Podcasts about Little House

TDC Podcast topics - 3G is back from his expensive vacation in Florida, is it possible the Lions stink?  Trump calls for republicans to back a vote to release all the Epstein files, Megyn Kelly gets taken out of context, Melissa Gilbert is now nauseated by the age difference with her co-star husband on Little House on the Prairie, Tucker Carlson releases documentary about would be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks and it's terrifying, and email

Solo Weekend RANT: Free Speech, Bigfoot & Spoiled Dogs! Devin flies solo in Georgia while Shannon's at a baby shower in Utah—Ethan's at school, house is quiet, and the rants are LOUD. This solo podcast rant tackles listener voicemails & emails: Is free speech real or chaos? Bigfoot sighting in Oregon—real or nah? And how to tell in-laws their dog runs the house (umbrella in rain + Little House on the Prairie marathons?!). Plus stats on why people treat pets like kids over actual babies. Call in YOUR drama: 615-624-4141 or sign up to be a guest! Don't miss this solo podcast rant—smash like if you've got a crazy pet story, drop your take below, and subscribe NOW!

*Contest Time! Buy a digital streaming ticket for the Live from NYC Podcast Event and enter your chance to win some sweet gifts! Go to our socials on FB or IG for details! @littlehouse50podcast*Welcome back to the prairie, folks! This week's episode kicks off with an emotional gut punch and a couple of unforgettable new faces. Alison, Dean, and Pamela are back in their bonnets and breaking down “The Castoffs” — the episode that proves the prairie can be both heartwarming and emotionally devastating before the first commercial break.It's the episode where we first meet Kezia, the quirky, big-hearted newcomer who instantly becomes the talk (and target) of Walnut Grove. The town's moral compass goes spinning like a butter churn as everyone decides she's “too weird” to stick around. She's wonderfully played by Hermione Baddeley — basically the prairie's first free spirit. Also making his grand debut: Jonathan Garvey, everyone's favorite gentle giant. (OK, we know--He's a "Bear"!)  But then — brace yourselves — it's not all laughs… because this episode also gives us one of the saddest Little House moments ever: Jack the dog's death. Laura's furry best friend crosses over the prairie rainbow bridge, and let's just say there wasn't a dry eye on or off screen...even shirtless Pa can't distract us from the sadness. As if that weren't enough, Laura takes out her heartbreak on Bandit, the adorable new pup who just wants to love her.It's a mix of laughter, heartbreak, and a few life lessons about loss, love, and letting new dogs into your heart.Then, join us on Patreon where Alison, Dean and Pamela discuss their pets!Join us in NYC! November 22nd at 1pmat GREEN ROOM 42Little House 50th Anniversary Podcast-LIVE!You can also LIVE STREAM this event!Grab your bonnets and buckle up, New York—because the prairie is coming to the city!  Expect behind-the-scenes stories from the beloved TV show, lots of laughs, audience questions, and maybe a surprise or two.  It's the kind of prairie mischief you get every week on the podcast—but you can be a part of it! So put on your lemon verbena, put down the morphine and hitch your wagon - Walnut Grove is moving to NYC for one night only! Can't be in NYC? LIVESTREAM TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE and the link will last up to 30 days after the event!https://thegreenroom42.venuetix.com/Links and Resources:Haven't signed up for Patreon yet? Get more behind the scenes info and fun conversation we can't do on the podcast...PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/LittleHousePodcastwww.LittleHouse50Podcast.com to connect with our hosts and link to their websites.www.LivinOnaPrairieTV.com  Check out the award-winning series created by Pamela Bob, with special guest stars Alison Arngrim and Charlotte Stewart.Prairie Legacy Productions - the place to go for info about all new Little House events!To learn more about Little House on the Prairie, Visit www.littlehouseontheprairie.comLittle House 50th Anniversary Bus Tours - www.SimiValleyChamber.org  select Little House 50th Anniversary and then Bus TicketsFacebook/Instagram/TikTok:Dean Butler @officialdeanbutlerAlison Arngrim @alisonarngrimPamela Bob @thepamelabob, @prairietvSocial Media Team: Joy Correa and Christine Nunez https://www.paclanticcreative.com/Producer: Tony Sweetwww.ubngo.comLHOP EventsThe Chocolate Expo - Lincoln, RI https://www.thechocolateexpo.comLive Podcast! Nov 22 from The Green Room 42 in NYCLittle House on the Prairie Cast Reunion -- Dec 12-14, Simi Valley, CAhttps://www.littlehouseontheprairiecastreunions.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/little-house-on-the-prairie-50th-anniversary-podcast--6055242/support.

Welcome back, dear listeners! Tonight continue with another chapter from The Long Winter  by Laura Ingalls Wilder . This story takes us back to the prairie with Laura and her family as they face one of the hardest winters they've ever known. Many of you have written to me requesting this next book in the series, and I'm so delighted to finally share it with you.Just a gentle reminder that if you'd like access to all the full-length audiobooks from the Little House series as they're completed, you can join Drift Off Premium.So snuggle in, get comfortable, and let the gentle rhythm of this timeless story carry you into a place of peace and rest. Sweet dreams, Joanne xoMusic in this episode is "Forest Spring' by Aiyo via Epidemic SoundMy new audiobook Tales to Help You Sleep is now available on Audible! US  ➜ Click hereCA  ➜ Click hereUK  ➜ Click hereAU  ➜ Click hereAlready an Audible member? Just add it to your library.New to Audible? Start your free trial with my book as your first listen and help support the podcast!If you decide to purchase through this link, I do receive a small benefit at no extra cost to you. It truly helps me continue sharing these bedtime stories, and I'm so grateful for your support. My Drift Off Dreams Coloring Book is now available on Amazon!  With 33 soothing illustrations, it's a cozy way to find calm at the end of the day. Find your copy here: https://mybook.to/DriftOffDreamsDrift Off Premium — Sweet Dreams Await Support an ad-free podcast for everyone Weekly bonus bedtime stories to enrich your sleep routine Exclusive early access to one new episode each month Full-length audiobooks for sleep to calm your mind and help you drift off Available on Apple Podcasts and Supercast *Subscribe on Apple Podcasts from the show page, or visit driftoff.supercast.com to join through Supercast. Did you know you can also listen to my regular bedtime stories on Insight Timer for free? It's a peaceful space for rest and relaxation. Also, for just $9.99/month, you'll get access to my premium stories plus meditations, music, and live sessions from other amazing teachers. Come curl up in this cozy corner of calm, where sweet dreams are always waiting. https://insighttimer.com/relaxforawhile Oh… and be sure to drift over to the podcast website to see what cozy wonders await you! https://www.driftoffpodcast.com

What if cultivating joy in your homeschool could be as simple as saying "good morning" with intention or creating one silly family tradition? In this conversation with Amber Smith (mom of 10!), we're exploring how gratitude practices transform not just your homeschool, but your relationships with your kids and your ability to handle the overwhelming seasons.From speaking life over a strong-willed child to filling your own tank when you feel depleted, Amber shares honest, practical wisdom that will help you step back and see the beautiful life you're actually building.In this episode:✅How cultivating joy through simple habits like "good morning" changes your family atmosphere✅The power of speaking life over difficult children instead of defeat✅Why remembering where you've come from creates gratitude in overwhelming seasons✅Practical gift-giving traditions that build thankfulness (including a hilarious "most beautiful of women" story!)✅How to find community and fill your tank when you're running on emptyReady to practice gratitude with your family? Grab the FREE 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge hyperlink mentioned in this episode and join hundreds of families starting November 1st!Recommended Resources:30 Days of Gratitude ChallengeGrand Prize GiveawayThe Six Keys to Your Successful Homeschool Year: Self-paced Course & Guided Journal. Book available on AmazonIn Due Season CoursesAmber Smith Amber Smith and her chef husband of 28 years raised ten wild children in southern Iowa. Her desire to help homeschool parents avoid burnout and build their best lives with strong relationships led her to start blogging at 200 Fingers & Toes. That is where you can find the latest articles, product reviews, and new In Due Season Homeschool Podcast episodes.Show Notes:Why Gratitude Can Give You PeaceWe are talking about a topic that I really think can slow you down and move you to a little bit of peace and joy, and a chance to maybe take that coffee break, or a bathroom break, or whatever you need to just get some peace. We are talking about gratitude today.My friend Amber Smith is here, and she's gonna be able to just bless you in your homeschool and in your family.Amber: I really enjoy getting to share with you and connect with the audience, and I'm looking forward to this 30 Days of Gratitude. I feel like it's such a good and important season to remind moms to just kind of step back and evaluate and assess kind of where we're at, and bring back an attitude of gratitude so we can kind of go forward into the holiday season realigned.Y'all, I'm gonna tell you right now, if Amber can focus on gratitude, and she has 10 kids, she calls herself 200 Fingers and Toes, then any homeschool family, any family at all, can take a step back and not get into the pressure.Meet Amber Smith: Homeschool Courage LenderAmber: One of the reasons why I started the blog was because so many people were hesitant to homeschool, and thought they weren't capable or equipped, and didn't have enough of X, Y, or Z. Really the main reason that I started sharing my story was because I wanted to show people that anybody could homeschool.Really, the desire to homeschool was the most important thing. Beyond that, it's just skills that you could learn. I was a high school dropout, I was involuntarily homeschooled for my last two years of high school. I got a job and took some classes at the community college.Coming forward as a homeschooling mom, I really didn't have a view of homeschooling and kind of had to find my own way. I have a heart for moms who are jumping into homeschooling and discovering it for themselves, and kind of making a roadmap for themselves that makes the most sense.I call myself a homeschool courage lender. I want to lend the courage to moms who are starting, so that they can get that for themselves, and then take that and start building homeschool that really fits them and is personalized to their life and family.We have 10 kids. I have graduated 7, and I have the last 3 at home right now. I am kind of on the downward slide. We're all down to high schoolers, and it's a very exciting time at our house, because I get to see the fruits of that, and I get to see the fruits of all of our children's lives, and how homeschooling has provided them with some skills.Cultivating Joy Must Be PracticedYou have made a comment that gratitude must be cultivated, nurtured, and practiced. What does that really look like in a real family life, especially when you have 10 children, or you still have those 3 at home?Amber: I was thinking back, what were the things I had to reset my brain to imagine me back at the table with 7 children, 7 and under, starting our first day of homeschool. Even that just makes my heart just so excited to see it was just an idea at the time, and we weren't really confident about what it was going to look like long-term in the future.One of those things that I think is so important about practicing gratitude is kind of looking at where you've come from and looking at what you have accomplished so far. I think so many times, we get to this certain place, and there's so many obligations and so many things we need to do, but sometimes it's just to sit back and be like, hey, you know what? This was the struggle we started with this year, and we really have come a long way, and we really have overcome that challenge.We kind of do yearly evaluations, and we talk about the skills that we want to build with our kids, or maybe character things that we want to address. At the end of the year, we go back over that list, and we see what we wanted to work on at the beginning of the year.Some years we've missed the mark completely, and we just put that on the list for next year. But oftentimes, as we go back and look at the things that we've wanted to learn or establish with our family, we can see that, oh wow, actually, we did make a lot of groundwork.The Power of Simple Daily HabitsOne of the things as a homeschooling mom is your job is never done. Never. The dishes will always be there, laundry will always be there, school will always need to be done. Without a finish line, I think it's really important to set some artificial places where we can stop and kind of evaluate what we've done personally.Amber: With our kids, a few really small ways we've established gratitude—I think it was a quote from Little House on the Prairie, but Pa said, good morning is one of the best words. I deeply feel that. Good morning is probably the most important thing that we can say to each other every day.That's just a tiny habit that we've established. When you wake up in the morning, when you see that first person, we greet each other, and we say good morning, and we usually give each other a hug. We're a huge I love you family, so we obnoxiously say I love you in our house, and we say it to our friends, and we say it to people's parents.That's just a habit that we've created, because we do love each other, and we want to acknowledge that. Taking the time to acknowledge the people in the room, taking the time to stop and say hello and how are you—those are little things that sometimes we just think are niceties, but actually they're establishing a heart that looks at other people and sees them.That is so good. When you started, you were talking about homeschooling just keeps continuing, sometimes you need to take a stop and look at what's happened. It made me think of the word remember, and it's a word in the Bible that's used over and over.God was telling the Israelites, remember when I did this, and remember this. Now, whenever I see it, I use colors in my Bible. I put an orange rectangle around it, and it just pops out. That idea is used over and over in the Bible, and I think we do need to remember all the good things that God has done.I also like that you didn't say, we failed in this. You said, we missed the mark, and I was like, what a great way to say, okay, we missed the mark, but we're going to keep moving forward.Gift-Giving Traditions That Build GratitudeLet's sort of take that gratitude. We're in the holidays, the Thanksgiving holiday, which is all about thanks. How do you use gift-giving and your family traditions to build gratitude during the holidays?Amber: The first holiday I thought of, was we actually have a tradition for Valentine's Day. I buy a little cup, and I fill it with candy, and we put them all around the table, but I always put a card and pens. I make all of the children write a little note, so each person has their name on the card, and then all of the other kids go around the table and just write a little message to their siblings, just what they love about them.I just think it's just one of those times—we can create different opportunities. I just felt like Valentine's Day is about love, and so it was a great opportunity to tell our siblings what we love about each other.Now my oldest daughter's married, and my son-in-law came over for Valentine's Day, and he got a card with all of the things that the kids love about him. About a month later, I went to their house, and it's on the fridge. Those are actually really meaningful things.I'm a words of affirmation person, and so sometimes maybe our gifts and our love languages we can use to kind of bring out things in other people. You can create your own holidays, you don't have to wait.Definitely at Thanksgiving, it's busy, and so I really try to create some intentional opportunities that we don't bypass and forget. We try to just create some times where we sit together, because the holiday I host, it's 30 people plus at our house.When She Forgot to Actually Give ThanksI know we had one Thanksgiving where everybody left, and I thought, oh my gosh, we did no actual Thanksgiving things. We just ate. We ate, and we visited, we played games, and we moved on, and I just remember feeling like a check in my spirit that I don't want to do this again. I don't want to miss the opportunity of having gratitude and sharing with each other what we value about each other and what we're thankful for.So we try to set a time that we can say what we're grateful for. For me, Christmas is really busy, and so the same thing kind of happens. We host, we have family come in, it's just a swamped, crazy house over here.Amber: I bought—I can't remember who it was—but they had a Christmas tree fold-out book that just did an Advent every day, and it was an ornament that you got out of the little book, and you hung up, and it had a little card. I just thought, I just need a crutch. I need something to help me become grateful. I need something to help me practice gratitude.I love how the Lord had the Israelites build pillars, and build remembrances, and build things that they physically saw in front of them to help remind them of that moment, and to help them be grateful for what happened. When they passed the river, they had them put the pillar of stone so they would remember their crossing and remember what God did.I think it's very on task to say, let's use tools that we have in front of us to help us be in the front of our mind about gratitude. If you find a devotional—the She Reads Truth had some kids cards that had a little Advent plan all the way to Christmas.Finding a tool that helps you be intentional, I think, is a great way to just help you all focus. The kids loved it, so if the kids like it, they will make you do it, and I think that's a great way to have your kids involved, because they will make you remember.Kids will remind you. When I was at my daughter's last January, she just had a baby, and I had the other two. She was at the hospital longer than was expected for various reasons. I was going through this devotional that I had given the kids.By the end of the week, they come home with the baby on Friday or Saturday, and the little 3-year-old at the time, he's like, GG, Bible book, Bible book, Bible book, because every day we were doing this little devotional. Even a 3-year-old, they're like, we've been doing this for 4 days, so get us going.You said something I think is really important, and that is you need crutches. I think crutches are not bad. You don't feel like, I'm not good enough, so I've got to use this other stuff. That's why God's given us a lot of different gifts, to be able to be intentional. Sometimes we have to think ahead, and then we need to choose what might help us the best.The "Most Beautiful of Women" StoryLet's talk about self-care and taking care of ourselves. If moms are struggling to sort of take care of themselves, or to just feel grateful about what God's doing in their life, what would you suggest to them? I know some of them are overwhelmed and not appreciated, and they got a lot going on.Amber: First of all, I thought of a funny memory. I had a period of time where I am a words of affirmation mother, and I felt very empty in the gas tank. I had 7 little ones, and just a high-intensity need life. I just felt like I was not getting enough positive words fed back to me.So I made a rule that the oldest boys, whenever they answered me, they had to say, yes, mother, most beautiful of women.It was hilarious. It went on for a year. For a year, every time I said, boys, go do this, yes, mother, most beautiful of women. I tell you what, it was kind of a joke, but it filled my tank, and it made me—it just really did. It filled my heart.Sometimes a silly game—sometimes just take the stress and anxiety and horribleness out of it, and just try to be fun, and create some silly ways that you can maybe communicate things that you need to hear, or that your kid needs to hear.It was very funny, but it was at a really hard time in life for me, and I really needed positive words. It was such a great season that the kids answered me that way, and they would do it at church, they would do it at the store. It was very, very entertaining, and it just became a fun little habit. Sometimes you can be creative, and you can fill your own tank in ways that maybe just are silly and cute.Building Community That Fills Your TankAmber: I have a book, Six Keys to Your Homeschooling Success, and one of the chapters is about community, and building community. I really think that in seasons where we are the sole person at home with our kids, and carrying the responsibility of homeschooling, we need support.It's really, really important to find people that are maybe in your same life area, people that you can talk to, and people that can support you, and also people who can reflect back to you the same situations or what's going on.I have probably changed friends groups 3 times. My early friends who had kids that were my oldest kids' ages stopped having kids. Then we kind of outgrew those friendships, because then I had a whole bunch of little kids again, so we made some new friends.Each time that we have come to a place where I had a different set of needs, and I had a different set of situations that I was dealing with—when I moved to having high schoolers, our church had closed. We really forcibly lost our community because we were a very rural church, and so when it closed, all of those people lived 70 miles outside of our circle.I remember hitting a place where it was about a year that we didn't go to church because we were kind of in a place where we weren't sure where we wanted to go. I remember just telling my husband, I need people. I'm gonna find somewhere, because I have high schoolers, I am in the middle of just all of these things, and I need support.I think it's really good for us to kind of maybe evaluate and say, where do I need support? If that's joining a women's group, if that's getting involved in your church community, if that's joining a homeschool co-op, wherever it is that you can maybe find a place that fills your tank.Even if that's something outside. I started blogging and writing because that was one of the things I really wanted to do. I wanted to be a writer when I grow up. Working with other writers and bloggers—something that filled my tank so that then when I had to give out and homeschool and do all those things, I had some things that I looked forward to.In whatever capacity that is, looking at somewhere that fills your tank and can kind of give back to you, but I think in building community, it's one of the best places where you can get human interaction that feeds your soul and fills you up.I love that story with your kids. We should have fun together as a family. You do need to fill your tank. I also think sometimes when I write down things that I'm grateful for, that actually lowers my stress and gives me peace and joy, because it's like, get your mind off your problems and get it on to God.Laughing and having fun together—when you just have that really deep belly laugh, it just feels so good. Find ways to add some fun to your family, even if you're a really serious, somber person. Everyone needs to laugh as well.We do have different seasons of life. You might need to find some new people. You want to find people that will encourage you in your season of wherever you are right now.Speaking Life Over Strong-Willed ChildrenI know you also mentioned how gratitude changed your relationships with your kids. Is there anything that you could say about gratitude, about how maybe it changed your marriage, your relationships with your kids, or maybe even the way that you homeschooled?Amber: One of the ways that gratitude has really helped me in my relationship with my kids—I am not a controlling person, and I'm a pretty mellow, even-keeled person. I have some intensely control-oriented children. That can be a conflict, and it can be really hard.There are personality things that we have to resolve as homeschooling mothers that can feel all-consuming, and can feel really difficult. I remember going through a really difficult time with my oldest daughter. It was hard, and her personality is very different than mine, and it can feel personal.When you're dealing with a child who just doesn't think like you think, and maybe challenges you and your parenting, it can feel like they're out to hurt you. That's just because our mother hearts are tender. We want to love our kids, we want to do best by them, and so when things are hard, that can be really difficult.I remember going to my best friend, and I was just complaining. I just needed somebody to hear me. I remember she just kind of called me out, and said, hey, you know what? I'm hearing the words that you're saying about your daughter, and what a brave, beautiful friend to say this. She just said, I think that you should really think about the words that you're speaking, and maybe look at that and see if you could speak life over your situation.For half a second, I was deeply offended, because your friend should hear you, and should hear your heart, and let you complain, but you know what? God bless that she loved me so much that she called my attention to that. I was being really negative, and in my negativity, I was being defeated about that situation. I was really giving up my power and claiming that I was powerless.In that check that she gave me, I really became intentional and started to speak life over my daughter. Even though she was very strong-willed, I just said, you know what? God made this child this strong-willed. That means that he has a purpose for her that is so great that she needs all of this tenacity to be able to accomplish that.If I destroy that, she will never be able to do what God has called her to do. My job as her mother and the person who's helping her hone these skills and talents is to help her use this power well. I started being like, I'm a partner with God in helping this child create her purpose.I just started to speak life over her, and I think that is gratitude. When we can look at a situation and step back and call out what is true and what is real, because we know who God created us to be, we know who God called our children to be, and speak life.That was just one of the ways, and that really was a turning point in our relationship. As I began speaking life over her, we went from screaming at each other in the living room. It was a hard season. Now, she's 25, and I will say that child is my best friend.All of her siblings are kind of shocked that we are so closely knit together, but we did the work. We worked really hard on our relationship, and really worked on being grateful and kind and forgiving and grace-filled to one another, even in difficult situations.Sometimes stepping outside of what you see and just shaping your view of your family, your view of your situation—sometimes husbands can be frustrating. They live in a different world, and they come home with different mindsets and different things that they've got on their mind, and so we can battle, but also we can step back, and we can be like, you know what, I'm so thankful for the things that my husband does so that I can be here in this place and in this position I am now. We're a team.I think gratitude kind of puts us back on the same level again and gives us a heart where, hey, we're equals in this place. Sometimes my husband and I will sit in bed at night, and we just talk about when we first met, or the funny things that brought us together. I think that's one of the ways that we practice gratitude, is by remembering all of the ways we've succeeded, and all of the hard things we've gone through.I think it's important in our relationships to remember the struggles and the difficulties and the overcoming, so that we can get back to this place where our hearts are knit together and we're on the same team.The Power of WordsWords are so important. Words can cut you down, but they can build you up. Too often, I can get really negative and start saying things, even about—I love my children, but they could do something that sort of grinds on me.I have a statistic—something like, kids hear 300-something negative words a day and 17 positive. That applies to probably our marriages, our kids. We need to—you don't do false positive words. You don't just say good things to say them. You need to speak truth to them and speak life.Words are so effective, and even if they aren't acting like it, you can speak the truth of who they are. Like, you're a strong-willed child. God's got things in her life that she's got to be strong. My mom would have told you I'm a strong-willed child, too, and my husband would say I was stubborn.Yet, that stubbornness can be used to be faithful for years and years and years, despite bad things going on in our family and our lives. Use even things that grind on you—speak life to them, and really focus on speaking truth, and building them up, and noticing. You gotta pay attention to when they're actually doing something that you can praise them for as well.The other word you used was forgiveness. We were talking about this at Bible study, because we were going through Ephesians 5 on husbands and wives. We need to forgive, and they're going to get on our nerves. Forgive and go on and let God take care of that. He's the only one that can change anyone.Six Keys to Homeschooling SuccessYou mentioned your book, Six Keys to Homeschooling Success. Can you tell people a little bit more about that, and where they could get it if they're interested?Amber: Actually, it started off as a course, and so I have a full course online that basically helps parents build their own roadmap, because I think so many people are trying to fit themselves into homeschooling, and trying to fit a model or the school.I think if we step back and really ask some deeper questions, we can personalize our homeschool to fit, A, our goals, but B, our kids' needs the best way. It started as a course, but then I thought, you know what, I need this to be accessible to people in a broader sense.We took it to Kindle KDP, and now it's available on Amazon as well. It's the 6 Keys to Your Successful Homeschool Year. I just wanted every parent to have access to ask the right questions before they start.It's just a course and a guided journal in the back, and it asks questions each week. As you answer those questions, you build a roadmap for you. I remember reading online, somebody asked the question, hey, I'm in a homeschool, what curriculum should I use?I just thought, that is a crazy question. Anybody who answers that question to you right now is doing you a disservice. There are a whole bunch of questions that we should ask before that, so that you know exactly what you want.I think if we could help parents ask better questions, then they know exactly what they're looking for, and I want people to start their homeschool year knowing exactly what they're looking for and what they want to accomplish.I have a ton of articles and things, 200 Fingers and Toes, because I had 200 fingers and toes to clean up after for a lot of years. One thing that people always remembered about me was that I had 10 kids, so I thought, I'm gonna capitalize on this.The blog is 200 Fingers and Toes, and there we have probably 300 articles that are reviews, devotionals, curriculum ideas, and just life situations that we've shared about what our homeschool looks like, and maybe problems that we've overcome. You can search by topic, you can search by questions. We've done graduations and college prep, and just lots of things that we've covered over all the years that we've been homeschooling. Just a resource to get information and answer questions.You make a good point, because you need to do what's best for your family, not the family next door. Amber has 10 kids. Maybe you live in downtown Chicago and have one kid in a high-rise. Your homeschool will definitely look different than Amber's.For you to say, what's the best third grade curriculum, you need to use some of these questions that Amber is providing for you, because you need to find out what's best for you, your children, your family in this season of time, and it may change.

