter five. I'll never get it, and I'll just paraphrase, but I remember reading the verses that having been justified by faith, and it just kind of hit me that I wish I really believed God was real, and I don't know what that means, and I don't know anything about it, but I went on to read that I was no longer his enemy and that I could have peace with him and that he was going to give me good character and that I could persevere. It didn't matter what I had in front of me, so it was just God speaking to me in those moments that I'm going to be with you through all this, and it was just a wonderful, life-changing experience. It didn't, you know, sanctification takes a long time.   I still was sentenced to 15 years in prison, which was a miracle, right? I was facing 120, and there it was nothing that I had done prior to my conversion. I had been in front of a judge, and I had a $1 million full cash bond.   I was in front of the judge, and I'm like, I want a bond reduction. The judge is like; you're telling me you're going to pay $100,000 to get out of jail. I said, angrily, you could reduce my bond, and he said, denied.   We're not going to do that, and that was the last time I really talked to a judge or an attorney, and I sat in jail for six or seven months, and this attorney that was appointed to me after the one that I fired, he came to me one time and said, hey, they're willing to give you a 15-year sentence in prison if that's what you want to do, and I said, okay.  I wasn't concerned about prison. I wasn't concerned.   I just wanted to do what the Lord wanted me to, and that's been my whole life since.  People will ask me about prison. It was horrible, as you can imagine.    I was in the state of Indiana. There were no separation of offenders at that time. I was in a medium-max facility, so I was doing time with guys who were doing life, which were the best guys to do it with because they were just doing life, and then little gangbangers from Indianapolis.   It was a terrible affair. Every kind of drug possible, every kind of perversion possible was there, but it's where I met Jesus, and it's where I learned to follow Christ, and I had a godly man come alongside of me in the prison, Pastor Woodcocks, who just assigned my guy, and he helped me to work through so many things and to be a man of truth and integrity and all the different things that he taught me, so while I look back at that, and I say, yeah, prison sucked.   It was awful, and I never want to go back again in that capacity, but it's where I learned to follow Christ, and I wouldn't trade it for anything.  I wouldn't trade that time for anything. I needed every ounce of that time to become closer to him and to be less about me, and then I got out of prison in 2009.   It was a shock probation here to Peoria, Illinois, where my oldest daughter was at that time, and I moved in with her.  She's been following Jesus ever since. It's not been an easy road, right?   It's not been being a convicted felon and having all those things, but God does, if he is for us, who can be against us, right?  He has really, really, really been by my side. There's been so many things that have happened.   I could go on for hours and hours and hours, but that's how I came to Jesus and where I got to know Jesus and where I really solidified my relationship with, I believe, and he's saved.   Laura Dugger: (38:10 - 38:55) What an incredible journey he took you on.   Did you know you could receive a free email with monthly encouragement, practical tips, and plenty of questions to ask to take your conversation a level deeper, whether that's in parenting or on date nights? Make sure you access all of this at thesavvysauce.com by clicking the button that says join our email list so that you can follow the prompts and begin receiving these emails at the beginning of each month.  Enjoy.   So, then Brian, as a freed man at that point, once you were out of prison, how did you eventually find your way to what is now Pathway Ministries?   Brian Butler: (38:57 - 45:56) It's been a wild ride. I got out of prison thinking I was going to be a prison minister and there was going to be all kinds of things that were going to happen. You kind of buy into that prosperity stuff while I was locked up.   I really thought that there were big things in store. After I was out of prison for about three months, it was 2009, and so the economy in Peoria was really bad. The cap shut down.    Places weren't hiring. I couldn't find a job anywhere. I remember going to Kroger in Madison Park.   If anybody remembers Madison Park Kroger in Peoria, it was a really rough part of town.  They were banging out in the parking lot. I'm here.   I called the manager and he said set up a time for an interview.  I went to the interview, and I took him my resume. They taught us in the penitentiary and in classes.   I got a bachelor's degree in prison, by the way. I filled out my resume, and I filled the time up in my resume with the prison ministry I was involved in. Just so you don't have that slack of time.   The manager said, oh, I see that you were in a prison ministry. Man, that's amazing. Did they let you in there every day?    Well, I lived there. I was in prison at that time. This is what I was doing while I was in prison.   His words to me shook me to the core because he handed me back that resume and he said, “We don't hire your kind here.” I'm telling you, after all the disappointment I have for two or three months of not being able to find a job and rejection after rejection, I walked out in the parking lot. My daughter took me back to her house and I remember sitting on the end of her bed.   