Claim OwnershipGrace, Grit & Hope
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Guests tell inspiring personal stories of how they found the grace and grit to overcome difficult setbacks of all kinds. A monk/veteran/psychologist teams up with a journalist to talk to guests who share their incredible personal journeys.
29 Episodes
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Folksinger Michael Johnathon tells his life story and calls us to reclaim the soul of American music: the spirit of the front porch. He reflects on Pete Seeger's belief that the audience is the true star and warns that today's world of commercial music has lost its soul. From his Walden‑like years in Mousie, KY to founding WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour, he champions community, simplicity and the power of shared songs. He contrasts the inclusive front‑porch stage with the isolating commercial stage. He celebrates the brilliance of WoodSongs Kids and reminds us that love — not money — is the greatest transaction of the arts. His message is clear: America needs our front‑porch soul restored.
Paschal Baute has spent nearly a century forging grit. A 96‑year‑old veteran who served with four branches of the military, he is also a former monk, retired psychologist, and author of 50 books on resilience and hope. He has survived cancer, adapted to blindness, and recently endured the loss of his wife of 57 years. From childhood bullying to boxing in Guam, from military school to catastrophic disability, Paschal reveals how to choose courage over despair. This conversation is a masterclass about grit from a man who has spent his entire life drawing upon it.
Paul Prather revisits the 90-minute vision in 1980 that upended his understanding of God—a Damascus experience in which he saw that God is in control of everything, and that His deepest desire is to bless people, not to condemn. Pastor Paul's experience echoes Jesus and St. Paul: whose teachings stressed forgiveness, love and grace—not judgment or measuring others. Grace, Prather argues, is the true center of the faith with God's love and mercy accepting us exactly as we are. This frees us from sin consciousness and changes everything. His kingdom is not a distant promise; it's here now, whenever and wherever we share His unmerited love. Prather's message is beautifully simple: lighten your grip. God already has you. To listen to Paul Prather's recent sermons on grace, go to: https://www.youtube.com/@bethesdachurchmountsterlin7545/videos
Burned out from seeing patients nonstop, managing insurance paperwork and barely sleeping, two Lexington, Kentucky internal medicine doctors—Dr. Kitty Dotson and Dr. Sarah Schuetz—walked away from traditional medicine to build something radically different. Today, they focus exclusively on the six pillars of health (nutrition, movement, sleep, stress management, social connection, and avoiding risky substances), and their patients are reversing heart disease, slashing medications, dropping weight, and—most importantly—regaining power over their own health and lives. In this eye-opening episode, learn how small, shame-free changes can put us on a trajectory to live long and well, and why the future of primary care should look more like a medical office attached to a gym and teaching kitchen than a waiting room of sickness.
From mid-April until Sept. 27, Clay Comer, age 23, hiked from Mexico to Canada alone on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). During his incredible 2,650-mile journey, Clay braved a 40-foot fall off snowy Mount San Jacinto. For hundreds of miles, he battled swarming mosquitoes. Even when temperatures soared above 100, he walked 20 miles or more a day through the charred skeletons of burned forests. Despite the challenges, he met incredible people and saw beautiful mountains, lakes, giant Sequoias, deer, stoats, marmots and all kinds of wildlife. Surprisingly, he said the problems on the trail were not as difficult as the advance preparation and taking the first step. Don't miss this fascinating interview about Clay's PCT journey and what it teaches us about handling life's inevitable problems.
Best-selling Carl Nordgren talks about his great new book "Common Ground for US," which outlines something few people talk about today: a hopeful vision for America. Carl draws on decades of experience, beginning with his years as a teenage fishing guide to his time building 14 successful cellular companies and through his years as a Duke professor, explaining how people can nurture their natural creativity and entrepreneurial instincts, while helping themselves and their communities to thrive. Carl suggests practical ways to find like-minded creative individuals who are solely interested in solving problems, rather than debating a tired, old political playbook. You will be inspired by his belief that a small group of passionate people can change the world.