Ah, love is in the air… and so is a ton of dust. This week, we're recapping The Wedding — the much-anticipated union of Mary Ingalls and Adam Kendall! But before they can say “I do,” they have to say, “Susan!? I'm here!!” thanks to the most dramatic windstorm this side of Walnut Grove. That's right, the very “Sandstorm” that inspired Pamela to create “Livin' On a Prairie”!But hold onto your bonnets, because while everyone's trying to see through the dirt and drama, Mary is fully sporting her French tip nails while searching for Susan, (the most annoying character in Little House history, according to Pamela). In this episode, we break down:Adam's wedding proposal—Sweet? Or terrible?Mary's hair - so many questions... Rev. Alden ain't got nothing on no Sandstorm! Nothing says “happily ever after” like saying ‘I do' in 60-mile-an-hour winds, so join us as we ride out this romantic whirlwind of Little House history. You'll find yourself shouting, "Susan?! I'm Here!" all day long.Then, join us on Patreon, where Pamela discusses how this episode inspired Livin' On a Prairie, and the Prairie journey that lead her to this podcast! (She may even do her Laura impression...)Join us in NYC! November 22nd at 1pmat GREEN ROOM 42Little House 50th Anniversary Podcast-LIVE!You can also LIVE STREAM this event!Grab your bonnets and buckle up, New York—because the prairie is coming to the city!  Expect behind-the-scenes stories from the beloved TV show, lots of laughs, audience questions, and maybe a surprise or two.  It's the kind of prairie mischief you get every week on the podcast—but you can be a part of it! So put on your lemon verbena, put down the morphine and hitch your wagon - Walnut Grove is moving to NYC for one night only! Can't be in NYC? LIVESTREAM TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE and the link will last up to 30 days after the event!https://thegreenroom42.venuetix.com/Links and Resources:Haven't signed up for Patreon yet? Get more behind the scenes info and fun conversation we can't do on the podcast...PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/LittleHousePodcastwww.LittleHouse50Podcast.com to connect with our hosts and link to their websites.www.LivinOnaPrairieTV.com  Check out the award-winning series created by Pamela Bob, with special guest stars Alison Arngrim and Charlotte Stewart.Prairie Legacy Productions - the place to go for info about all new Little House events!To learn more about Little House on the Prairie, Visit www.littlehouseontheprairie.comLittle House 50th Anniversary Bus Tours - www.SimiValleyChamber.org  select Little House 50th Anniversary and then Bus TicketsFacebook/Instagram/TikTok:Dean Butler @officialdeanbutlerAlison Arngrim @alisonarngrimPamela Bob @thepamelabob, @prairietvSocial Media Team: Joy Correa and Christine Nunez https://www.paclanticcreative.com/Producer: Tony Sweetwww.ubngo.comLHOP EventsThe Chocolate Expo - Lincoln, RI https://www.thechocolateexpo.comLive Podcast! Nov 22 from The Green Room 42 in NYCLittle House on the Prairie Cast Reunion -- Dec 12-14, Simi Valley, CAhttps://www.littlehouseontheprairiecastreunions.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/little-house-on-the-prairie-50th-anniversary-podcast--6055242/support.

Welcome back, dear listeners! Tonight continue with another chapter from The Long Winter  by Laura Ingalls Wilder . This story takes us back to the prairie with Laura and her family as they face one of the hardest winters they've ever known. Many of you have written to me requesting this next book in the series, and I'm so delighted to finally share it with you.Just a gentle reminder that if you'd like access to all the full-length audiobooks from the Little House series as they're completed, you can join Drift Off Premium.So snuggle in, get comfortable, and let the gentle rhythm of this timeless story carry you into a place of peace and rest. Sweet dreams, Joanne xoMusic in this episode is "Forest Spring' by Aiyo via Epidemic SoundMy new audiobook Tales to Help You Sleep is now available on Audible! US  ➜ Click hereCA  ➜ Click hereUK  ➜ Click hereAU  ➜ Click hereAlready an Audible member? Just add it to your library.New to Audible? Start your free trial with my book as your first listen and help support the podcast!If you decide to purchase through this link, I do receive a small benefit at no extra cost to you. It truly helps me continue sharing these bedtime stories, and I'm so grateful for your support. My Drift Off Dreams Coloring Book is now available on Amazon!  With 33 soothing illustrations, it's a cozy way to find calm at the end of the day. Find your copy here: https://mybook.to/DriftOffDreamsDrift Off Premium — Sweet Dreams Await Support an ad-free podcast for everyone Weekly bonus bedtime stories to enrich your sleep routine Exclusive early access to one new episode each month Full-length audiobooks for sleep to calm your mind and help you drift off Available on Apple Podcasts and Supercast *Subscribe on Apple Podcasts from the show page, or visit driftoff.supercast.com to join through Supercast. Did you know you can also listen to my regular bedtime stories on Insight Timer for free? It's a peaceful space for rest and relaxation. Also, for just $9.99/month, you'll get access to my premium stories plus meditations, music, and live sessions from other amazing teachers. Come curl up in this cozy corner of calm, where sweet dreams are always waiting. https://insighttimer.com/relaxforawhile Oh… and be sure to drift over to the podcast website to see what cozy wonders await you! https://www.driftoffpodcast.com

Today on another encore episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to guest Radames Pera on part two of our conversation about growing up a child actor to actress Lisa Pera. Like episode one of our conversation last week, we dig into some really intense and really dark places that have to be heard to be believed. As the young Grasshopper on the 70s TV show Kung Fu to an eventual, genuine teen heartthrob thanks to his role as John Jr. on Little House on the Prairie, we learn on this episode that all that glitters is not gold. On this episode we get a deep dive into the aforementioned Coogan's Law that was put on the books in 1939 so that child actors were protected by law from parents benefiting financially from their career. Or so we are told. Laws are only good when enforced and Radames lays out the intense, jaw-dropping details of how the law failed him by his very own mother. We also learn of Radames' mother, actress Lisa Pera hoarding disorder in her later years that was so bad, Radames felt the need to document it on YouTube. And while we discuss this in depth, the videos are hard to watch. Moreover, the home in the videos is the one Radamas grew up in. It's a tough watch. This episode has layers upon layers of really difficult emotions that we tackle only through the honesty and genuine candor of our guest. This one is a rough one and one for the ages. This is the Rarified Heir Podcast and everyone has a story.