I'm not a crier, really, but at that time I think I might have been crying a little bit. She was bawling and I was just like, “Just take me down to the shelter. I don't want to be any more of a burden to this family. Please, I got to go.”   She's like, “Don't give up, dad, don't give up.” I'm like, “I'll give it up, oh God, I just don't want to be a burden.”    She said, “Just wait, just wait, just give it a little more time.” I agreed to do that. That week, through the grapevine, one of the friends of a guy that she went to church with, John McCormick, at McCormick Auto Place in Belleville, Illinois, called and said, “Hey, I heard through the grapevine you're having a hard time getting a job. I need somebody washing cars.”   That was a far cry from, you know, I'm a 46-year-old man and I'd walk around with briefcases full of money. It was a humbling experience, but I went to work for John, and he ended up, you know, as a Christian, he was just a Christ follower.    He accepted me into his family. I went from 10 hours a week to part-time. I eventually got a part-time job at the Salvation Army.    They called me. It was one of the first places I put in a resume. Paul Cousin called me from the Salvation Army.   He's like, “Hey, I don't know why we never saw your resume before, but we need help. Would you like to come to work at the safety net working with homeless guys?” I'm thinking, well, you know, I've been homeless, so sure.   And I went down there and I started working there.  And so eventually that turned into a full-time job at the Salvation Army. And I stayed working washing cars.    I washed cars for 12 years with John. He's just so great. He's one of the greatest Christian dudes you ever met.    He just, he was so vital in my Christian walk in my life. But I was at the Salvation Army. I was running, believe it or not, the lead case manager of Drop-In Center for the Homeless.    And I had conversations with Peoria Rescue Mission at that time, Peoria Rescue Ministries. Now, I'd never been there. I thought they were religious zealots.    You know, it was everything. It was so religious that the guys couldn't be there. But I did know that they did not allow drugs or alcohol.   And so, when I would meet a man that was struggling with addiction and they wanted to get out of them, I would call and talk to Lee and say, “Hey, listen, I got a guy I think would be good for your fit. Can I send him down there?” And so, we kind of built this bond.    Lee and I had this relationship over the phone. I'd never met the guy ever. Back in those days, Lee was really into sending those funny little emails.   You know, they always have a little cartoon or a little message. You know, the email knows that when you're really busy at work, you kind of start deleting after a while. And one day he sent me an email, and it said, “Are you interested?”    And for some reason, I opened it. And I know the reason is God. And he said that they had a position as the assistant director of the rescue mission, but I'd be interested in coming down and applying for the job.    And I went down and met with Lee. And one thing led to another. My wife, Pam, who I'm married to now, I consider my wife.   I can't believe that I'm married to somebody who loves God. Now, I know we're supposed to stay the way that we are, biblically a single and all these things scripturally as we come to Christ to stay that way. But this is my first marriage.    This is my marriage. In Christ, we're in marriage. She is the most wonderful. She's my gift that God just kind of gave me to care for and to nurture and to love her the way that I should.  But she really encouraged me. At the time of the Salvation Army, we were HUD funded.    I couldn't openly share my faith. I always had to take back doors to it. And she's like, this is what you've always prayed for.    They'll let you do that there, take the job. And so, I did. And that's how I came on at Peoria Rescue Ministries.    Eventually it became Pathway Ministries. I just kind of worked as Mr. Rokey, came on board in 2016. And then in 2018, we're really trying to do some things back there.   And from the way we used to do them, meeting people in crisis, I had a lot of good ideas.  And John had a lot of great ideas. And we're on the same page.    And he asked me to be program director. And I'm like, well, I'd love to, if I can write a program. And so, he just gave me free reign.   And then now I'm the director of residential ministries at Pathway Ministries. Just being able to allow God to blow that whole thing up. And he has to meet people just like me, just like so many other sons and daughters out there that need to have a God block put in front of them while they're in their crisis.    And so, it's just been a beautiful thing. And I just praise God for all the leadership and just what we've been able to do. And that's how I came to Pathway Ministries.    Just being able to do God's work there. It's incredible. It's crazy.   Putting it in a nutshell is really hard because there's been so many things that the Lord has done personally and through the ministry. It has just been incredible, the path that he's had me.   Laura Dugger: (45:57 - 46:35) You do such an amazing work there, and it is a worthy ministry to support. We'll definitely put links in the show notes for today's episode for Pathway Ministries. And that's a whole other conversation to talk about the miracles witnessed there.   But just to go back and close a few loops, I'm sorry, I'm going to throw a few things at you.  So, when did Pam come into the picture? And what's a current snapshot of your life with your children now?   