To celebrate his 96th birthday, co-host Paschal Baute shares his recipe for a long, fruitful life. Despite being blind, surviving cancer and dealing with pain each day, Paschal shares his wisdom about the things that have helped him get another year closer to the century mark. Foremost, he credits the grace of God and his wife. But he also stresses the importance of life purpose, goals, exercise and diet. And he's emphatic about mental outlook, deep breathing, staying curious, creating projects and avoiding giving free-rent to bad stuff like cable news. Don't miss Paschal's recipe for aging well.
Joey Spencer faced his Goliath when his career came to a fork in the road. He could take a high-paying and safe job or follow a passion that was ignited by the movie Fireproof to become a firefighter. Joey took the less certain path and is glad he did. Today, he serves as a captain in the Montgomery County Fire Department in Kentucky. In this inspiring interview, Joey says nearly everyone has a giant challenging our lives: Bad habits, irrational fears, anxiety, poor choices, addictions or baggage from childhood. Though our first response is to run or do nothing, Joey says that putting ourselves at risk, getting help and going down the more challenging path is the best way to beat the Goliaths in our lives.
Kijuan Amey is the author of: "Don't Focus on Why Me," a powerful story about him being on top of the world one minute then suddenly losing his eyesight after a 2017 motorcycle accident. In this inspiring episode, Kijuan tells how he lost his sight but not his vision. Though he had many dark days of struggle, depression and even thoughts of ending his life, Kijuan has overcome severe injuries and maintained his sense of humor to get where he is today: motivating, inspiring and running a successful business. Don't miss this episode of Kijuan telling his amazing story.
Perfectionists can't lose games, worry constantly, overwork, burn out, judge quickly and constantly find faults in themselves and others. In this episode, Kevin and Pashal laugh at their own perfectionism, like Paschal using a ruler to put stamps straight on envelopes. Paschal talks about his dramatic transformation from "never-good-enough spirituality" during 16 years as a monk. Back then, he went to bed each night saying, "Tomorrow, I will do better." Eventually, he freed himself from perfectionism by embracing St. Paul's message of God's grace and love. Don't miss this light-hearted look at a serious problem many Christians and many people face today.
Maggie Bushway tells her amazing story of battling brain cancer beginning at age 7 and over two decades. Though there were (and still are) terrifying seizures, painful chemotherapy and multiple surgeries, Maggie explains how cancer brought the Bushway family closer, deepened their faith and taught them the importance of laughter. Maggie explains the spiritual encounters that convinced her of a calling to share her story in a book called "Pearls: A Memoir of Childhood Brain Cancer and Hope," which she co-authored with her father Rob. Even in life's hard moments, Maggie wants everyone to know that hope can shine through.
Author and Teacher Liz Prather shares key insights from her coming book "Writing for Connection," explaining how addiction to smartphones and social media has dangerously isolated students. She explains a path forward: make writing central in schools to forge new connections among students. Writing can give us self-confidence and the ability to make sense of the crazy world in which we live. As a long-time educator and writer, Liz says writing can help all of us to put down our phones and put us back in touch with one another. It's a profound message for educators and anyone who spends their day looking at screens.
As many people battle to maintain mental health, journalist Kevin Osbourn and psychologist Paschal Baute share stories of how they stay sane in an insane world. Kevin talks about going on a backpacking trip with his sons to the Ouachita National Trail in Arkansas last fall. Paschal discusses the importance of reconnecting with family and friends, and why he swims laps three days a week at age 95. They talk about the importance of hobbies, laughter, deep breathing, and getting out of our rooms. Both are staying away from cable news because Paschal says there's no need to give free rent in our minds to bad stuff. They close the show with the power of gratitude. Don't miss this episode on how to keep your head above water.