Award-winning novelist Shobha Rao joins Saadia Khan to talk about the stories that define and defy us. In this wide-ranging conversation, Shobha reflects on immigrating to the U.S. at age seven, learning English through Little House on the Prairie, and how the quiet of her first snowfall changed her forever. Her latest book, Indian Country, connects the legacies of British colonialism and American expansion while weaving a tender meditation on marriage, identity, and the longing for home. Shobha shares how failure shaped her writing, why language can both limit and liberate, and what “mutating through love” truly means. Join us as we create new intellectual engagement for our audience. You can find more information at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://immigrantlypod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Please share the love and leave us a review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠to help more people find us!  You can connect with Saadia on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG ⁠⁠@itssaadiak⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠saadia@immigrantlypod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Host & Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Lou Raskin I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson | Other Music: Epidemic Sound Immigrantly Podcast is an Immigrantly Media Production. For advertising inquiries, contact us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠info@immigrantlypod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Don't forget to subscribe to ⁠⁠Immigrantly Uninterrupted⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for insightful podcasts. Follow us on social media for updates and behind-the-scenes content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aimee returns to the podcast and helps Mark discuss this unforgettable episode. I Hope you enjoy it! “Pregnancy symptoms hit both Laura and her mother Caroline. Caroline, after bearing four daughters, really wants a son. But when it turns out Caroline is not pregnant at all, but is beginning menopause, she sinks into a deep depression. Her husband and daughters desperately try to convince her that they love her for the person she is, not for the person she wanted to be. Finally, Charles proposes that he and Caroline renew their wedding vows.” I Do, Again originally aired on March 2, 1981 The opening song “Albert” is written and performed by the amazing Norwegian band, Project Brundlefly and is used with permission. Check them out at: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectBrundlefly Become a Patron! The post Revisiting I Do, Again first appeared on The Little House on the Prairie Podcast: Walnut GroveCast.

Boo! It's Halloween in Walnut Grove, and Laura's seen… something horrifying. Or so she thinks. This week, Dean, Alison and Pamela slice into the legendary (and hilariously gory) “Monster of Walnut Grove” — the closest thing Little House ever got to a horror movie!Laura's convinced she's witnessed Nels Oleson chop off Harriet's head — (you know, the usual small-town drama) -- and she goes full prairie panic. She's up all night with nightmares, haunted by visions of poor Harriet's severed head. With the help of her BFF, Carl, they share this dark secret--until Nellie and Willie get involved.Meanwhile, Nels has no idea that Laura thinks he is a decapitating murderer. Spoiler alert — he isn't. It wasn't Harriet's head. It was a new (and terrifying) mannequin for the store.Alison dishes on the behind-the-scenes madness in filming this episode, from Jonathan Gilbert, Richard Bull and Michael Landon.So grab your pumpkin spice coffee, settle in by the flickering lantern light, and get ready for a howling good time on the prairie.Spoiler alert: No Harriets were harmed in the making of this episode.Then, join us on Patreon, where Alison and Dean take a deep dive into all things Michael Landon, in honor of what would have been his 89th birthday this Halloween.Links and Resources:Haven't signed up for Patreon yet? Get more behind the scenes info and fun conversation we can't do on the podcast...PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/LittleHousePodcastJoin us in NYC! November 22nd at 1pmat GREEN ROOM 42Little House 50th Anniversary Podcast-LIVE!You can also LIVE STREAM this event!Grab your bonnets and buckle up, New York—because the prairie is coming to the city!  Expect behind-the-scenes stories from the beloved TV show, lots of laughs, audience questions, and maybe a surprise or two.  It's the kind of prairie mischief you get every week on the podcast—but you can be a part of it! So put on your lemon verbena, put down the morphine and hitch your wagon - Walnut Grove is moving to NYC for one night only! Can't be in NYC? LIVESTREAM TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE!https://thegreenroom42.venuetix.com/www.LittleHouse50Podcast.com to connect with our hosts and link to their websites.www.LivinOnaPrairieTV.com  Check out the award-winning series created by Pamela Bob, with special guest stars Alison Arngrim and Charlotte Stewart.Prairie Legacy Productions - the place to go for info about all new Little House events!To learn more about Little House on the Prairie, Visit www.littlehouseontheprairie.comLittle House 50th Anniversary Bus Tours - www.SimiValleyChamber.org  select Little House 50th Anniversary and then Bus TicketsFacebook/Instagram/TikTok:Dean Butler @officialdeanbutlerAlison Arngrim @alisonarngrimPamela Bob @thepamelabob, @prairietvSocial Media Team: Joy Correa and Christine Nunez https://www.paclanticcreative.com/Producer: Tony Sweetwww.ubngo.comLHOP EventsThe Chocolate Expo - Lincoln, RI https://www.thechocolateexpo.comLive Podcast! Nov 22 from The Green Room 42 in NYCLittle House on the Prairie Cast Reunion -- Dec 12-14, Simi Valley, CAhttps://www.littlehouseontheprairiecastreunions.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/little-house-on-the-prairie-50th-anniversary-podcast--6055242/support.

Welcome back, dear listeners! Tonight continue with another chapter from The Long Winter  by Laura Ingalls Wilder . This story takes us back to the prairie with Laura and her family as they face one of the hardest winters they've ever known. Many of you have written to me requesting this next book in the series, and I'm so delighted to finally share it with you.Just a gentle reminder that if you'd like access to all the full-length audiobooks from the Little House series as they're completed, you can join Drift Off Premium.So snuggle in, get comfortable, and let the gentle rhythm of this timeless story carry you into a place of peace and rest. I'll be reading Chapter 1 tonight, the beginning of our journey through this unforgettable season with the Ingalls family.Sweet dreams, Joanne xoMusic in this episode is "Forest Spring' by Aiyo via Epidemic SoundMy new audiobook Tales to Help You Sleep is now available on Audible! US  ➜ Click hereCA  ➜ Click hereUK  ➜ Click hereAU  ➜ Click hereAlready an Audible member? Just add it to your library.New to Audible? Start your free trial with my book as your first listen and help support the podcast!If you decide to purchase through this link, I do receive a small benefit at no extra cost to you. It truly helps me continue sharing these bedtime stories, and I'm so grateful for your support. My Drift Off Dreams Coloring Book is now available on Amazon!  With 33 soothing illustrations, it's a cozy way to find calm at the end of the day. Find your copy here: https://mybook.to/DriftOffDreamsDrift Off Premium — Sweet Dreams Await Support an ad-free podcast for everyone Weekly bonus bedtime stories to enrich your sleep routine Exclusive early access to one new episode each month Full-length audiobooks for sleep to calm your mind and help you drift off Available on Apple Podcasts and Supercast *Subscribe on Apple Podcasts from the show page, or visit driftoff.supercast.com to join through Supercast. Did you know you can also listen to my regular bedtime stories on Insight Timer for free? It's a peaceful space for rest and relaxation. Also, for just $9.99/month, you'll get access to my premium stories plus meditations, music, and live sessions from other amazing teachers. Come curl up in this cozy corner of calm, where sweet dreams are always waiting. https://insighttimer.com/relaxforawhile Oh… and be sure to drift over to the podcast website to see what cozy wonders await you! https://www.driftoffpodcast.com

Today on another encore episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are bringing you part one of our conversation with former child actor Radames Pera, best known for his roles on shows like Kung-Fu and Little House on the Prairie. We had to split this episode into two episodes because there as so much more than we bargained for when we sat down to record this episode. Somehow in addition to covering Radames' career, we got into spin art, the Coogan Law, punk rock, fitting in at school and so much more. Part of that so much more involved his mother Lisa Pera whose acting career involved TV shows like Get Smart, Perry Mason, Hawaii 5-0 and many, many more. We discuss what it was like being raised in a Hollywood apartment by a young, single mother who was too emotionally mixed up from her own time as one of the many victims of being a Ukrainian – Russian in Nazi Germany during WWII. It's so unreal, it's hard to believe it's not more well known or talked about 70+ years later. And somehow, this is just the beginning of Radames tale because there is an entirely different story in part two of the podcast as well. What starts as a story about seemingly idyllic roles as John Jr. and a young Caine that found Pera on the cover of teen magazines as a heartthrob for years turns very dark, very fast. It's emotionally honest and brutally so. Take a listen to this episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast. Everyone has a story. But not like this one.

Nels & Mollie Sitting in a Tree (K-I-S-S-I-N-G… sorta) Hold onto your bonnets, folks—Nels Oleson is LIVING. HIS. BEST. LIFE.This week, we dive into Season 6's “Second Spring,” aka the midlife crisis episode we didn't know we needed. Nels finally gets fed up with Harriet, Nellie, and Willy's constant harping and dinner demands, and decides it's time to take a little “business trip” … and maybe find himself a little happiness while he's at it.Cut to: Nels, free at last, living his prairie bachelor fantasy at a charming boarding house run by Mollie — a sweet Irish beauty with a soft brogue, a warm heart, and the kind of kindness Harriet wouldn't recognize if it smacked her with a bonnet. Suddenly, Nels is smiling again, cracking jokes, and looking suspiciously like a man who's discovered the meaning of life (and maybe love) over a cup of tea.Meanwhile, back in Walnut Grove, Harriet realizes something terrifying: Nels might actually not come back. Cue full panic mode. It's possibly the most begrudging display of vulnerability ever committed to frontier television.Will Nels leave his life for Mollie's kindness and her lilting accent? Or will Harriet's last-ditch charm offensive win him back? Either way, the Olesons are serving up one of the wildest emotional rollercoasters this side of Plum Creek. (Is it just me or are we kind of rooting for Team Nels & Mollie?)Tune in as we unpack this one, and celebrate the fact that—for one glorious episode—Nels Oleson said “I choose me.”Then, join us on Patreon where Dean and Alison talk all things Richard Bull!Links and Resources:Haven't signed up for Patreon yet? Get more behind the scenes info and fun conversation we can't do on the podcast...PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/LittleHousePodcastJoin us in NYC! November 22nd at 1pmat GREEN ROOM 42Little House 50th Anniversary Podcast-LIVE! You can also LIVE STREAM this event!Grab your bonnets and buckle up, New York—because the prairie is coming to the city!  Expect behind-the-scenes stories from the beloved TV show, lots of laughs, audience questions, and maybe a surprise or two.  It's the kind of prairie mischief you get every week on the podcast—but you can be a part of it! So put on your lemon verbena, put down the morphine and hitch your wagon - Walnut Grove is moving to NYC for one night only! Can't be in NYC? LIVESTREAM TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE!https://thegreenroom42.venuetix.com/www.LittleHouse50Podcast.com to connect with our hosts and link to their websites.www.LivinOnaPrairieTV.com  Check out the award-winning series created by Pamela Bob, with special guest stars Alison Arngrim and Charlotte Stewart.Prairie Legacy Productions - the place to go for info about all new Little House events!To learn more about Little House on the Prairie, Visit www.littlehouseontheprairie.comLittle House 50th Anniversary Bus Tours - www.SimiValleyChamber.org  select Little House 50th Anniversary and then Bus TicketsFacebook/Instagram/TikTok:Dean Butler @officialdeanbutlerAlison Arngrim @alisonarngrimPamela Bob @thepamelabob, @prairietvSocial Media Team: Joy Correa and Christine Nunez Social Media Team: Joy Correa and Christine Nunez https://www.paclanticcreative.com/Producer: Tony SweetLHOP EventsThe Chocolate Expo - Lincoln, RI https://www.thechocolateexpo.comLive Podcast! Nov 22 from The Green Room 42 in NYCLittle House on the Prairie Cast Reunion -- Dec 12-14, Simi Valley, CAhttps://www.littlehouseontheprairiecastreunions.com/www.ubngo.comhttps://www.paclanticcreative.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/little-house-on-the-prairie-50th-anniversary-podcast--6055242/support.

Cheyenne returns to the podcast and helps Mark discuss this unforgettable episode. I Hope you enjoy it! “Laura Ingalls is stunned to learn that her amiable fishing friend is none other than Walnut Grove’s new banker, miserly Ebenezer Sprague, and heartbroken when he accuses her of becoming his friend to secure a loan for her family.” Ebenezer Sprague originally aired on September 24, 1975 The opening song “Albert” is written and performed by the amazing Norwegian band, Project Brundlefly and is used with permission. Check them out at: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectBrundlefly Become a Patron! The post Revisiting Ebenezer Sprague first appeared on The Little House on the Prairie Podcast: Walnut GroveCast.