And what did forgiveness look like with your family of origin?   Brian Butler: (46:37 - 52:04) Yeah, so my father passed away while I was in prison. It was an amazing story with my dad. He met me in prison and wanted to meet with me.   And I hadn't seen my father in years, and he came to the prison lot. I had worked through the forgiveness of my dad, I think, before we met, but he came to ask my forgiveness. And I'll never forget, he said, Brian, I made the wrong choice.    My whole life, I've made the wrong choices. And I'm just really sorry. And so, it was a sweet moment with me and him.   I'm not saying that we had a, you know, it wasn't like we're father, son kind of stuff.  But when he passed away, there's no false guilt. There's no guilt.    There's nothing I'm trusting. He even actually became a minister of the Catholic Church in the place that he lived. And I believe that he came to faith in Christ and Christ alone.   So, it was really something to see that transformation in my dad, even though he was, you know, he saw a lot of stuff. But I truly believe that the father entered his heart. My mom, shortly after I was incarcerated, after that experience at the jail, started to come around a little bit and supported me.   You know, and I think the biggest thing that helped me in or helped our relationship in the prison was I didn't ask for things. When I was able to talk to my mother, I was able to say, how are you? And just kind of relieve her of the burden.   It was bad enough that her son was in prison. It was bad enough that she had to see her son on the evening news and everything that I put her through. I just wanted to mend that and just to comfort my mom and just love my mom the best possible.    So, our relationship really grew through those days. And it's so amazing. So, here's a woman that said, you're dead to me, and I don't want around anymore.    In 2019, my mom and stepdad have been since Indiana, and they're aging now. They're in their early 80s. But in 2019, we had a family conversation, and she wanted to move to Peoria, Illinois, so that my wife and I could take care of her and him in their old age.    So, they lived two miles away from us, and we were able to meet my mom. It's crazy. And just to be able to be in a relationship with her and to be able to care for her, getting ready to take a trip down to Kentucky to see her sister, and all that entails.   So, it's just been a wonderful blessing for a relationship. My mom knows God's real because he's changed me and my children. While I didn't beat them over the head with the Bible, they know that God is real because they've seen him work in me.   They've all struggled with addiction and all those kinds of things. But I'm happy to say that all three of them are clean and sober. Right now, my son followed in my footsteps.    Unfortunately, he grew up, even though I wasn't there. I was divorced from his mother when he was two years old. But he always looked to me, and he always saw the tough guy and the gangster.   And I think that's what he really wanted to be. He ended up getting a prison sentence, and he spent 13 years in prison. And he is getting out in February.    So that's encouraging. But all three of them are clean and sober, and those relationships have been restored. Pam and I, you can imagine, Pam had no idea about addiction or lifestyle or gangsters.   So I am completely off the rails, foreign to her.  But she tells me all the time, she doesn't know that old guy. All she knows is me.   And she can hear stories, and she can hear testimonies. And of course, my mom is very open to share anything at a family dinner about Brian, which I'm like, please, mom, don't talk. But she hears those stories, and she just says, I don't know that man.    I don't know who that was. This is the man I'm married to. And so, it's just, we have a wonderful relationship.    She's my biggest supporter, my biggest fan. We pray together. We love the Lord together.  It's really something. I'm not saying that we haven't had a lot of hurt because my kids have been in addiction. I'm saying it hasn't been really, really hard.   But through those sufferings, that's how Jesus makes it more like him, through those sufferings and through those hard times.  And he's given me an avenue personally to be able to help others. So, I love that scripture.    It gives us this comfort. We needed the comfort so that one day you can comfort others with that same kind of comfort. So, he's enabled me to be in a position where I can comfort other folks in addiction and build great teams here at Pathway that are ministering to the folks that we serve in a meaningful way for the Lord.    And then I've been able to serve my wife. I've been able to serve her and that's what I want to do.   Laura Dugger: (52:05 - 52:31) Oh, it is evident to see you two at church and see you two holding hands and just your gentle way of interacting with each other is even a testimony. So how incredible that God has restored so much that was broken. And even going back to your brother Mark, was he rejoicing to hear you were now walking with Jesus as your Lord and Savior?   Brian Butler: (52:32 - 54:07) Yeah, well, at first it was kind of like the prodigal son story, and he was the big brother rather than me. I think at first there was a lot of, and rightfully so, I was no good. And so, I had the hearing officer tell me one time in Springfield Illinois when I was trying to get my driver's license back, which was another God story.    