Marlana VanHoose: Never Give Up After Marlana VanHoose sang the national anthem at a University of Kentucky women's basketball game when she was 16 years old, she has shared her powerful voice — and her Christian faith — around the world. Her gift was evident early while she grew up in the Denver community near Paintsville, KY. She hummed hymns before she could talk and played piano at age 2. Since that day when she sang at the UK game in 2012, Marlana has sung at Carnegie Hall, a wide variety of sporting events and for President Trump at the National Day of Prayer. Despite being born blind and dealing with physical challenges, Marlana focuses on the positive and constantly encourages others to never give up. Don't miss this episode where Marlana talks about her life and closes the interview with a powerful rendition of "Amazing Grace."
Don't miss this special episode on "The Power of Goals" from professional body builder Josh Miller. In this one-hour podcast recorded Dec. 21 at College Park Gym in Winchester, KY, Josh explains how goals give us purpose, energy, joy, passion, creativity, commitment and direction. Amazingly, though, research shows that most people have no goals. This seminar is based on Josh's 20 years of training people. He explains the powerful steps that anyone can practice to open doors to success and become the captain of your life. Best of all, you can apply the steps outlined not just to fitness, but to any area of life. This seminar will help you stick to resolutions and make 2025 your best year ever.
Sunny Yang came to the U.S. from China, and eventually fell in love with rock climbing and moved to Kentucky's Red River Gorge. Then in 2015, a tragedy happened when a truck driver, who was texting, hit him while he was running. Doctors said he would be paralyzed for life. He wanted to die, but the love for his wife Jing Yang, and their love of their two children — daughter Sunny and son Johnathan — made him determined to live and do his best in everything. He has defied all medical expectations by winning gold medals in the U.S. Para Climbing Nationals and has been featured in TV stories, articles and in an incredible documentary called "Crux." Life, he says, is like rock climbing with obstacles that must be overcome. Don't miss Sunny's incredible story of always moving forward and up in life.
From his youth growing up the son of a coal miner to today, Kentucky and Tennessee National Gym Association Chairman, Josh Miller, has set goals and enjoyed the process of who he becomes as he trains. Miller married his high school sweetheart Melissa in 2000 and today owns Transformation Personal Training in Lexington, Ky. He achieved one of his many dreams when he started the first natural bodybuilding show in Kentucky in 2013. A year later, Miller got his Natural Pro Card, and two years later won his Body Building Pro Card. Today, Miller puts on the Bluegrass Body Building Championships each spring and fall. Don't miss this fascinating interview where Josh explains how journaling changed his life and how you too can change negative thinking and reach for the stars.
Over the last few years, Eddie Flinchum, 74, has lost track how many people have told him he's doing too much exercise and needs to remember his age. He usually smiles and says, "No, you need to be doing more and quit using age as a reason not to do something." Don't miss his incredible story of losing weight and eventually — with persistence — being able to run Spartan races with his son Forrest, complete with rope climbs, monkey bars, wall climbs and carrying 60-pound sandbags. You'll be uplifted to hear his current mission: encouraging others to start their own fitness journey on the road to better health and joy.
Over the past year, ten amazing people have shared unique and precious stories. On this episode, the hosts share what each participant has taught them, and they encourage listeners to write down takeaways from their own lives. Our guests found new life after losing a spouse, overcame paralyzing fear, got a college degree despite setbacks, and survived a life-threatening injury. One guest hiked the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail alone, one started a successful business after her divorce and another persisted and found her uncle's sunken ship from World War II. You'll enjoy hearing what each has taught us, and we hope you'll write the takeaways from your unique life journey.
Musician Bryan Klausing has seen it all over nearly two decades as a producer of the WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour, a live show featuring famous musicians and now reaching 2 million people each week. Because things can and do go wrong during live performances, Bryan has an unbelievable calm that helps the WoodSongs team manage problems and exceed expectations when the show must go on. He is also an incredible mentor as the Digital Studio Supervisor at the Northside Branch of the Lexington Public Library. Don't miss this interview where he explains how setbacks are opportunities to grow. You'll also hear Bryan play his songs Black Locust Winter on the dulcimer, Move Your Shadow performed by his band The Rainjunkies, and he sings and plays Shenandoah on guitar as an ending bonus track.
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