273. Wise Living: Why to Get Outside and Travel and Read Aloud with Amber O'Neal Johnston   “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 NIV   *Transcription Below*   Amber O'Neal Johnston is an author, speaker, and Charlotte Mason homeschooling mom who blends life-giving books and a culturally rich environment for her four children and others seeking to do the same. She recommends we offer children opportunities to see themselves and others reflected in their lessons, especially throughout their books, and she's known for sharing literary “mirrors and windows” on HeritageMom.com and @heritagemomblog. Amber is also the author of Soul School: Taking Kids on a Joy-Filled Journey Through the Heart of Black American Culture and A Place to Belong, a guide for families of all backgrounds on raising kids to celebrate their heritage, community, and the world.   www.HeritageMom.com www.SoulSchoolBook.com www.APlaceToBelongBook.com www.instagram.com/heritagemomblog www.facebook.com/heritagemomblog   Thank You to Our Sponsor:  Sam Leman Eureka   Questions that We Discussed: Looking back, what would you say has helped to shape your children's character the most? What have you learned about the importance of getting our kids (and ourselves) out into nature? How do you actually make time to be a content creator and to also homeschool and travel and host?   Other Related Episodes from The Savvy Sauce: 53 Practical Life Tips with Blogger, Rach Kincaid 57 Implementing Bite-Size Habits That Will Change Your Life with Author, Blogger, Podcaster, and Speaker, Kat Lee 82 Traveling with Your Family with Katie Mueller 84 Ordering Your Priorities with Kat Lee 103 Making Family Memories with Jessica Smartt 200 Planting Seeds of Faith in Our Children with Courtney DeFeo 204 Charlotte Mason Inspired Mini-Series: A Delectable Education with Emily Kiser 207 Cultivating Character in Our Children with Cynthia Yanof 212 School Series: Benefits of Homeschooling with Jodi Mockabee 253 Low Tech Parenting with Erin Loechner   Connect with The Savvy Sauce Our Website, Instagram or Facebook    Please help us out by sharing this episode with a friend, leaving a 5-star rating and review, and subscribing to this podcast!   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 – 0:09)   Laura Dugger: (0:11 - 2:01) 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.   The principles of honesty and integrity that Sam Leman founded his business on continue today over 55 years later at Sam Leman Chevrolet Inc. in Eureka. Owned and operated by the Burchie family, Sam Leman's in Eureka appreciates the support they've received from their customers all over central Illinois and beyond. Visit them today at LehmanGM.com.   Amber O'Neal Johnston is my fascinating guest for today. She's an author and speaker and coach and she's just chosen to live a very wise life as a wife and mother, and I think you're going to enjoy gleaning practical tips such as the benefits of getting our children out in nature regardless of their age. She has teens and makes this super practical for things that they would enjoy too, and she shares these incredible benefits of what happens when we simply step outdoors. She's also going to share approachable ways to introduce our family to great art and other cultures, and she gives us a fabulous book list, so, make sure you stay tuned through the end of the episode so that you can see some of the top books that she recommends. Finally, if you don't have a copy of her own latest release entitled Soul School, I highly recommend you purchase that today. Here's our chat.   Welcome to The Savvy Sauce, Amber.   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (2:02 - 2:04) Thank you so much. I'm so happy to be here.   Laura Dugger: (2:04 - 2:14) Well, I'd love for you just to start us off and introduce us to your family, and will you just share a glimpse of your values and lifestyle?   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (2:15 - 3:48) Absolutely. So, I live outside of Atlanta, Georgia with my husband Scott and our four children. We are just entering birthday season, but shortly they will be 16, 14, 12, and 10. The girls are the two oldest. The boys are the two youngest, and they've been homeschooled from the beginning, so, we're a homeschooling family. I'm originally from Illinois. My husband's originally from Ohio, but we met here in Atlanta at the High Museum of Art, which is really special. We are art loving, you know, fine arts loving, liberal arts loving family, and so, the idea that we met at the museum, I will just cherish that forever. I came to, before homeschooling, I was a stay-at-home mom, and prior to having children, I have an MBA, and I worked in corporate America in like marketing and advertising, and Scott comes from a similar background with the MBA, and he was doing work in that area too, so, we had that as a connection point, but I have always stayed home with the kids, and you know, our values are rooted in our Christian faith, and we're an African-American family, and so, we have values and cultural aspects that enter our home through that avenue as well. We are world travelers, so, we enjoy that as part of who we are, and I'm an author and a speaker, and I'm just a very happy homeschooler.   Laura Dugger: (3:48 - 4:12) I love that, and it sounds like such a rich and abundant life, and there's two little connections that I have to go back to. My husband and I had a date at that same museum. I love that you met your husband there. Oh wow, that's wild! And so, we met when we were in Atlanta, but live in Illinois now, so, which part of Illinois were you originally from?   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (4:12 - 4:33) I'm from Elgin, Illinois. It's out past O'Hare Airport, and I was born and raised there. My parents were both public school principals there. My dad was principal of Elgin High, and there's actually an elementary school, Ron O'Neal Elementary School in Elgin, named after my father, so, that is where I'm from.   Laura Dugger: (4:33 - 4:46) Wow, okay, so, then even with that piece, your father being a principal, and then you said you've homeschooled since the beginning. Did you always anticipate you would homeschool, or what was your journey into that?   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (4:47 - 7:15) Oh my gosh, never, and it's both of my parents were principals, so, that's wild. My grandfather was an elected school board official. My sister was an elected school board official, so, public school is just, you know, in my blood from the very beginning, and that's what I assumed I would do for my kids at first. Once Scott and I got married, and we had discussed it, we decided that I would stay home when they were little, and when they were old enough to go to school, I would go back to work, and my salary would pay for private Christian school tuition, and as the years, you know, months really came to fruition for my oldest, my husband started backpedaling, and he started talking this crazy talk about homeschooling. I'm like, that's a switcheroo for you. What are you talking about? I was like, that's weird. I don't want to do that. I don't feel called to do that. That does not seem like a comfortable space for me. I don't want my kids to endure that, and ultimately, I lacked confidence in that. I couldn't even articulate it. It felt scary, terrifying. Why would I take something so weighty into my own hands, and Scott was very persistent, and I can't even explain why he was so persistent about it, but I think to me, I feel like it was planted in him by the Lord, and he felt that this was the way he wanted to lead his family, and he did it so graciously because I was very resistant. He asked, would you please try it for one year, and if you are unhappy, you don't think it's right. I'll never ask you about it again, and that gave me a softer place to land where I felt like it wasn't signing up for a long-term commitment because I knew I was going to hate it, and I said, sure. I will do that, and oh, my gosh. It was the most amazing year, and I laugh now because my daughter was four, so, she's like four and turned five during that year, and so, she was so young, and people were like, well, what were you really doing, but I took it so seriously. I was doing all things, and I joined a homeschool support group, and I was reading about it, and I realized on Friday, I'm a stay-at-home mom, and on Monday, I took on this identity of a homeschooling mom, and it's just been a beautiful journey for us. I'm so thankful that the Lord led Scott in that way. He knew what was right, not just for our children, but for me, too, when I had no vision for it, and so, I'm just, you know, very grateful.   Laura Dugger: (7:16 - 7:30) I love that story. That's such an encouragement, and, okay, your oldest is turning 16, so, when you look back, what would you say has helped shape your children's character the most?   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (7:32 - 9:29) Well, I think the time that we've all had to spend together, like intense amounts of time, so, not just quality time or quantity time, but both, and I think that there's nothing else I could have done that could replace that, so, I think that's one of the things. I think my own acceptance of the divine nature of me being their mother and those being my children, and really that leading me to embrace my mother's intuition, which is something that I was hesitant for at first because there are so many experts, and surely they know so much more than me, and that's not to say that that's not important. I read so widely. I'm always reading expert ideas and views, but what I realized is that those things can help me as tools. They can mentor me, but they can't master me because the master has already appointed me as the perfect mom for these children, and nobody knows them, the little tiny details of them that nobody knows more than me, and so, when I leaned into that and I'm like, yeah, this says this online, this book said that, this thing says that, I can take what I can from those, but ultimately I feel the spirit telling me and leading me in this way with these children, and when I really leaned into that, I have a right to do that. I am their mother. That revolutionized things, and I think that's what's helped shape my children's character the most is my willingness to lean into how I'm led to lead them, and so, that's been a motherhood journey for me, and I hope that it's a legacy that I leave with my children.   Laura Dugger: (9:31 - 9:53) And do you have any specific stories that come to mind that were examples of that mother's intuition, something that really I think it is such a gift from the Lord and that the Holy Spirit speaks to us in some unique way as mothers to be in tune with our kids, so, is there a time that it really benefited them when you exercised your mother's intuition?   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (9:53 - 12:42) Well, there was one time with my third, my son, my oldest son, his name is Beckett, and he was in the high chair eating while I was braiding my daughter's hair, and I heard him start making like these really weird noises, and I looked over and it was like he was choking and gagging, and I run over, and but he seemed fine, but then he would do it again, and he started sweating, and you know today I really would say, you should call 9-1-1, but I didn't, I threw all the kids in the car, and I rushed to the ER, and when we got there he wasn't choking anymore, he wasn't sweating, they did his vitals and everything, and they said, well mom, whatever happened passed, he's fine, and you guys can go home, and I was like, no, he's not fine, I'm looking at him, he's not my little boy, his vitals are checking out, but he's not looking at me the way he normally looks at me, he's not interacting with me, the little funny things that I can make him smile all the time, he's not responding to them, and so, like, I know you have your tests, but like my, I'm telling you something's wrong with my little boy, so, they have a doctor, he comes in to tell me everything's fine, and he's sending me home, and so, I was like, well I'm not leaving, I'll just spend the night in the ER then with all my kids, because I know something's wrong, and the doctor, who's this older man, he turns to me, he looks me in my eyes, and he says, you know, in all my years of medical training, there's something that they never told us, but something I've learned throughout my career, never doubt a mother's intuition, and he said, we'll take him and run more tests, and they took Beckett back to run more tests, and they came back and said, you were right, he has swallowed a coin, and it's like just teetering on the precipice, and so, at times it was blocking his airway, and at times it was shifted a little bit, and we have to go in immediately and get it, and that could have choked him, if you had just gone home and put him down to bed, and so, in that story, I took away two things, one, that I am his mother, and I don't care what the test says, or what the data says, or what the news, or a book, at the end of the day, I knew that something was wrong with my boy, the other thing is the graciousness of that doctor, to see my humanity and my personhood beyond just the insurance payment, or protocol, or whatever, it let me know that like there's something powerful about letting other people know that you see them, and that you are connected to them, as another part of God's creation, like he respected me on that level, so.   Laura Dugger: (12:43 - 13:35) That is incredible, I'm so grateful that that story has a happy ending, and that you were assertive to say that, I think sometimes as women, probably especially as Christian women, we can think, oh I want to be nice, or not push back on somebody, but I love that you were assertive, it was what was in your child's best interest, and like you highlighted, that doctor's humility is admirable, but Amber, you mentioned too that you're a writer, and you contribute a lot to things like the Wild and Free bundles, and I was always struck by the way that you would be out in nature, and there's so much to learn, so, if you had to boil it down, what wisdom would you have to share from what you've learned about the importance of getting our kids and ourselves outdoors into nature?   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (13:36 - 16:49) Yeah, that's so funny, I love that you asked me that, because I like to tell people I was raised in the air conditioning, and so, there is no one who began motherhood further away from nature and being outdoors than me, like, and I can look back at those early days of like, I knew you could take your kids to the playground, and I did do that, but like what else would you do outside, you know, and people would be like, oh we went hiking on this trail, and I was like, where did you get on it, like where do you find a trailhead, like I mean this is back, like this is where I was coming from, and I was just like, and then what would we do, like we just walk, and do we talk about trees, I don't know any trees, I know Christmas trees are evergreens, you know, so, it was just like coming from this very like foundational place where I didn't know anything, but I believed, right, I believed, I somehow inherently believed when I read that being outdoors was important for children, so, I'm reading Charlotte Mason's work, and she's talking about nature study, I'm reading Last Child in the Woods by Louvre, and I'm hearing about this, he calls it a nature deficit disorder, and I'm reading all of these different kind of people who really respected childhood, and personhood, and really wanted the best for children, I'm reading a Christian perspective of the joy in connecting with God's creation, first and foremost, but also this idea of encouraging natural and authentic physical activity, running, climbing, balancing, exploring, developing coordination, and confidence, and the mental health components, you know, reducing stress, and improving mood, and not just for the kids, but my friend from A Thousand Hours Outside, she talks about how the first time she like took her kids out for the whole day, it was for her, because she was going crazy with these all these little kids, and the house, and the bags, and the diaper bag, and the snacks, and she didn't know what else to do, so, she just went outside, and how healing that was, and therapeutic that was for all of them, the idea of curiosity, of fueling curiosity, and creativity, I've never seen my kids come up with the most, I mean, they come up with imaginative things in our house, but outside, the, oh my goodness, the things they come up with, the things they create, and make, and the storytelling that comes out of that, and I think the family bonds, our experiences, it's another way of memory making, I mean, we make memories when we go see plays, and musicals, and travel as well, so, it's not the only way, but it's a strong way of that shared outdoor adventures, so, like a couple weeks ago, we were all whitewater rafting, it's funny, like a lot of funny things happen when you're out there doing crazy stuff, and so, we have a lot of laughter, and we have a lot of inside jokes that come from our time together, so, I think that all of those, it's not just one thing, it's one of those rare things where there are all the pros, and there really are no cons, and so, I intentionally embrace that for my family, even though it's everything that I didn't have growing up.   Laura Dugger: (16:50 - 17:41) Wow, that is so interesting, I love how books have really inspired you to make changes that have benefited your entire family, and I'm thinking back years ago when I was in grad school, studying marriage and family therapy, there was this book that we read, Letters to a Young Therapist, I believe the author is Mary Pipher, and she said something that I found to be very true in my life, she said, from childhood when we all look back, our memories typically boil down to three categories, one is family dinners around the table, the second is traveling with our family, and the third is anytime we were outdoors, and so, I'm wondering that legacy that you're giving your kids, they're going to have an abundance of memories in all three of those buckets.   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (17:42 - 18:29) Yeah, I love that, and I had never read that, it's making me want to go and read her work, but I can't agree more, I mean that's what I've seen anecdotally, at least in my family, and it's definitely been the case for us, I can totally see that, the other thing I love about outdoors too is it's free, you know, so, there have, we've had times of plenty and times of not quite enough financially throughout our journey, due to layoffs, and you know, recessions, and all these different things, but that has been one thing that the travel hasn't always been as consistent as we wanted, but the nature, the time outside has always been accessible, even during COVID, that was accessible to us, so, I love it for that too, but yeah, that's really cool.   Laura Dugger: (18:29 - 18:41) Absolutely, okay, so, you started with, you were getting some inspiration from different books and speakers, but then when did you actually implement this? Do you remember how old your kids were?   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (18:42 - 20:11) Right away, so, my oldest was like four, five years old, and we started going outside, now again, we had always been going to the park, so, they had been spending a lot of time outside, but I will say like that's like a very, you know, man-made structures, and you know, I can't think of it, like very cultivated space, so, we weren't spending time in uncultivated space until around there, so, maybe a four-year-old, two-year-old, and infant, and I know they started growing up in that way, and I had kids in an ergo on the back, and I remember hiking with a kid in an ergo on the front, and then snapped another one on the back, and you know, these are memories I have of being outdoors thoroughly by the time the boys were coming along, and I remember the story where we were at a creek, and I looked up for a moment, and just sheer panic that my little boy was gone, he wasn't in my eyesight anymore, and the girls were playing there, and I'm like, you know, and I look, and look, and look, and there's nothing, and no one, and all I can think you sees in the water, and I wasn't paying attention, and my heart's racing, and I'm like, girls, where's your brother? And my daughter says, mommy, he's sleeping on your back. And I'm like, oh my gosh, I just think, like, I was so tired during those years, and I just remember, I would just think, let's just go outside, and some days that's just the most I could come up with, but yeah, I was freaking out, and the little boy was sleeping on my back.   Laura Dugger: (20:12 - 21:50) And now a brief message from our sponsor.   Sam Leman Chevrolet in Eureka has been owned and operated by the Burchie family for over 25 years. A lot has changed in the car business since Sam and Stephen's grandfather, Sam Leman, opened his first Chevrolet dealership over 55 years ago.   If you visit their dealership today though, you'll find that not everything has changed. They still operate their dealership like their grandfather did, with honesty and integrity. Sam and Stephen understand that you have many different choices in where you buy or service your vehicle. 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What did you do outside?   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (21:51 - 24:13) So, we started with walking, and I also was very verbal about my, what I felt were my inadequacies with friends, and that's why, you know, I can't overemphasize the, I haven't brought that up yet, but the idea of community. You don't need a hundred friends, just a few people who either are doing the same thing as you, have done it, or know you personally so well. But I had a friend who was like this outdoor enthusiast, and I always admired her for that, and she'd be like, oh, I went to the hydrangeas, they're coming out today, and they're gonna bloom for four days, and you know, like, and she would be like, oh, do you want some wild blueberries? And I'd be looking at her with side eye, like, girl, I only eat blueberries from Publix, because how do I know that you know what you're doing? You know, those could be poisonous berries you identified wrong. So, we had this kind of ongoing thing, I just asked her, I was like, hey, could we go outside with you guys sometimes? And she was like, of course. So, our first hike was with her and her kids, and she showed me how to go outside and do nothing. Like, we didn't do anything, we just walked. And the kids let us, you know, they would stop and ponder things and ask questions, which she knew the answers to, but wouldn't answer. So, she was like, well, what do you think? Or that's something cool we can investigate, or whatever. So, I realized, wow, here's this expert naturalist who's not even using her expertise. I don't have any expertise, so I could do the same thing. Well, what do you think about that? So, the kids let us, we stopped when they stopped, we kept going when they kept going. We had plenty of water and snacks, which she had told me, which was important. And that was my first thing. It was a hike. And after that, I only went back to that place by myself with my kids without her, because that was the only trail I knew. I knew where to park and where to go, and I felt confident. And then lo and behold, I run into Charlotte Mason's work, where she talks about returning to the same place throughout the year, and having your kids compare what's happening their season to season. And so, different rationale for why I was doing that. But then I was like, look, there's beauty, even in the simplicity of me not knowing what else to do. So, that's kind of how we got into it. And then I started having more experience and going out and being more adventurous further away from home with my kids.   Laura Dugger: (24:14 - 24:24) Okay, so, then what other ways has it evolved? You mentioned whitewater rafting. So, you've got teens now. What does your time outdoors look like in this phase?   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (24:25 - 26:02) So, lots of camping. So, you know, Memorial Day weekend, you know, we were camping in yurts with friends. This past weekend, we camped, we had a big Juneteenth celebration, and then we went camping for Juneteenth weekend. And so, I would say that kayaking, paddle boards, we have paddle boards, we take out fishing, I hate fishing personally, don't like it at all. But two of my kids enjoy fishing. So, I'm there for that. I'll just bring a book or whatever, because it's quite boring to me, but they love it. So, we moved. I mean, how much of a commitment is that we moved to a different house, when we were able to have our whole property is forest floor. So, it's completely shaded and intertwined with trees and plants and a kind of wild scape. And across the road is a lake where the boys can fish and I can call their names for lunch and they can hear me now. I have to yell it loud. It's kind of country. Other people probably like what is going on? I'm like, you know, but they can hear me right there. And so, the creek and just really everything. A lot, a lot of hiking, I will say we live near a mountain and we're in Georgia. So, the North Georgia mountains are not far from us. We have Appalachia or Appalachia, as my friend said, I mispronounce it. And yeah, there's nothing that isn't my one of my first dates with Scott was whitewater rafting. So, we've always kind of embraced that.   Laura Dugger: (26:03 - 26:37) Oh, that's a special way to tie in a married couple memory with your kids and get to pass that along. And water and mountains, those things are, they never get old. But I've heard others even say like, you don't have to take stuff other than water and snacks, like you mentioned, to go outside. But I like the practical tips that sometimes people take art supplies, and they can nature journal or a book to read aloud. Do you have any other practical tips like that, that you would encourage if somebody wanted to get started with this lifestyle?   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (26:38 - 28:47) Yeah, I would say, um, we, okay, the best thing I can say is to just try it like I think that oftentimes I know my I'm like this, you want to try to be an expert at something before you actually put it into practice. And the point is, like, we're looking at someone's work or something that they're doing after years that they've been in practice. And then we're expecting to do that from the very beginning. And until we get there, we don't want to do it. So, for example, nature study, nature journaling, I always admired nature journaling. But when you look at people's nature journals that they people who are willing to share, there's usually a reason they're willing to share theirs because it looks beautiful. And mine didn't also look beautiful. But I was still willing to give it a try. And I love that. And I love my kids, what they've worked on. And I cherish all of our early beginning sketches. And quite honestly, I'm still not great. But I think having tools like watercolor pens and water pens where we can do watercolor on the go. And we've done many pictures out by the side of the creek on picnic blankets, especially like my older children while younger people are like, What do I do with these little ones like water, you know, like they love that splashing, making sandcastles and things while I'm painting or doing things watercolors with the with the older ones. And were they museum worthy? No. But there was a lot of enjoyment involved in a skill-based learning. So, I think asking questions and inquiry, using pictures, sure and painting, but also keeping track of things the the date that our cherry blossoms bloom, and our white cherry blossom blooms before the pink one every year and keeping track of that or paying trying to map all of the vegetation in our yard like we are, you know, know which trees what they're called where they come from that takes time. And those are things we've done. It's not like we're only just sitting there barefoot grounding ourselves and forest bathing. You know, we're out there learning as well. And I think that, you know, both are beautiful ways to enter into that.   