And I have a driver's license after five DUIs. I had that hearing officer tell me, even though I had been clean and sober for seven years, he said, you know, talk is cheap. He said, walking it is different.   So, you come back and see me in a year and when you've walked it, then we'll have a talk about giving you a driver's license. And I've always kind of stored that in my heart with my relationship with my brother. And now after my brother has seen me walk it, we have a pretty good relationship.    We're in cahoots because I'm taking care of mom. And so, we have a pretty good relationship there. Yeah, so it's been really a miracle.    Miracles of what has happened in relationships. Now some relationships that I've had, even with family members, you know, hey, that Brian Butler is still nothing but a no-good dope dealing maniac. And we're, you know, we're done.    And that's okay. That's God's job. My job is to keep walking the walk and talking the talk and sticking close to him and not letting anything get in the way of that and doing whatever I can to restore relationships and then let God do the rest.    And so, it's been, it's hard, but good. Yeah.   Laura Dugger: (54:08 - 54:22) You are a new creation. And Brian, I know you could continue teaching us so many things. Is there any encouragement you want to share before our conversation comes to a close?   Brian Butler: (54:23 - 56:46) Yeah, I would just say if you're, I had some, when I was going through it with my daughter, I had a lot of good counselors around me.  And then I got some advice that I didn't follow. And I'm so glad that I didn't.   I certainly think that if when we meet people that are in living destructive lifestyles, or you have a child in addiction and alcoholism, and they are just burning everything down around you, absolutely to set up boundaries and to limit communication to where they're draining you to death.  But if they're still breathing, then there's still hope. And we should never forget that there's hope and that God is so much bigger, and we can trust him with them more than what we can do with them.   I struggled for years with my daughter in addiction and being up in the middle of the night, just waiting on a phone call and praying and pleading and even thinking, Lord, it would be better if she was just gone.  If you just took her, would you? It's so harrowing.   But I never cut off communication completely because when she came out of the pig pen, I'm going to run. Now there were several runs that I made that, you know, she wasn't really out of the pig pen, but I don't regret that. And my daughter will say to a lot of folks, even though inside I kind of gave up in certain times, but I didn't make the life to end.    And she'll say, my dad never gave up on me. My dad was always there for me. And so, I just want to encourage people, if they're breathing, there's still hope and you can still put up boundaries and be strong and not give in and not give money and not do all those things, but there's still hope and our hope was in Christ.   And then we can hope that he does that work and that he'll do that work in us as we're hoping him to do it in others. So that's what I would just leave with folks that are really going through it because I've been through it. I've put people through it.   It's a tangled web and there's a whole lot, but you need to be around people that are going to love you and care for you and come around to you. You need to tell the truth to other people so that you don't hide it because it will destroy you.   Laura Dugger: (56:47 - 57:22) That's so good, Brian. How special to have her daddy never give up on her. And it reflects that greater truth that our heavenly father never gives up on any of us.  And he died for us even while we were still sinners. Thank you for sharing that.   And you may be familiar that we are called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, as my final question for you today, Brian, what is your savvy sauce?   Brian Butler: (57:24 - 58:36) I would say my savvy sauce is living in a daytight compartment, living this life one moment at a time, one day at a time, certainly making plans for the future, certainly living that life out. But I'm going to do what the Lord wants me to do right now. And then what he wants me to do next and what he wants me to do after that.    But just really staying in that daytight compartment. You know, I teach our students all the time at Pathway Ministries, really when we come to faith, this is really simplistic, but after we come to faith in the Lord Jesus, it really is about doing the next little right thing. And then the next little right thing after that, and the next little right thing after that.   And no one does the next little right thing all the time. But when you don't do the next little right thing, you get up and do the next little right thing. Understanding that sometimes doing the next little right thing might be the hardest thing you've ever done in your life.   And so, if we stay in that daytime compartment with Jesus, he'll help us through that next little right thing.  And so that's my savvy. So, I was just staying in the moment and doing the next little right thing.   Laura Dugger: (58:37 - 59:08) Oh, I love that so much. Ryan, you are an admirable man who walks the walk, and God has gifted you with such passion and such a compelling story. So, thank you for continuing to faithfully obey him.   You are certainly shining in our community and faithfully serving our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So, thank you for being my guest.   Brian Butler: (59:09 - 59:11) Thank you so much, Laura Dugger. We love you.   