Laura Dugger: (28:48 - 29:34) I love it. There's so many benefits. And you even mention grounding that helps so much going barefoot with inflammation and different body systems that are reset even by getting out and getting early morning light and the serotonin that's produced that turns into melatonin at night. So, we're happier in the day and sleepier at night, resetting systems in our eyes and like healing our body in different ways to an even how much better outdoor air is for us than indoor air. The benefits just go on and on. So, would you have any to add that either your family has experienced personally, or you've learned about just benefits of getting outdoors?   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (29:34 - 31:29) Yeah, I think that one, even, you know, all the things you said, yes, and also the mental clarity. And that's why I don't like being time outdoors, being tied to a negative consequence for academic related behavior. So, the house across the road from ours, you know, I could say ironically, or just be like, God chose to gift us. It's a homeschooling family. They moved in a couple years ago, and they have some kids are some of our kids are similar ages. And our boys are just outside all the time together hours and hours and hours every single day. And I see the difference on days where the weather doesn't permit it or where one family or the other, you know, isn't available. There's a difference in terms of clarity and the work that's happening at the lesson table as well. And this came up, you know, my nephew, you know, they're not homeschooled, and his parents took him on a trip, which caused him to miss a day of school. And he missed an assignment that day, he didn't turn it in. And so, the school then when he got back to school punished him by keeping him indoors for recess. And I was helping, you know, my family craft a note that talks about two things. One, they punished a child for a decision the parents made. And that is grossly unfair, they should be talking to the parents about not missing school, if that's the important thing. And the second thing is, you took away the very thing that allows these children to have what they need to sit quietly and take in, you know, that that's not, that's not how you that's not an appropriate consequence. So, anyway, I feel that the mental clarity beyond the things I would have named the same things you already said, it would be the only other thing that I would bring in and why time outside actually helps us to achieve deeper and broader and more expansive learning when we are inside.   Laura Dugger: (31:29 - 31:54) That's good. And I love how you keep mentioning the piece of community that that's the best way to do this. So, regardless of somebody homeschools, or they don't, how can all of us actually prioritize this? And what's a good, healthy goal for getting started, even as specific as how much time outdoors, how many outdoors or how many days a week should we be outdoors?   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (31:55 - 33:01) Yeah, that's, it's so different for every family, I think that you should go just past the point of comfort, you know, for most of us. So, if the point of comfort for you is like 30 minutes a week, then you would start out like aim for an hour a week, you know, 20 minutes, three days, if you're already outside for, you know, 10 hours, a couple hours each day, you know, I would say, maybe shake it up with what you're doing and see what would it be like to go on a really long outdoor excursion on a Saturday, or to take a day off or something like that. So, I don't want to say an exact number, because we're all entering in at a different place. For me, if someone had told me to spend eight hours outside with my kids, when I was first starting, and I'm used to going to playground for 20 minutes, that would have been overwhelming. And I would have been like; there's no way I'm ever gonna do it. So, I think like, just taking it, like, where do I feel most comfortable? And how can I push myself just past that point would be a great place to start and kind of a nice place to always stay? Like, what's the next thing that we can do to lean further into this?   Laura Dugger: (33:02 - 33:15) That's really good, very wise counsel. And Amber, you've mentioned that your family loves to travel. So, will you share any adventures that you've had as a family with world schooling?   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (33:16 - 36:20) So, our goal, and it's just a fun thing, you know, I don't know if we'll totally do it, but I think we will, is to have children. So, for us, world schooling is where we're not on vacation, but we're actually deeply immersed in a learning stance in another country, another part of the world. And we're trying to do that on every continent, except Antarctica, before my oldest graduates. So, we have two continents left, we are going to be going to Asia in the fall. So, we'll be taking that one off of our list and for that particular feat. And then her senior year, we'll do Australia and hop over to New Zealand. That's the plan, if it's God's will for us to do that, that's what we would like to do, and that will complete our journey. And then we'll keep traveling, but that was just kind of a fun thing to help lead us, because there are so many places in the world to go, like how do you know? And so, that kind of helped us know, well, let's do this continent, let's do that continent. So, we took our first trip, we spent three months in South America, most of it spent in Bolivia. And I can tell you exactly the kids' ages, because my youngest turned two in Bolivia. So, they were two, four, six, and then one turned eight there. And so, that was, you know, diapers, I had a baby in diapers, a little one in diapers and still nursing when we went on our first trip. And I've never regretted that. People have said, why would you take kids so young? You know, they're not going to remember. And I think a couple thoughts. One, you'd be surprised, they do remember. They may not remember this artifact in some museum, but that's not what we spend most of our time doing. But they remember the people. And we've kept in touch with a lot of the people that we've met in these different countries. And we've even had visitors in our home, staying in our basement apartment that we met abroad. So, they do remember. They remember how things feel and taste more than they remember exactly, like historical markers and things like that. Also, I kind of compare it to like breastfeeding and nursing, like my kids, except for one little boy who held on way too long, but they don't remember that. But I believed that it was something good for them that was forming. It was helping to form who they were, not so much who they were personality wise, but their bodies as they were growing. And so, sometimes we do things that are foundational to our children's development, even if they don't have a conscious and direct memory of that thing. And that's how I see world travel. So, we've been to Europe, and we were in Greece when COVID hit. We were in the middle of a big trip there. So, we had the whole struggle to get back to the United States. We've been to West Africa, most spent in Ghana, England, France. We're going to Ethiopia this year. So, yeah, that's kind of, that's our thing.   Laura Dugger: (36:20 - 37:04) Wow. And those memories are incredible. Even let's say your children forget some of this, or if they're too young to remember all of it, you remember this and you get to share those stories with them and pass that along. I can't even imagine all of the learning that takes place from being immersed in those other cultures. But you also mentioned welcoming people into your basement apartment. So, you sound hospitable as a family. What does that actually look like? And I'm kind of going to throw two questions at you. What does that actually look like? And then both for world schooling and hospitality, what are tips for ways we can replicate that as well?   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (37:06 - 39:52) So, one thing that's important to me to always share about world schooling, I have a whole chapter about our world schooling adventures in my first book, but one important thing that I call out there is Eli Gerzen. He's the guy who came up with the word world schooling. And he says, you know, we don't even need a passport to do it. That world schooling is really learning from the world around you. It could be your local library. It could be the internet. It could be your neighbors. And so, while I use this more global term of world schooling, because that's just what we call it in our family, the truth of the matter is it's a way of seeing the world and seeing all the opportunity to make connections right where you're sitting. And people are like, oh, you guys have so much money. I can't do that. First of all, we don't have so much money. Like, for instance, we have one car, right? So, there are sacrifices that we make that other people may choose to spend their money in a different way. So, we definitely don't have a ton of money. But more importantly, I'm thinking, yeah, you're saying that you don't have money, but how much have you explored your county? Like, what do you know about the history of your county? And have you been to your local historical society? And have you really, you know, got in? Have you been to an old the oldest cemetery within driving distance of your home? Have you gotten a tour of it to hear the stories of who's there? Like, you can have that same inquiry and curiosity without ever leaving. So, I'll say that first. And in terms of the hospitality part, it's like an it's an intention, right? You have to like, decide that you're going to do that, because it's so much easier not to have people at first view, like, oh, my house is not clean, and blah, blah, blah. And people don't just stop by the way they used to stop by, like my grandparents' house, it was so fun staying there in the summer, because people just folks just came in and out all day, just they come calling is what they call it, they come calling. And even when we read Jane Austin, people leaving the call guard, you know, when they came to visit, and you weren't there, like, there was this idea that you didn't have to have an appointment. And now you do, you have to let someone know before you're coming. So, it's a choice to be vulnerable, if you want to be hospitable in that way that people will see your, you know, dirty bones of your house. And you know that you're not always presenting this, like really sanitized version of your family and your family life. And so, I think that's intentional decision to say it's more important to us to be with other people and let them in than it is for us to always sanitize everything before they get here. And I don't mean sanitizes and clean the house that too, but I mean sanitizes and everyone's behaving the way that I want them to behave in front of people and all of that as well.   Laura Dugger: (39:53 - 41:05) When was the first time you listened to an episode of The Savvy Sauce? How did you hear about our podcast? Did a friend share it with you? Will you be willing to be that friend now and text five other friends or post on your socials anything about The Savvy Sauce that you love? If you share your favorite episodes, that is how we continue to expand our reach and get the good news of Jesus Christ in more ears across the world. So, we need your help.   Another way to help us grow is to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts. Each of these suggestions will cost you less than a minute, but it will be a great benefit to us. Thank you so much for being willing to be generous with your time and share. We appreciate you.   Well, and I think it is a biblical command for all of us and it does bless the person or the people that we are hosting, but there are also rewards for us in the process. So, if you even just could think of one reward of a way that this hospitality has blessed your family, what would you say?   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (41:07 - 41:55) Well, I would say John chapter five, it says, you know, this verse we've all heard, "I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit apart from me, you can do nothing." So, you know, when we talk about hospitality, we spend a lot of time talking about what my family is doing for other people. But also, that means that my family is constantly in contact with other believers and other people who are helping us with our faith to helping us to remain connected to Jesus. And without that connection, we know that there's nothing that we can do, nothing of any spiritual significance. So, while I'm inviting those people into our lives, it also ensures that my family is not alone in what we're trying to do in our faith. So, like, that's one of a very easy benefit, I can say right off the top.   Laura Dugger: (41:56 - 42:18) Then that one is truly invaluable for our children to get to witness the way other people live out their faith, and it impacts each of us. But I'm also curious, how do you manage your time so that you can be a content creator, and you can homeschool and travel and cultivate these relationships?   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (42:20 - 46:08) So, first, let me say that it's not always easy. And there are seasons where I feel like I'm doing a really good job with that. And there are seasons where I feel like I'm not doing a good job. I always prioritize my family first. And so, during the seasons where I feel like I'm not doing a good job, it's very public. People can see I did not post on Instagram for a month, or I'm not speaking as much. They're finding it harder to find opportunities to hear me speak, or I have a long lull before books are published. Those are times where I've turned inward towards my family, where I felt like I didn't have the bandwidth for everything. And so, that's something I have to deal with on a constant basis, because I know that my business or my ministry is not as rich and robust as it could be. I have ideas for days. I have ideas and the ability to bring them to fruition. But I'm not willing to sacrifice the time that it takes to do those things in this season. Because even though I don't have little kids, I definitely have more time than I did when I had little kids. It's not even just time; it's more mind clarity as well. But I don't have as much time as people with little kids would think, because I want to be fully present, even for my teens. When they want to talk to me, I want to be talkable too. I want to be available to them. And we're going to places. We're doing things. They're busy. I'm busy. And I'm trying to prepare them for young adulthood. And that's just as time-consuming as trying to prepare my young children for the next stage of their development. So, I guess it's so messy. Oh my gosh, it's messy. It's chaotic. It's a little bit crazy. But in the center of it all, I really appreciate the opportunities I do have to do the things that help refuel, help me refuel. So, I'm a writer. So, writing isn't just about creating a book. It's that I get to create a book, but really it's about the process and how cathartic it is for me to sit in silence and wonder about things and be able to write them out. And oh, lo and behold, there's a publisher who is interested in publishing those things. But the real work for me is in the process of writing. Then when I come home from a coffee shop or I emerge from my room, I come back more enthusiastic about what it is we're working on and what we're doing. The other thing that I would share is that I don't do all of that stuff by myself. So, things that people don't, just like I say, I have one car and we travel the world, people are like, oh, okay, this is not what I thought. My husband does all the laundry, every piece of laundry in this house that the teens do their own, but all the laundry that's done, he does and has done for over a decade. So, that's a thing I have to say, because you might be picturing that I'm doing all of those things. Or when I wrote one of my books, I was struggling and Scott was like, how can I help you? And he was like, what if we get help to come in with the kids like a nanny or something a few hours a week? I'm like, no, that's the last thing I want somebody to touch. So, he's like, well, what is it? So, we hired a chef, and she would prepare all of our dinners according to like what I, how I like my family to eat and lots of whole foods and good things. And she would drop them off at our house. It was very expensive, but I used part of the money from the advance from the publisher to pay for that so that I could write the book. So, I think those are things that a lot of times people don't talk about, but I have support in place. I'm not super woman any more than anyone else.   Laura Dugger: (46:08 - 46:49) Oh, I appreciate that real picture and those creative ideas because as mothers, we don't just make goals for ourselves. Like you said, we have these dreams and ideas that we could put into practice, but we consider our relationships as well and how it will impact everyone. So, I love hearing practically how that plays out for you and the trade-offs that you've chosen to make. And I know that you and I also share a passion for reading aloud. So, if we could get really practical for a moment, what are some of your most recommended read aloud for families from a variety of age groups?   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (46:50 - 53:05) Well, I'm always ready for that question, but I have to say, it's almost asking me, which of my children are my favorite? It's so hard in so many ways, but for younger elementary, I picked three books that I think kind of help show how expansive I feel like I want my children's reading life to be. So, this book is called Indigo Dreaming, and it's a book about two girls, one's in North America and another one we can believe is off the coast of Africa. And they're both doing what they do in their own homes. And it's beautifully illustrated also, but they're both doing what they do in their own homes while wondering, is there another little girl in this world doing what I do, liking what I like? Well, indeed there is. And it's poetic and it has soft paintings. It's just stunning. And then another one is called The Magic Doll. It's a children's book inspired by African art. And in this book, the mother desperately wants to have a child, but she's dealing with infertility, and she turns to the use of an infertility doll. And what would I say about that? My family doesn't believe that, but it's a book that I read with my children because we were going to visit this culture. And I wanted to explain to them how we can respect something and learn about it even without adopting it. And that you can understand the yearning of a mother's heart to hold a child in her hand and the desperation that that could bring about. And I wanted them to know that we would see fertility dolls there and what they meant and things like that. And it's also beautifully illustrated, which is important to me. And then this one's just a fun book. It's called I Had a Favorite Dress, but as the dress starts getting too small, she cuts it and turns it into a skirt. And then it gets turned into this. And then the little, small piece gets turned into some socks. And then it's just a little scarf and snip, snip, sew, sew, pretty hair bow. And so, the same piece of fabric, this favorite dress she had, every time she can't use it in that way anymore, it gets moved and shifted. Into something else. And this book reminds me to just, you know, sometimes we share heavier topics with our children, even beautiful topics, but sometimes it's just joy. Like that's the whole purpose of the book is to smile and have fun. And I'll move more quickly for the older elementary books. I have this book called Schomburg. It's a nonfiction book about Arturo Schomburg and the man who built a library, which is now housed. His home library is now housed as part of the collection of the public library system in New York. And he collected books about all types of black and brown people. And it was considered one of the foremost library collections. So, as a book lover, I love that story. This one's called Heart and Soul. It's the story of America and African Americans with stunning illustrations by Kadir Nelson. So, I love visual art. I always say my family, we can't afford to buy the most exquisite art for our walls, but we have an exquisite art collection through our picture books that I've collected. And then the last one is for that group is John Henry by Julius Lester and Jerry Pinkney illustrations. So, those are two powerhouses of African American author and illustrator. Both have passed. And it is the tall tale of John Henry told in a way that you've never seen before. For older kids, like middle schoolers, I love this one Big Open Sky because it's about some black exodusters who are moving west. And it goes so well for families who love Little House on the Prairie. But, you know, Little House on the Prairie, in some ways, there's some instances that are a little disrespectful to Native Americans and black people. And this is like a redemptive story, not instead of but alongside of it to say that there were black people that were also moving westward and what was their journey. And it's written in verse, like, oh, my gosh, I can't even tell you enough about that. This book, The Angel Orphan, my friend Leah Bowden wrote this book, and it's the story of Charlotte Mason. So, in chapter book form. So, there's also a picture book that someone wrote, but this is a beautiful story about Charlotte Mason. And my family's all-time favorite on my kids read aloud is The Winged Feather Saga by Andrew Peterson. And that whole series, oh, my goodness, that cemented so much of our family lexicon, because it's filled with like made up words. And it I mean, we have jokes and talks and sayings for days coming out of that series. For our older teenagers, um, or even early elementary, early middle school and early teenage years, the Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is just like a such a classic, Mildred D. Taylor that many of us read. But she also wrote a young adult version where Cassie is entering young adulthood. So, different age audiences, but same author. And a lot of people haven't heard of the other book All the Days Past, All the Days to Come. So, for high school, I love that. And then I threw a couple things in for mama. I'm an epic story of called Homegoing about two sisters and the different paths their lives take during a time I'm part of it is told in Africa and part of its told in the United States. And the last book I have is this memoir, A Black Mother's Garden. It's called Soil. And she uses her actual real garden at her home to kind of give us this idea of life. And it's, it's, you know, it's, it's hard to explain, but it's her it's part memoir, part gardening, like learning and talking about the plants, but also how all of that can turn into kind of like the soil of your life and the people being plants, and she really focuses on wildflowers. So, it's a stunningly, like poignant and beautiful memoir. So, those are my favorite, you know, and now if you ask me tomorrow, you're going to get a different stack.   Laura Dugger: (53:07 - 53:27) I love it. What a gift to get to see all of those you and I share some of those favorites, and you've introduced me to some new ones. So, I'm very grateful and hope everybody listening feels the same. But speaking of books, you've authored more than one. But will you tell us about your most recent release entitled Soul School?   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (53:28 - 55:58) Yeah, so, Soul School is it's Soul School: Taking Kids on a Joy Filled Journey Through the Heart of Black American Culture. And I know it's so hard with those. But it is a book of books. So, people who have enjoyed Honey for a Child's Heart, or The Read-Aloud Family, those types of books, which I have adored, and I have all of them, and I've highlighted them or, or Give Your Child the World is another one, highlighted them and dog eared them and have used them to check out books for the library for my children for many, many years. And, and at the same time, I was always very, you know, on my heart that the books that I spend a lot of time reading with my children that I choose and I select are never really included in most of those books.   And there was the season, you know, I'm like, frustrated, you know, I'm mad. I'm like, why? Why are they putting these books in here? And then the more I thought about it, I was like, the most you can ask for a mother to do when she's sharing these books, when it's coming from that is what she read with her children. So, am I going to be mad at her that she didn't read what I think she should read? No, do I wish that it had been more expansive? Sure, I do. But how many of us wouldn't go back and do something differently if knowing what we know today or whatever. So, I wrote a companion like the I see not to replace those books. But this book is filled with African American and black diasporic children's literature starting from preschool all the way through high school.   The first part of the book, I talk about what I'm looking for specifically in books about black American culture, and why those things are important. So, the first few chapters, first five chapters are really teaching the teacher. And then the rest of the book, which makes up most of the book are really rich annotated book lists with descriptions why I chose the book discussion questions, project ideas, and something called second helpings. Like when you think of a big soul food dinner, you go through the line the first time and you fill your plate, but then you go back for second helpings of the things that taste the very best. So, if your child likes this book, then here are two second helpings that they also would probably enjoy. And you know, the book was years in the making, I read all 300 plus books in there from cover to cover. And that's kind of my contribution to raising our children.   Laura Dugger: (56:00 - 56:40) Wow, I mean, it is a stunning piece of work. And there's so much for your family, but also for all of us. So, I think of being one of your kids, what a treasure that their mom read 300 books and put this together. But for all of us, I love books on books. And like you said, we can use it to go to the library or then once we read those and find which other ones we love, we can add it to our home collection. So, thank you for that powerhouse of work. And Amber, there's still so much more that you could share with us. Where can we go after this conversation to connect with you or to learn more?   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (56:42 - 56:56) Go to heritagemom.com. And there you'll find all of my books and years' worth of blog posts and book recommendations and other things. My Instagram is @heritagemomblog and the same at Facebook.   Laura Dugger: (56:56 - 57:12) Wonderful. Okay, we will add those links to the show notes for today's episode. And you may be familiar that we're called The Savvy Sauce because savvy is synonymous with practical knowledge. And so, as my final question for you today, Amber, what is your savvy sauce?   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (57:12 - 57:50) Oh, this is such a great question. I love this part of your podcast. I would say that my savvy sauce is learning to be a really great listener. Like if there's nothing else, then that's listening to my husband and the things of his heart and listening to my children and my neighbors and my friends.   But also, people I don't know, people in other places. And also, people I disagree with and being willing to be quiet and listen and take what I can from what they're sharing as well. So, that is, I think my savvy sauce is being an introspective listener.   Laura Dugger: (57:50 – 58:13) That is well said. You are such an inspiring and creative soul. And I have thoroughly enjoyed this chat. And I know I've been hearing you speak on other podcasts and reading your work for years. So, this was such a treat to get to connect with you today. And I just want to say thank you for being my guest.   Amber O'Neal Johnston: (58:14 - 58:16) Thank you so much for having me.   Laura Dugger: (58:16 - 1:01:59) 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 is 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, would 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 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 & 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 including 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.