Laura Dugger: (59:11 - 1:02:28) We love you, too.   One more thing before you go, have you heard the term gospel before? It simply means good news. And I want to share the best news with you, but it starts with the bad news.    Every single one of us were born sinners, but Christ desires to rescue us from our sin, which is something we cannot do for ourselves. This means there's absolutely no chance we can make it to heaven on our own. So, for you and for me, it means we deserve death, and we can never pay back the sacrifice we owe to be saved.    We need a savior, but God loved us so much. He made a way for his only son to willingly die in our place as the perfect substitute. This gives us hope of life forever in right relationship with him.    That is good news. Jesus lived the perfect life. We could never live and died in our place for our sin.    This was God's plan to make a way to reconcile with us so that God can look at us and see Jesus. We can be covered and justified through the work Jesus finished. If we choose to receive what he has done for us, Romans 10:9 says, “that if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”    So, you pray with me now. Heavenly father, thank you for sending Jesus to take our place. I pray someone today right now is touched and chooses to turn their life over to you.    Will you clearly guide them and help them take their next step in faith to declare you as Lord of their life? We trust you to work and change lives now for eternity. In Jesus name we pray.   Amen. If you prayed that prayer, you are declaring him for me. So, me for him, you get the opportunity to live your life for him.    And at this podcast, we're called The Savvy Sauce for a reason. We want to give you practical tools to implement the knowledge you have learned. So, you're ready to get started.    First, tell someone, say it out loud, get a Bible. The first day I made this decision, my parents took me to Barnes and Noble and let me choose my own Bible. I selected the Quest NIV Bible and I love it.    You can start by reading the book of John. Also get connected locally, which just means tell someone who's a part of a church in your community that you made a decision to follow Christ. I'm assuming they will be thrilled to talk with you about further steps such as going to church and getting connected to other believers to encourage you.    We want to celebrate with you too. So, feel free to leave a comment for us here. If you did make a decision to follow Christ, we also have show notes included where you can read scripture that describes this process.    And finally, be encouraged. Luke 15:10 says, “in the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The heavens are praising with you for your decision today.    And if you've already received this good news, I pray you have someone to share it with. You are loved and I look forward to meeting you here next time.

Clean air advocates in New York want to redefine the threshold for a state disaster declaration. A revamp of Bridgeport's east end neighborhood hits a road block. A handful of Long Island hospitals could reduce service due to federal cuts. Plus, Connecticut considers more oversight on families that homeschool.

The American frontier was full of things that settlers and soldiers couldn't explain, and among the strangest were the Wild Man accounts that began appearing in newspapers decades before anyone coined the term Bigfoot.In this episode, we dig deep into the historical record and examine encounter reports from the eighteen forties through the eighteen sixties, beginning with the eighteen sixty-five Paraclifta, Arkansas account published in the Weekly Standard of Raleigh, North Carolina, and working backward to the eighteen fifty-one Greene County cattle chase first reported by the Memphis Enquirer, the eighteen forty-six Crowley's Ridge footprint discovery published in the Baltimore Sun, and the violent eighteen fifty-six pursuit and attack near the Ouachita Mountains. We examine Civil War-era accounts including the Bridgeport, Alabama wild man captured by Captain George Anderson's men near General Braxton Bragg's encampment and later identified as a traumatized Unionist named Bill Patton who'd suffered a saber wound to the head, the disputed Harper's Ferry letter attributed to Private James Moore of the Sixty-Seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, and the poorly sourced Brice's Cross Roads story involving an unnamed Confederate cavalryman allegedly nursed by a group of Sasquatch.Along the way, we confront the harder question that underlies all of this material: were these people encountering an undocumented primate, feral humans broken by war and injury, traumatized recluses who'd abandoned civilization, or were they transforming the fear and chaos of frontier and wartime life into folklore? The honest answer may be some combination of all four, and the willingness to sit with that uncertainty is what separates genuine research from belief.Email BrianGet Our FREE NewsletterGet Brian's Books Leave Us A VoicemailVisit Our WebsiteBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sasquatch-odyssey--4839697/support.Have you had a Bigfoot encounter, Sasquatch sighting, Dogman experience, or other cryptid or paranormal encounter? We'd love to hear your story. Email brian@paranormalworldproductions.com to be featured on a future episode of Sasquatch Odyssey.Sasquatch Odyssey is a leading Bigfoot and cryptid podcast exploring real encounters, field research, and scientific analysis of the Sasquatch phenomenon.Follow the show and turn on automatic downloads so you never miss an episode.