From beginning homeschooling in the early 1990s to a grand vision for a community that uplifts and empowers Black homeschool families with resources, representation, Joyce Burges has probably seen it all. In this episode, Joyce opens up to HSLDA Attorney Amy Buchmeyer to discuss the origins of National Black Home Educators and the impact they are making today, her curriculum, why preserving family traditions is important, and how building strong parent–child relationships are at the heart of homeschooling. If you're looking for encouragement and a reminder that homeschooling is about more than academics, Joyce's story will inspire you! “I was reading Little House on the Prairie books to my daughter [when] she asked the question, ‘Mama, is there someone in our family who quilts, who make jams and jellies, who has a farm, you know, who lives in the country, who's a pioneer?' I was blessed to be around my grandparents and to be raised on their farm and to see all of the great things that my grandmother did. That put me on the journey to finding books that align with Little House on the Prairie to let her see herself as a black little girl that other black children have done this as well other than just me, her mom, to see young girls that partake of these things. And why was that important? It was important because it brought family together.”—Joyce Burges

Don Ladolcetta Don Ladolcetta's new book, Hannah: The Lighthouse Girl of Newfoundland, tells the story of a young girl who doesn't know what to expect when her family moves to an isolated lighthouse on the rugged Newfoundland coast. What she discovers is a life filled with adventure, wonder—and danger. SARAH Facing everything from the fury of Mother Nature to illness, the Great Depression, and World War II, Hannah must find the strength to follow her dreams. When a stunning loss upends her world, Hannah decides to take a bold step along a new path. In the tradition of Little House on the Prairie and Anne of Green Gables, this novel of a spirited girl growing into a strong woman is based on a true story. In fact, Hannah was Don's mother, and the book is inspired by true family lore and is sprinkled with cultural insights.

I remember when I was a kid, our family driving home from Sunday night gospel meeting and stopping at A&W for root beer floats, how beautiful they were after an hour of contemplating eternal damnation. I remember being sent to Aunt Jo's house when my mother was having babies, a house with a wood-burning stove and outhouse like in Little House on the Prairie. I remember my first time on skis, skidding down a steep hill and thinking, “I will never do this again,” a promise I have kept. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit garrisonkeillor.substack.com/subscribe

The wheat is gone. The money is gone. Manly's will to get out of bed? Also gone.We continue our recap of this epic 2-parter. Almanzo is deep in his "sad cowboy era," refusing to walk, talk, or touch a plow — basically throwing a full-grown frontier tantrum. Laura, now very postpartum and very fed up, decides it's time for some tough prairie love. No more babying the baby.Part 2 brings peak pioneer angst. Manly's in a funk, Laura's at her limit, and even the baby's like, “Y'all okay?”We unpack the emotional barn showdown, Eliza Jane's dramatic exit, and Laura's transformation from supportive wife to motivational drill sergeant. A storm may have wrecked the farm, but not the Wilder spirit… eventually. In the meantime...can we check on Baby Grace and see if she's ok?!Spoiler: No more wheat, but plenty of geraniums.Then, join us on Patreon where we discuss the latest "drama" over Jason Bateman and his People Magazine exclusive... Hazing on the Prairie?!Links and Resources:Haven't signed up for Patreon yet? Link is below!PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/LittleHousePodcastJoin us in NYC! November 22nd at 1pmat GREEN ROOM 42Little House 50th Anniversary Podcast-LIVE!You can also LIVE STREAM this event!Grab your bonnets and buckle up, New York—because the prairie is coming to the city!  Expect behind-the-scenes stories from the beloved TV show, lots of laughs, audience questions, and maybe a surprise or two.  It's the kind of prairie mischief you get every week on the podcast—but you can be a part of it! So put on your lemon verbena, put down the morphine and hitch your wagon - Walnut Grove is moving to NYC for one night only! Can't be in NYC? LIVESTREAM TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE!https://thegreenroom42.venuetix.com/www.LittleHouse50Podcast.com to connect with our hosts and link to their websites.www.LivinOnaPrairieTV.com  Check out the award-winning series created by Pamela Bob, with special guest stars Alison Arngrim and Charlotte Stewart.Prairie Legacy Productions - the place to go for info about all new Little House events!To learn more about Little House on the Prairie, Visit www.littlehouseontheprairie.comLittle House 50th Anniversary Bus Tours - www.SimiValleyChamber.org  select Little House 50th Anniversary and then Bus TicketsFacebook/Instagram/TikTok:Dean Butler @officialdeanbutlerAlison Arngrim @alisonarngrimPamela Bob @thepamelabob, @prairietvSocial Media Team: Joy Correa and Christine Nunez https://www.paclanticcreative.com/Producer: Tony Sweetwww.ubngo.comLHOP EventsFAN EXPO IN Dallas Oct 4-5The Chocolate Expo - Lincoln, RI https://www.thechocolateexpo.comLive Podcast! Nov 22 from The Green Room 42 in NYCLittle House on the Prairie Cast Reunion -- Dec 12-14, Simi Valley, CAhttps://www.littlehouseontheprairiecastreunions.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/little-house-fifty-for-50-podcast--6055242/support.

Fellow Long Islander and Little House fanatic, Tina O’Keefe joins the podcast and helps Mark discuss and break down this unforgettable and sometimes creepy episode. I Hope you enjoy it! “On Halloween eve Mary and Laura hear a loud argument and on inspection they witness, what they believe, to be the murder of Mrs Oleson.” The Monster of Walnut Grove originally aired on November 1, 1976 Check out Tina’s website where she can change your life by helping you organize it! https://www.stowandbehold.com The opening song “Albert” is written and performed by the amazing Norwegian band, Project Brundlefly and is used with permission. Check them out at: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectBrundlefly Become a Patron! The post Revisiting The Monster of Walnut Grove first appeared on The Little House on the Prairie Podcast: Walnut GroveCast.

Nick Offerman is an Emmy-winning actor, but that's a small part of his identity. He's also a woodworker, an author, and a devoted acolyte of the naturalist writer Wendell Berry. He talks with Rachel about the art of being satisfied, building up the courage for a home project and what he learned from a childhood that felt like “Little House on the Prairie.”To listen sponsor-free and support the show, sign up for Wild Card+ at plus.npr.org/wildcard Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

The Little House on the Prairie books by Laura Ingalls Wilder painted a vivid sense of place with the weather on the Great Plains playing an important role. Dr. Barbara Boustead is a meteorologist and Wilder scholar who researched the accuracy of these stories' descriptions of blizzards, tornadoes and floods. Hear an interview with Dr. Boustead about her book “Wilder Weather”

What a week for this little ensemble. Finey has been creating spicy Moroccan delights at Lenny's. Ken has been getting down and dirty with The Angels and The Saints. Kev is still gobsmacked by the return of his gold album and a recent interview with Nellie from Little House on the Prairie and what about Stephen J Peak? The man who can pump up his own tyres like there is no tomorrow cannot, has not and will never get his hands dirty changing one. 'That's what the RACV is for' As you recover from that revelation, be prepared for much worse as our resident embarrister recalls a snow trip that could be an epiosde of The Golden Bachelor. This week we turn our attention to the best and worst Aussie cop and crime shows on television. Why? Because we can and it's less stressful than watching it live in our shopping centres and streets. From Homicide to Underbelly with some Blue Heelers and Water Rats thrown in, this really is Good Cop, Bad Cop. Kevin Hillier, Mark Fine, Stephen J Peak, Ken Francis Follow us on Facebook...https://bit.ly/2OOe7ag Post-production by Steve Visscher | Southern Skies Media for Howdy Partners Media | www.howdypartnersmedia.com.au/podcasts © 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scrutiny of the figure of the “trad wife” has hit a fever pitch. These influencers' accounts feature kempt, feminine women embracing hyper-traditional roles in marriage and home-making—and, in doing so, garnering millions of followers. On this episode of Critics at Large, Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Schwartz discuss standout practitioners of the “trad” life style, including Nara Smith, who makes cereal and toothpaste from scratch, and Hannah Neeleman, who, posting under the handle @ballerinafarm, presents a life caring for eight children in rural Utah as a bucolic fantasy. The hosts also discuss “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” a reality-television show on Hulu about a group of Mormon influencers engulfed in scandal, whose notions of female empowerment read as a quaint reversal of the trad-wife trend. A common defense of a life style that some would call regressive is that it's a personal choice, devoid of political meaning. But this gloss is complicated by societal changes such as the erosion of women's rights in America and skyrocketing child-care costs. “In American society, the way choice works has everything to do with child-care options, financial options,” Schwartz says. “When you talk about the idea of choice, are we just talking about false choices?” This episode originally aired on Sept. 5, 2024. Read, watch, and listen with the critics:@ballerinafarm@gwenthemilkmaid@naraazizasmith“How Lucky Blue and Nara Aziza Smith Made Viral Internet Fame From Scratch,” by Carrie Battan (GQ)“The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” (2024–)@esteecwilliams“Mad Men” (2007-15)The Little House on the Prairie series, by Laura Ingalls Wilder“Wilder Women,” by Judith Thurman (The New Yorker)“Meet the Queen of the “Trad Wives” (and Her Eight Children),” by Megan Agnew (The Times of London) New episodes drop every Thursday. Follow Critics at Large wherever you get your podcasts. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week, Laura and Manly are living their best prairie lives — baby on the way, cozy house, a wheat crop with dollar signs in their eyes. Naturally, that means disaster is RIGHT around the corner.In true Little House fashion, Manly goes from "proud wheat daddy" to “just a little sick” to “I had a stroke and now I'm spiraling into a full-on pioneer pity party.” Meanwhile, Laura's out here doing it all — farming, caregiving, and surviving her sister-in-law Eliza Jane's smothering brand of “help.”Disaster Bingo Begins!Diphtheria? Check.Stroke? Double check.Massive financial setback? Oh honey, we're just getting warmed up.Emotional spiral? Eliza Jane is gonna Eliza Jane. Basically: it's the start of Wilderpalooza, and no one's making it out with dry eyes or dry wheat. Just a newborn baby daughter.AND THAT'S JUST PART 1!Then, join us on Patreon where Dean gives us more behind the scenes details about making this episode, and Alison is serving FACTS about the real Laura and Almanzo...and diphtheria.Links and Resources:Haven't signed up for Patreon yet? Link is below!PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/LittleHousePodcastJoin us in NYC! November 22nd at 1pmat GREEN ROOM 42Little House 50th Anniversary Podcast-LIVE!You can also LIVE STREAM this event!Grab your bonnets and buckle up, New York—because the prairie is coming to the city!  Expect behind-the-scenes stories from the beloved TV show, lots of laughs, audience questions, and maybe a surprise or two.  It's the kind of prairie mischief you get every week on the podcast—but you can be a part of it! So put on your lemon verbena, put down the morphine and hitch your wagon - Walnut Grove is moving to NYC for one night only! Can't be in NYC? LIVESTREAM TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE!https://thegreenroom42.venuetix.com/www.LittleHouse50Podcast.com to connect with our hosts and link to their websites.www.LivinOnaPrairieTV.com  Check out the award-winning series created by Pamela Bob, with special guest stars Alison Arngrim and Charlotte Stewart.Prairie Legacy Productions - the place to go for info about all new Little House events!To learn more about Little House on the Prairie, Visit www.littlehouseontheprairie.comLittle House 50th Anniversary Bus Tours - www.SimiValleyChamber.org  select Little House 50th Anniversary and then Bus TicketsFacebook/Instagram/TikTok:Dean Butler @officialdeanbutlerAlison Arngrim @alisonarngrimPamela Bob @thepamelabob, @prairietvSocial Media Team: Joy Correa and Christine Nunez https://www.paclanticcreative.com/Producer: Tony Sweetwww.ubngo.comLHOP EventsFAN EXPO IN Dallas Oct 4-5The Chocolate Expo - Lincoln, RI https://www.thechocolateexpo.comLive Podcast! Nov 22 from The Green Room 42 in NYCLittle House on the Prairie Cast Reunion -- Dec 12-14, Simi Valley, CAhttps://www.littlehouseontheprairiecastreunions.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/little-house-fifty-for-50-podcast--6055242/support.