The Boys From Bridgeport 04.11.26 by WCPT 820 Weekend

The Lady Elgin left Chicago for Milwaukee on a stormy September night in 1860 with around 400 passengers aboard. Another vessel was also out in the storm — a small lumber schooner called The Augusta — which crashed into the Lady Elgin a few hours later. “The Lady Elgin was lit, but not well enough for the unlit Augusta to see it,” said Madeline Crispell, the curator at the Chicago Maritime Museum in Bridgeport, home to an exhibit on the Lady Elgin. “Neither ship was able to get out of the way in time.” The Lady Elgin cracked in half a few miles off the coast of Highland Park, Illinois. About 100 people managed to reach the shore, but around 300 lost their lives. “It's the deadliest shipwreck in Great Lakes history,” Crispell said. You may be familiar with the Eastland disaster, which killed over 800 people in 1915 while tied to a dock in the Chicago River. But Crispell said the wreck of the Lady Elgin was even more consequential. She said the Lady Elgin was key to the development of new requirements for lighting ships at night, in the creation of the U.S. Life-Saving Service in 1871, and in the opening of Evanston's Grosse Point Lighthouse in 1873. In our last episode, we explored what area lighthouses like Grosse Point are used for now, since automation made keeper jobs obsolete. Today's episode is about the reasons these lighthouses were built in the first place. “By the 1880s, if your ship were to sink off the coast of Highland Park, there would be a whole different system in place to help rescue you,” Crispell said. “And perhaps that's why the deadliest shipwreck in Lake Great Lakes history happened all the way back in 1860: because changes were made as a result of it.” Crispell told Curious City the story of why the Lady Elgin chose to disembark on such a stormy night, how a lighthouse could have helped its stranded passengers, and why the discovery of the wreckage over 125 years later was consequential, too. Music in this episode: Lost on the Lady Elgin by Lee Murdock

Patti Sorich Parker joins Lisa Dent to talk about Parker’s family home being sold after being in the family in 116 years. She shares how her family came to the United States, how the house came into the family, and how important it was to her family.

In a follow up to last week's story, State Rep. and Gubernatorial candidate Josh Elliot spoke with Jon about his experience at a particularly contentious DTC meeting.