Bradley Sappenfield joins the podcast and helps Mark discuss this unforgettable episode. I Hope you enjoy it! “A school project on genealogy leads Albert to confront his dark past. As the Ingalls help Albert with the project, Charles and Caroline decide to adopt the young lad. Then, Albert’s biological father Mr. Quinn shows up.” The Family Tree originally aired on October 1, 1979 The opening song “Albert” is written and performed by the amazing Norwegian band, Project Brundlefly and is used with permission. Check them out at: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectBrundlefly Become a Patron! The post Revisiting The Family Tree first appeared on The Little House on the Prairie Podcast: Walnut GroveCast.

Little House on the Prairie was a worldwide television phenomenon and its stars became household names. Think Michael Landon, Melissa Gilbert and our guest this week, Alison Arngrim. Alison played the spoiled, snobbish bully Nellie Oleson. Not exactly the most likeable character on the show, but certainly one of most most talked about. Here, Alison shares her incredible story of getting the part, how it changed her life - both then and now - and insights from her experiences of being on such a massive hit television show. Alison loves the kitchen and has a cookbook in the works as well as a treasure trove of YouTube cooking videos, so we also get some very handy kitchen tips from the former restaurateur of Walnut Grove! Our Food Poll is more British in origin. We ask if the chip butty takes your fancy. Presented by Sarah Patterson & Kevin Hillier Broadcast each Sunday on the ACE Radio Network - https://aceradio.com.au/Catch us also on:Radio 2DD - Easy Listening - On Line - https://www.2dd.online/Follow us on Facebook...https://www.facebook.com/foodbyteswithsarahpatterson/Twitter & Instagram - @sarahfoodbytesPost-production by Chris GatesforHowdy Partners Media | www.howdypartnersmedia.com.au/podcasts© 2025See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome back, dear listeners! Tonight we begin a brand new book in the beloved Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder — The Long Winter. This story takes us back to the prairie with Laura and her family as they face one of the hardest winters they've ever known. Many of you have written to me requesting this next book in the series, and I'm so delighted to finally share it with you.Just a gentle reminder that if you'd like access to all the full-length audiobooks from the Little House series as they're completed, you can join Drift Off Premium.So snuggle in, get comfortable, and let the gentle rhythm of this timeless story carry you into a place of peace and rest. I'll be reading Chapter 1 tonight, the beginning of our journey through this unforgettable season with the Ingalls family.Sweet dreams, Joanne xoMusic in this episode is "Forest Spring' by Aiyo via Epidemic SoundMy new audiobook Tales to Help You Sleep is now available on Audible! US  ➜ Click hereCA  ➜ Click hereUK  ➜ Click hereAU  ➜ Click hereAlready an Audible member? Just add it to your library.New to Audible? Start your free trial with my book as your first listen and help support the podcast!If you decide to purchase through this link, I do receive a small benefit at no extra cost to you. It truly helps me continue sharing these bedtime stories, and I'm so grateful for your support. My Drift Off Dreams Coloring Book is now available on Amazon!  With 33 soothing illustrations, it's a cozy way to find calm at the end of the day. Find your copy here: https://mybook.to/DriftOffDreamsDrift Off Premium — Sweet Dreams Await Support an ad-free podcast for everyone Weekly bonus bedtime stories to enrich your sleep routine Exclusive early access to one new episode each month Full-length audiobooks for sleep to calm your mind and help you drift off Available on Apple Podcasts and Supercast *Subscribe on Apple Podcasts from the show page, or visit driftoff.supercast.com to join through Supercast. Did you know you can also listen to my regular bedtime stories on Insight Timer for free? It's a peaceful space for rest and relaxation. Also, for just $9.99/month, you'll get access to my premium stories plus meditations, music, and live sessions from other amazing teachers. Come curl up in this cozy corner of calm, where sweet dreams are always waiting. https://insighttimer.com/relaxforawhile Oh… and be sure to drift over to the podcast website to see what cozy wonders await you! https://www.driftoffpodcast.com

This week, Harriett Oleson gets a big greasy idea — why waste time with flour sacks and morals when you can sell only 3 staple meals (that don't include Ma's famous pie)  to the masses? It's the future! It's delicious! It's... soul-crushing!Harriet goes full MLM boss babe, Nels instantly regrets his entire life, Caroline Ingalls gets roped into an apron of shame--even on Sundays!, and Charles  devises the plan of all plans like the Prairie lawyer he should have been.Spoiler: No one's loving the future.So grab a drumstick and join us as we break down Walnut Grove's brief, greasy descent into commercialism, culinary betrayal, and food crimes against humanityThen, join us on Patreon where we discuss more behind the scenes moments from this episode!Links and Resources:Haven't signed up for Patreon yet? Link is below!PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/LittleHousePodcastJoin us in NYC! November 22nd at 1pmat GREEN ROOM 42Little House 50th Anniversary Podcast-LIVE!You can also LIVE STREAM this event!Grab your bonnets and buckle up, New York—because the prairie is coming to the city!  Expect behind-the-scenes stories from the beloved TV show, lots of laughs, audience questions, and maybe a surprise or two.  It's the kind of prairie mischief you get every week on the podcast—but you can be a part of it!So put on your lemon verbena, put down the morphine and hitch your wagon - Walnut Grove is moving to NYC for one night only! Can't be in NYC? LIVESTREAM TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE!https://thegreenroom42.venuetix.com/www.LittleHouse50Podcast.com to connect with our hosts and link to their websites.www.LivinOnaPrairieTV.com  Check out the award-winning series created by Pamela Bob, with special guest stars Alison Arngrim and Charlotte Stewart.Prairie Legacy Productions - the place to go for info about all new Little House events!To learn more about Little House on the Prairie, Visit www.littlehouseontheprairie.comLittle House 50th Anniversary Bus Tours - www.SimiValleyChamber.org  select Little House 50th Anniversary and then Bus TicketsFacebook/Instagram/TikTok:Dean Butler @officialdeanbutlerAlison Arngrim @alisonarngrimPamela Bob @thepamelabob, @prairietvSocial Media Team: Joy Correa and Christine Nunez https://www.paclanticcreative.com/Producer: Tony Sweetwww.ubngo.comLHOP EventsFAN EXPO IN Dallas Oct 4-5Live Podcast! Nov 22 from The Green Room 42 in NYCLittle House on the Prairie Cast Reunion -- Dec 12-14, Simi Valley, CAhttps://www.littlehouseontheprairiecastreunions.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/little-house-fifty-for-50-podcast--6055242/support.

Karyne returns to the podcast and helps Mark discuss this unforgettable episode. I Hope you enjoy it! “Poor financial conditions influence the Ingalls family to move to Winoka when Mary goes there to teach at the Blind School. They meet Albert, an orphan who Charles forms an attachment to, even though Laura catches him stealing from the hotel that Charles was managing and Caroline was running the kitchen/dining room for. While Mary is going to teach at the Blind School in Winoka, and since financially they can’t make a living in Walnut Grove the rest of the Ingalls family goes to Winoka, too. Charles gets a job managing a hotel and Caroline runs the Kitchen/Dining room. They make the acquaintance of an orphan, Albert who befriends the Ingalls.” As Long as We’re Together originally aired on September 18, 1978 The opening song “Albert” is written and performed by the amazing Norwegian band, Project Brundlefly and is used with permission. Check them out at: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectBrundlefly Become a Patron! The post Revisiting As Long as We're Together first appeared on The Little House on the Prairie Podcast: Walnut GroveCast.

Episode 751 of On Screen & Beyond takes us back to that "Little House on the Prairie" with Rachel Lindsay Bush, who played Carrie Ingalls on the show! Rachel, along with her twin sister Sidney, shared the role. Rachel takes us back to the heartwarming show and shares some of the antics behind the scenes! It's a fun episode with Rachel!

Starletta DuPois chats with LaTangela Fay on the #tanline With nearly 5 decades of experience in the entertainment industry, this beautiful soul is still landing roles, paving the way for others and currently in theaters nationwide alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in the thriller "One Battle After Another". She has acted in groundbreaking television series, including The Jeffersons, Little House on the Prairie, Lost, City of Angles, Black Jesus, and The Steve Harvey Show. On stage, she has earned critical acclaim with standout performances in Miss Evers' Boys, August Wilson's The Piano Lesson (as Bernice), and in the American Playhouse TV adaption of the iconic A Raisin in the Sun. She also received a Tony nomination for her powerful performance in The Mighty Gents. Chime in : www.LaTangela.com Watch full episode HERE RADIO - WEMX- Baton Rouge, La. Mon-Fri 10a.m.-3p.m.CST KTCX - Beaumont, Tx. Mon-Fri 3-8 CST WEMX Sundays 10a.m KSMB Sundays 10a.m. WWO - YouTube - #LaTangelaFay Podcast - ALL digital platforms - #iTunes #Spotify #WEMX #WAFB+ www.LaTangela.com www.TanTune.com Special Thank You - Gordon McKernan Injury Attorney - Official Partner #GordonGives #TanCares #225BulletinBoard TanTune #POOF POWER OVER OBSTACLES FOREVER GT Legacy AutoThe Fiery CrabHair Queen Beauty Super CenterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For the finale of TV September, Paul and Erika are heading out west to talk about the iconic frontier soap (is that a genre?) Little House On The Prairie! Look…everyone who has ever seen this show already knows who is going to be the focus of this episode. And everyone who hasn't? Please look forward to your introduction to the legend, the icon, the demonspawn that is Nellie Oleson.You can follow That Aged Well on Bluesky (@ThatAgedWell.bsky.social), Instagram (@ThatAgedWell), and Threads (@ThatAgedWell)!SUPPORT US ON PATREON FOR BONUS CONTENT!VISIT OUR DASHERY STORE FOR THAT AGED WELL MERCH!Wanna rate and review? HERE YOU GO!Hosts: Paul Caiola & Erika VillalbaProducer & Editor: Paul Caiola

Welcome to Hollywood and Beyond Podcast. Your home for meaningful and in-depth interviews. The Love Boat Celebration continues with my special guest Melissa Anderson! (Formally known as Melissa Sue Anderson). This 2021 interview is highlighted once again on the podcast!   Selected Clips and Music appears courtesy of Aaron Spelling Productions and The Love Boat.   Ona very special episode, this sentimental and in-depth conversation covers a lot of ground. From her early years, ‘The Brady Bunch', and as an extra bonus the audition for Mary Ingalls on "Little House on the Prairie" is all included. We then have a lot of fun covering her numerous "Love Boat" guest star appearances. Melissa and I clicked in such a wonderful way, resulting in one amazing interview experience.   And do I dare impersonate the good doctor whenever he spotted a beautiful lady boarding the Pacific Princess?? Find out and so much more when Melissa Anderson visits Hollywood and Beyond with Steven Brittingham Podcast! A sentimental and wonderful listening experience.   Hollywood and Beyond Podcast is Produced/Edited/Hosted by Cincinnati actor and writer Steven Brittingham. Be sure to visit Hollywood and Beyond with Steven Brittingham on IMDB! Instagram and Facebook!   Be sure to visit the official website: hollywoodbeyond.net   https://www.instagram.com/hollywoodandbeyondshow/?hl=en   https://www.instagram.com/stevenjbrittingham/?hl=en   https://www.facebook.com/hollywoodandbeyond   Conclusion by Carrie Mitchum   Contact Steven: hollywoodandbeyondshow@gmail.com   The Love Boat Celebration has concluded! Thank you for listening to the remastered versions from the 2021 special tribute! 

Saddle up and hold onto your suspenders, folks — this week we're diving headfirst into Season 3, Episode 9: The Bully Boys (Or, “When Walnut Grove Got Its First Redneck Crime Family”). This is the unforgettable episode where Walnut Grove gets a visit from the backwoods version of the Sopranos.It's a classic Little House setup: a peaceful town, hardworking families, and then BOOM — 3 traveling disasters in overalls roll in and run on petty theft, sexual harassment, and a general hatred for women.Reverend Alden, in peak form, preaches forgiveness, kindness, and second (and third and fourth) chances — all while being comically gullible enough to ask the literal worst humans on earth to please be nice. (We love him, but someone get this man a lie detector and a background check!)Meanwhile, Nellie Oleson becomes a full-blown mob wife, Mary sports a black eye and the only backbone in town, and Ma drops the eggs! (It's horrific!)The moral dilemma of turning the other cheek vs. punching a Galender in the jaw is at an all time high  But fear not — the real MVPs are the townspeople, who finally remember they can also have a mob mentality when they want to. The episode's real message? Sometimes, good Christian values mean letting the community unite to remove evil... with fists.It's all here — heart, humor, violence, and hillbillies. Welcome to the frontier, where even the church isn't safe from crime, but the community always comes out on top.Then- join us on Patreon where Alison talks to Dean and Pamela about the villains of Walnut Grove…and that Bubba was actually pretty cool in real life.Links and Resources:Haven't signed up for Patreon yet? Link is below!PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/LittleHousePodcastJoin us in NYC! November 22nd at 1pmat GREEN ROOM 42Little House 50th Anniversary Podcast-LIVE!You can also LIVE STREAM this event!Grab your bonnets and buckle up, New York—because the prairie is coming to the city!  Expect behind-the-scenes stories from the beloved TV show, lots of laughs, audience questions, and maybe a surprise or two.  It's the kind of prairie mischief you get every week on the podcast—but you can be a part of it! So put on your lemon verbena, put down the morphine and hitch your wagon - Walnut Grove is moving to NYC for one night only! Can't be in NYC? LIVESTREAM TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE!https://thegreenroom42.venuetix.com/www.LittleHouse50Podcast.com to connect with our hosts and link to their websites.www.LivinOnaPrairieTV.com  Check out the award-winning series created by Pamela Bob, with special guest stars Alison Arngrim and Charlotte Stewart.Prairie Legacy Productions - the place to go for info about all new Little House events!To learn more about Little House on the Prairie, Visit www.littlehouseontheprairie.comLittle House 50th Anniversary Bus Tours - www.SimiValleyChamber.org  select Little House 50th Anniversary and then Bus TicketsFacebook/Instagram/TikTok:Dean Butler @officialdeanbutlerAlison Arngrim @alisonarngrimPamela Bob @thepamelabob, @prairietvSocial Media Team: Joy Correa and Christine Nunez https://www.paclanticcreative.com/Producer: Tony Sweetwww.ubngo.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/little-house-fifty-for-50-podcast--6055242/support.