The Boys From Bridgeport 04.04.26 by WCPT 820 Weekend

Bianca Lebron was just 10 years old when she vanished after arriving to her school in Bridgeport, Connecticut. What followed was a case filled with troubling questions, unsettling leads, and a timeline that left her loved ones searching for answers.   Bianca Elaine Lebron was last seen on November 7, 2001, in Bridgeport, Connecticut when she was 10 years old. She is a Hispanic female who was 4'11” and weighed 115lbs with brown hair and hazel eyes at the time of her disappearance. She has a birthmark on her forehead and was last seen wearing beige pants, a beige and green shirt with a dark blue jean jacket and black boots.   She last seen getting into an older model conversion van, two-toned brown and tan or beige with tinted windows and chrome trim.  The driver has been described as a young Hispanic male with dark hair, a beard, unusually large nose and scratches on the left side of his face.   Anyone with information is asked to call The Bridgeport Police Department at 203-581-5100 or the FBI at 203-382-6647. You can also submit tips anonymously online at TIPS.FBI.GOV. For more information about the podcast and the cases discussed, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠VoicesforJusticePodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   For even more content or to further support the show, join the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Voices for Justice Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow us on social media: Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@VFJPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@VoicesforJusticePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@VoicesforJusticePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@VoicesforJusticePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Voices for Justice is hosted by Sarah Turney Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SarahETurney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SarahETurney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SarahETurney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SarahETurney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SarahTurney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   The introduction music used in Voices for Justice is Thread of Clouds by Blue Dot Sessions. Outro music is Melancholic Ending by Soft and Furious. The track used for ad transitions is Pinky by Blue Dot Sessions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's another Sunday with another case profile mini-episode installment from True Crime New England. On this week's episode, Liz starts off by telling the horrible story of the murder of Tyshaun Hargrove, a 14-year-old father out of New Haven, Connecticut who was murdered in August of 2021. Then, Katie gives the details of the brutal murder of 32-year-old Olga Maria Cornieles-Ubiera, who was found stabbed and possibly hit by a car in Bridgeport, Connecticut in October of 1994. Both murders remain unsolved.Anyone with any information on the murder of Tyshaun Hargrove is asked to please call the New Haven Police Department at 203-946-6333. Anyone with any information on the murder of Olga Maria Cornieles-Ubiera is asked to please call the Connecticut State Police Western District Major Crime Squad at (800) 203-0004.

The Boys From Bridgeport 03.28.26 by WCPT 820 Weekend

Today on Black Dragon Biker TVSegment 1: Pagans Member Admits Role in Assault of Rival Gang Members at West Norriton WawaOn March 23, 2026, Jason William Lawless, 46, a patched member of the Pagans Outlaw Motorcycle Gang from Bridgeport, PA, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to simple assault and conspiracy to commit simple assault.This stems from the October 17, 2025, incident in the parking lot of the Wawa at 2544 West Main Street in West Norriton Township. Lawless and eight other Pagans allegedly rolled up on two members of the rival Unknown Bikers Outlaw Motorcycle Gang, surrounded them, and tried to rip off their colors. The confrontation turned into a shootout — six people were shot, including two innocent bystanders (one took a round to the face while putting air in his tires). Fourteen shell casings were recovered.Lawless is the first of the nine charged Pagans to take a plea. The rest are still facing serious felony charges including aggravated assault, riot, and recklessly endangering other persons. Classic colors dispute that went south fast and dragged civilians into it.Segment 2: SVR's Shadow Looms Over Founder of Night Wolves Biker Gang's Trip to ChinaFresh intelligence report dropped today: Alexander Zaldostanov (aka “The Surgeon” / Khirurg), longtime president and founder of Russia's Night Wolves Motorcycle Club, visited Fudan University in Shanghai in late February 2026. He spoke to Chinese students.What makes it interesting — he wasn't traveling light. He was accompanied by two individuals with known ties to Russia's SVR (Foreign Intelligence Service).The Night Wolves have long been viewed as a Kremlin soft-power/propaganda arm — they helped in Crimea in 2014, do the big “Roads of Victory” runs, and Zaldostanov has been tight with Putin for years. This China trip looks like another layer: using the club for influence work and plausible-deniability outreach while Russia and China keep tightening their strategic partnership.When outlaw-style clubs start moving with intelligence officers on foreign soil, it's no longer just about bikes and brotherhood.Segment 3: Ohio Queer Motorcycle Club Responds to Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws by Teaching How to Fire GunsIn Ohio, the Cleveland chapter of Queers on Gears (an LGBTQ+ motorcycle club) has been quietly running firearm training days. They hold classes in a barn on a family farm in Elyria, with transgender instructors teaching safe gun handling to queer students.The club says the rise in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and rhetoric in Ohio pushed them to create a safe space for community self-defense training. They frame it as a natural fit with motorcycle culture's overlap with firearms. Spent casings on the floor, smiles on faces, and people learning the basics.This one sits at the intersection of identity, politics, and Second Amendment rights — something we don't see every day in the biker world.