Join me as I share what I've been reading during quarter 3 of 2025!   1. Faith That Sticks by Tricia Goyer & Leslie Nunnery 2. Reclaiming Quiet by Sarah Clarkson 3. The Mythmakers by John Hendrix 4. Wormwood Abbey by Christina Baehr 5. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster 6. Michael's Gentle Wife by Karen Andreola 7. It's Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn by Greta Eskridge 8. The Prince and The Blight by Kathryn Butler 9. Mother Culture by Karen Andreola 10. The Only Raised Bed Gardening Book You'll Ever Need by I. V. Fieldstone 11. Princess Academy by Shannon Hale 12. Kingdom's Dawn by Chuck Black 13. The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser 14. Drake Hall by Christina Baehr 15. Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale 16. The Time Saving Mom by Crystal Paine 17. The Forgotten Sisters by Shannon Hale 18. Castle of the Winds by Christina Baehr 19. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder    Resources Referenced: Find all the books discussed today on the NHC Blog: https://nohighercalling.org/2025-reading-challenge-quarter-3/  Body Talk Basics use code NHC10 to save 10% off https://bodytalkbasics.thrivecart.com/body-talk-basics-us-shipping/?affiliate=nohighercalling    Follow my  journey by subscribing to this podcast. You can also follow me on Instagram, YouTube, and www.nohighercalling.org Subscribe to the NHC email at www.nohighercalling.org 

Karly is going to Missouri tomorrow to see Laura Ingalls Wilder’s house from Little House on the Prairie. She is also going to Silver Dollar City and is excited to compare it to Dollywood. Hot Tea: The viral couple from the Coldplay kiss cam claims to be “just friends.” The French President was blocked from crossing the street in New York, so he called President Trump. Two bears in Alaska got stuck inside a car and honked the horn until rescue arrived. Joey really wants to be a good fisherman but gets very overwhelmed with all the options when shopping for supplies. A teacher was arrested for spraying fart spray in a school. Lucky 7 One of our coworkers accidentally sent Nancy a mean text about her kids. Nancy isn’t sure how she should handle the situation. Tom Hanks visited a small typewriter shop in Oregon. Where have celebs been spotted in Knoxville? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Karly is going to Missouri tomorrow to see Laura Ingalls Wilder’s house from Little House on the Prairie. She is also going to Silver Dollar City and is excited to compare it to Dollywood. Hot Tea: The viral couple from the Coldplay kiss cam claims to be “just friends.” The French President was blocked from crossing the street in New York, so he called President Trump. Two bears in Alaska got stuck inside a car and honked the horn until rescue arrived. Joey really wants to be a good fisherman but gets very overwhelmed with all the options when shopping for supplies. A teacher was arrested for spraying fart spray in a school. Lucky 7 One of our coworkers accidentally sent Nancy a mean text about her kids. Nancy isn’t sure how she should handle the situation. Tom Hanks visited a small typewriter shop in Oregon. Where have celebs been spotted in Knoxville? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Wisdom from the Wardrobe, the team nails it; literally, by starting with a quick dip into the latest manicure trends. From shiny Jelly Nails to biodegradable stick-on nails made from allnatural ingredients (yes, straight from the labs at the Atlas Institute, University of Colorado), beauty innovation is at your fingertips quite literally! Then it's time to raid the closet and cue the costumes. This episode is all about dressing for drama not just for the day. The team explores the playful, theatrical side of style: how costume influences fashion, why your wardrobe might be full of hidden characters, and how fashion gives us the freedom to step into different roles. Whether it's a power blazer that screams CEO energy or a prairie dress that leans full-on Little House chic, your closet is more of a stage than you think. Stacy raises the psychology questions of the costume piece, because sometimes, the way we dress is less about the fabric and more about the fantasy. So, who will you be today? The boss, the romantic, the rebel, or the leading lady? Tune in for wit, wisdom, and a little wardrobe drama. After all, fashion isn't just about what you wear, it's about the story you're telling.

This jam-packed segment delivers not one but two unforgettable ghost stories. First, caller “J-Lo” from California recounts eerie experiences involving her young son. On one trip to a historic cemetery, he suddenly pointed out “people waving” from the overgrown graveyard — though no one else was there. Years later, after J-Lo's mother passed unexpectedly, her son calmly reported that grandma had come to visit him in his room, looking sad but unmistakably present. Then comes caller Steve with one of the strangest accounts we've ever heard: an astral projection experience. After smoking cannabis before bed, he dreamed of leaving his body, walking to the kitchen, pouring a glass of water, and placing it on his nightstand. The next morning — the same glass was there, half full. Was it sleepwalking, dream, or true astral travel? Tony, Carol, and Todd pick these stories apart with humor and depth, riffing on everything from grief signs to Folgers commercials to Little House on the Prairie references. It's a ride only Real Ghost Stories Online could deliver — equal parts chilling, absurd, and unforgettable. Do you believe in astral projection? Or was this all a dream? Let us know in the comments. #astralprojection #ghoststories #paranormal #haunting #supernatural #realghoststories #OBE #afterlife #paranormalactivity #creepy Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

This jam-packed segment delivers not one but two unforgettable ghost stories. First, caller “J-Lo” from California recounts eerie experiences involving her young son. On one trip to a historic cemetery, he suddenly pointed out “people waving” from the overgrown graveyard — though no one else was there. Years later, after J-Lo's mother passed unexpectedly, her son calmly reported that grandma had come to visit him in his room, looking sad but unmistakably present. Then comes caller Steve with one of the strangest accounts we've ever heard: an astral projection experience. After smoking cannabis before bed, he dreamed of leaving his body, walking to the kitchen, pouring a glass of water, and placing it on his nightstand. The next morning — the same glass was there, half full. Was it sleepwalking, dream, or true astral travel? Tony, Carol, and Todd pick these stories apart with humor and depth, riffing on everything from grief signs to Folgers commercials to Little House on the Prairie references. It's a ride only Real Ghost Stories Online could deliver — equal parts chilling, absurd, and unforgettable. Do you believe in astral projection? Or was this all a dream? Let us know in the comments. #astralprojection #ghoststories #paranormal #haunting #supernatural #realghoststories #OBE #afterlife #paranormalactivity #creepy Love real ghost stories? Don't just listen—join us on YouTube and be part of the largest community of real paranormal encounters anywhere. Subscribe now and never miss a chilling new story:

Grab your bonnets and brace yourselves—because Walnut Grove is officially wired for chaos! In this episode, the town installs a shiny new telephone system... and within minutes, the gossip starts flying faster than Caroline's flapjacks. With Mrs. Oleson lurking like the prairie's nosiest switchboard operator. Privacy? Never heard of her.Meanwhile, Jonathan and Alice Garvey's marriage is hanging by a thread—and it's not a sturdy one. A few misheard messages, a splash of suspicion, and BOOM: Jonathan finds out that Alice has a secret first husband--Harold! (Yep, she's got more baggage than Doc Baker's medical bag.)Meanwhile, Alison and Pamela unpack the deeply unsettling thoughts about Harold—revealing a shocking backstory that involves grooming, manipulation, and trauma that Little House only hints at. You'll never look at this episodethe same way again. (eek!)Join us as we untangle the wild wires of “Crossed Connections,” where gossip spreads faster than wildfire, trust is on life support, and the only thing more scandalous than the phone lines is Alice Garvey's marital history. Prairie drama? It's ringing off the hook!Then, join us on Patreon, where Alison, Dean, and Pamela spill more of the tea!Links and Resources:Haven't signed up for Patreon yet?Link is below!PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/LittleHousePodcastJoin us in NYC! November 22nd at 1pm at GREEN ROOM 42Little House 50th Anniversary Podcast-LIVE!You can also LIVE STREAM this event!Grab your bonnets and buckle up, New York—because the prairie is coming to the city!  Expect behind-the-scenes stories from the beloved TV show, lots of laughs, audience questions, and maybe a surprise or two.  It's the kind of prairie mischief you get every week on the podcast—but you can be a part of it! So put on your lemon verbena, put down the morphine and hitch your wagon - Walnut Grove is moving to NYC for one night only! Can't be in NYC? LIVESTREAM TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE!https://thegreenroom42.venuetix.com/www.LittleHouse50Podcast.com to connect with our hosts and link to their websites.www.LivinOnaPrairieTV.com  Check out the award-winning series created by Pamela Bob, with special guest stars Alison Arngrim and Charlotte Stewart.Prairie Legacy Productions - the place to go for info about all new Little House events!To learn more about Little House on the Prairie, Visit www.littlehouseontheprairie.comLittle House 50th Anniversary Bus Tours - www.SimiValleyChamber.org  select Little House 50th Anniversary and then Bus TicketsFacebook/Instagram/TikTok:Dean Butler @officialdeanbutlerAlison Arngrim @alisonarngrimPamela Bob @thepamelabob, @prairietvSocial Media Team: Joy Correa and Christine Nunez https://www.paclanticcreative.com/Producer: Tony Sweetwww.ubngo.comLHOP EventsMansfield on Sept 26-27FAN EXPO IN Dallas Oct 4-5Live Podcast! Nov 22 from The Green Room 42 in NYCLittle House on the Prairie Cast Reunion -- Dec 12-14, Simi Valley, CAhttps://www.littlehouseontheprairiecastreunions.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/little-house-fifty-for-50-podcast--6055242/support.

The Emmy-winning actor-director of "Ozark" now stars in the Netflix series "Black Rabbit." Jason Bateman talks with Lee Cowan about being a proxy for the audience. He also discusses working as a young actor with Michael Landon on "Little House on the Prairie"; how directing made him feel like "an adult"; how "Arrested Development" changed his career; his sobriety; and his "Smartless" podcast. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to a Very Special Episode: Ma's Hair Is Down & Everything Goes to Hell (almost!).This week on Little House 50 Podcast, we dive headfirst into an episode that has it all: emotional turmoil, slow-burn temptation, passive-aggressive teenage angst, and… Ma's hair down. Yes, DOWN. That's when you know things are about to get spicy on the prairie.Charles hops on a wagon and leaves for a job, so Caroline hires a handsome, mysteriously single handyman named Chris to finish the kitchen extension. He's good with tools. Very good. Suspiciously good. Soon, he's hammering more than nails—he's hammering his way into Ma's heart.Mary, ever the emotionally intelligent eldest child, smells drama from a mile away and starts throwing shade with the precision of a seasoned Real Housewife of Sleepy Eye. Honestly? She's kind of a bitch in this episode—but like, a justified bitch. We support her.Meanwhile, Laura is blissfully unaware that her family is one flirty barn-raising away from a full-blown scandal.And then there's Ma. Sweet, proper, dutiful Ma—until suddenly, she's got her hair down and a suspiciously candlelit glow in the kitchen. You don't let your hair down in Walnut Grove unless you're catching feelings or catching trouble.And honestly, if anyone earned the right to slap Nellie into next Tuesday, it's Mary in this episode.Will Laura keep calling him “Uncle Chris,” even though he is giving major stranger danger with a toolbox energy?! Girl.Will Ma go there?? (She won't... but we all kinda wanted her to for a second.)Grab your bonnet and your prairie popcorn—this episode is pure frontier soap opera.Let's get into it.Then, join us on Patreon where Alison and Pamela chat about the recent Little House event in Indiana, and a preview of episodes to come!Links and Resources:Haven't signed up for Patreon yet? Link is below!PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/LittleHousePodcastJoin us in NYC! November 22nd at 1pm at GREEN ROOM 42Little House 50th Anniversary Podcast-LIVE!You can also LIVE STREAM this event!Grab your bonnets and buckle up, New York—because the prairie is coming to the city!  Expect behind-the-scenes stories from the beloved TV show, lots of laughs, audience questions, and maybe a surprise or two.  It's the kind of prairie mischief you get every week on the podcast—but you can be a part of it! So put on your lemon verbena, put down the morphine and hitch your wagon - Walnut Grove is moving to NYC for one night only! Can't be in NYC? LIVESTREAM TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE!https://thegreenroom42.venuetix.com/www.LittleHouse50Podcast.com to connect with our hosts and link to their websites.www.LivinOnaPrairieTV.com  Check out the award-winning series created by Pamela Bob, with special guest stars Alison Arngrim and Charlotte Stewart.Prairie Legacy Productions - the place to go for info about all new Little House events!To learn more about Little House on the Prairie, Visit www.littlehouseontheprairie.comLittle House 50th Anniversary Bus Tours - www.SimiValleyChamber.org  select Little House 50th Anniversary and then Bus TicketsFacebook/Instagram/TikTok:Dean Butler @officialdeanbutlerAlison Arngrim @alisonarngrimPamela Bob @thepamelabob, @prairietvSocial Media Team: Joy Correa and Christine Nunez https://www.paclanticcreative.com/Producer: Tony Sweetwww.ubngo.comLHOP EventsMansfield on Sept 26-27FAN EXPO IN Dallas Oct 4-5Live Podcast! Nov 22 from The Green Room 42 in NYCLittle House on the Prairie Cast Reunion -- Dec 12-14, Simi Valley, CAhttps://www.littlehouseontheprairiecastreunions.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/little-house-fifty-for-50-podcast--6055242/support.

Brian Mehlenbacher returns to the podcast and helps Mark discuss this unforgettable episode. I Hope you enjoy it! “Veteran wrestler Milo Stavroupolis arrives in Mankato to take on local challengers. His cunning promoter, Jimmy Hart, persuades Jonathan Garvey to face the aging fighter, unaware the match is rigged. Behind the scenes, Stavroupolis is grappling with emotional and physical tolls from his long career, compounded by his wife Anna's pleas for him to retire as she battles her own serious illness. Moved by Jonathan's compassion, Milo agrees to let him step in for the upcoming championship match.” The King Is Dead originally aired on November 12, 1979 The opening song “Albert” is written and performed by the amazing Norwegian band, Project Brundlefly and is used with permission. Check them out at: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectBrundlefly Become a Patron! The post The King Is Dead first appeared on The Little House on the Prairie Podcast: Walnut GroveCast.

We recorded this episode back in late July—when Pamela was still in New Hampshire and Alison was halfway across the world. A lot has changed since then, but one thing hasn't: this episode is still an absolute gem.We're diving into “Meet Me at the Fair”—a wild ride through carnival chaos featuring questionable parenting, a gang of literal jackasses, unsettling Renaissance Fair/Hannibal Lecter cosplay vibes, and of course, the real star of the show: a hot air balloon. All we ask is one thing: Make. It. Make. Sense. Join us for a hilarious conversation as we do our best not to laugh our way through the absurdity of “Meet Me at the Fair.” (And yes—you'll actually find yourself rooting for Carrie in this one.)Then, join us on Patreon, where Alison and Dean share behind-the-scenes stories with Pamela about filming and other goings-on in Old Tucson. And remember: what happens in Old Tucson stays in Old Tucson.Links and Resources:Haven't signed up for Patreon yet? Link is below! PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/LittleHousePodcastwww.LittleHouse50Podcast.com to connect with our hosts and link to their websites.www.LivinOnaPrairieTV.com  Check out the award-winning series created by Pamela Bob, with special guest stars Alison Arngrim and Charlotte Stewart.Prairie Legacy Productions - the place to go for info about all new Little House events!To learn more about Little House on the Prairie, Visit www.littlehouseontheprairie.comLittle House 50th Anniversary Bus Tours - www.SimiValleyChamber.org  select Little House 50th Anniversary and then Bus TicketsFacebook/Instagram/TikTok:Dean Butler @officialdeanbutlerAlison Arngrim @alisonarngrimPamela Bob @thepamelabob, @prairietvSocial Media Team: Joy Correa and Christine Nunez https://www.paclanticcreative.com/Producer: Tony Sweetwww.ubngo.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/little-house-fifty-for-50-podcast--6055242/support.

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