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-dragon-s-lair-motorcycle-chaos--3267493/support.Sponsor the channel by signing up for our channel memberships. You can also support us by signing up for our podcast channel membership for $9.99 per month, where 100% of the membership price goes directly to us at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-.... Follow us on:Instagram: BlackDragonBikerTV TikTok: BlackDragonBikertv Twitter: jbunchiiFacebook: BlackDragonBikerBuy Black Dragon Merchandise, Mugs, Hats, T-Shirts Books: https://blackdragonsgear.comDonate to our cause:Cashapp: $BikerPrezPayPal: jbunchii Zelle: jbunchii@aol.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BlackDragonNPSubscribe to our new discord server https://discord.gg/dshaTSTSubscribe to our online news magazine www.bikerliberty.comGet 20% off Gothic biker rings by using my special discount code: blackdragon go to http://gthic.com?aff=147Join my News Letter to get the latest in MC protocol, biker club content, and my best picks for every day carry. https://johns-newsletter-43af29.beehi... Get my Audio Book Prospect's Bible an Audible: https://adbl.co/3OBsfl5Help us get to 30,000 subscribers on www.instagram.com/BlackDragonBikerTV on Instagram. Thank you!We at Black Dragon Biker TV are dedicated to bringing you the latest news, updates, and analysis from the world of bikers and motorcycle clubs. Our content is created for news reporting, commentary, and discussion purposes. Under Section 107 of the Copyright

Welcome to the daily304 – your window into Wonderful, Almost Heaven, West Virginia. Today is Thursday, March 26, 2026.   #1 – From The Charleston Gazette-Mail A new flight simulator at Mallory Airport in South Charleston is set to strengthen the Kanawha Valley's role as a pilot training hub. Valued at around $50,000, the simulator will provide hands-on training for aspiring pilots while supporting aviation education and workforce development. Local leaders say this investment expands training capacity and helps prepare the next generation of aviation professionals. Read more: https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/kanawha_valley/new-flight-simulator-to-boost-mallory-airport-s-role-as-regional-pilot-training-hub/article_39cfa796-bf28-4667-8b11-23786874685e.html   #2 – From WV News Pierpont Community & Technical College will host three free career fairs this April in Fairmont, Clarksburg, and Bridgeport. These events will connect students, job seekers, and community members with employers across industries like healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and technology. Organizers say the fairs help bridge the gap between education and real-world career opportunities. Learn more: https://www.wvnews.com/fairmontnews/news/pierpont-to-host-three-spring-career-fairs-across-north-central-west-virginia/article_7bd07d90-37f7-4543-9a81-4c5cd5d18d0c.html   #3 – From The Intelligencer A recent editorial highlights the importance of continued investment in West Virginia's highways. Strong infrastructure supports safety, mobility, and economic growth by connecting communities and enabling commerce. Ongoing maintenance and improvements are essential to keeping the state competitive and accessible. Read more: https://www.theintelligencer.net/opinion/editorials/2026/03/help-west-virginia-highways/   Find these stories and more at wv.gov/daily304. The daily304—curated news and information—is brought to you by the West Virginia Department of Commerce, sharing the wealth, beauty, and opportunity of West Virginia with the world. Follow daily304 on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @daily304, or visit wv.gov and click the daily304 logo. That's all for now. Take care, be safe, and get outside to enjoy all the opportunity West Virginia has to offer.

The Boys From Bridgeport 03.21.26 by WCPT 820 Weekend

Leonardo Drew is a Bridgeport-born, Brooklyn-based artist who has two exhibits in our area you can see, specifically about his work with paper. Drew discusses his story and three-decade career in art, and what interests him about paper as a material and inspiration for large-scale abstract pieces he calls "explosions". His work is on view at The Bruce Museum in Greenwich through May 10, and at Pace Prints beginning March 19 through April 25. Image courtesy of Pace Prints

We will all have some experience with death. That reality is especially poignant during Lent. Bishop Caggiano speaks with Stephen Doran, a neurosurgeon and Catholic deacon who has written a tremendous book (especially good to pick up for the next few weeks of Lent) called To Die Well. Some of the things they discuss include: ...what, actually, is death? ...how can we prepare for death (our own and our loved ones')? ...how does living well prepare us for, and lead us to, dying well? ...what difference does a doctor's spiritual life make in the care he or she provides? By the way, we are blessed, in the Diocese of Bridgeport, to have the St Luke's Guild to strengthen and edify and provide community for healthcare professionals. Notes  Support Veritas Instagram Facebook Other Veritas Shows The Tangent (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify)  Daily Gospel Reflections (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify) The Frontline With Joe & Joe (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify) White Collars (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify)  Restless Catholic Young Adults: (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify)