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© Copyright 2025 Tim Larson
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Classic storytelling can be found around many campfires and in any Disney film. In so many cases, the very best of stories from our personal lives are heard repeatedly over years without ever being recorded. Tim Larson and Liz Wylder knew that WROK radio’s 100th birthday in 2023 would be a great springboard for this project. Future sit downs would certainly rekindle old friendships and, undoubtedly, allow everyone to learn something about the people they thought they knew well.
The lightbulbs began to strobe above the heads of Liz and Tim in the parking lot of the Stockholm Inn restaurant in Rockford, Illinois after a lunch with six former radio colleagues. Their cheeks hurt from laughing and both realized they had the equipment and the means to record these soon-to-be-priceless conversations. And so, the Storytellers Studio was born!
This project began only three short months after Liz and Tim launched Lifes3x5s podcast. It’s the definition of unpredictable conversation among friends. Each episode takes place at a different remote location. Random questions and observations from listeners are drawn from a stack of 3x5 index cards. Eavesdropping at its finest. And, there is much more to see at www.lifes3x5s.com.
Special thanks to Mike Lamb of Podcast Genesis, Greg Orput and Sandy Dingus of Edgebrook Center, Jeff Davis Productions in Los Angeles, California and Kipper McGee of Brandwidth on Demand.
The lightbulbs began to strobe above the heads of Liz and Tim in the parking lot of the Stockholm Inn restaurant in Rockford, Illinois after a lunch with six former radio colleagues. Their cheeks hurt from laughing and both realized they had the equipment and the means to record these soon-to-be-priceless conversations. And so, the Storytellers Studio was born!
This project began only three short months after Liz and Tim launched Lifes3x5s podcast. It’s the definition of unpredictable conversation among friends. Each episode takes place at a different remote location. Random questions and observations from listeners are drawn from a stack of 3x5 index cards. Eavesdropping at its finest. And, there is much more to see at www.lifes3x5s.com.
Special thanks to Mike Lamb of Podcast Genesis, Greg Orput and Sandy Dingus of Edgebrook Center, Jeff Davis Productions in Los Angeles, California and Kipper McGee of Brandwidth on Demand.
102 Episodes
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Bob has covered every story topic imaginable…from United States Presidents to the world’s top athletes. His love for sports evolved into the amazingly knowledgeable Mr. Baseball on multiple WROK morning shows over the years. Ken DeCoster (also a former WROK/WZOK News Director) guided Bob through their careers together and we all learned something about Bob, who we’ve all known for decades. Former WROK colleague Tim Larson and former WZOK colleague Liz Wylder joined in on the conversation. Bob’s visit was in Rockford, Illinois on July 19, 2022.
Melinda Hagerman and Tim Larson have been friends for decades and it was high time to capture some of their stories. They have always learned something new from each other and neither have no idea where any conversation will go. Today's episode at Benson Stone and Hearth Rock Cafe is no exception.Recorded December 3, 2025.
Twenty two friends contributed to this episode. We were gathered in sunny Michigan for Art's Radio Reunion/Birthday Party. It was a milestone so folks came in from all over the country. Art's passion for radio and his circle of friends is obvious to all who've met him. This is everyone's chance to be a part of the day. In order appearance: Joey Reynolds, Chuck Knapp, Scott Childers, Johnny O., Don Beno, Andy St. John, Brian Major, Denny Schaffer & Kim Carson, Barry Mardit, Mike Austerman, Phlash Phelps, "Radio's Best Friend" song by Mike Lamb, JoJo Shutty-McGregor, Rob Milford, Ray Brown, John Landecker, Bill Fortune Taylor, Shotgun Tom Kelly, Tim Larson, Lou Simon, Jim Michaels, Ted Gorden Smucker.Recorded September 27, 2025
Tim Larson got a call from Marty Ross at 10:42am. Marty was leaving Rockford, Illinois for Los Angeles, California that afternoon at four. Within three minutes, they agreed to meet each other for the first time to do this episode at the Potato Shak diner. They had absolutely no idea where the conversation was to begin and more so where it would end. Buckle up for a tilt-a-whirl of chatter like neither of these guys had ever experienced.Recorded September 17, 2025.
David Torretta has fifty years under his belt in the music recording industry. From Steve Scorfina of REO Speedwagon and Michael McDonald of The Dobbie Brothers to Chuck Berry! For him, it's very easy to tell the stories when you've lived them. We also talked some baseball among an avid Cardinal fan and a lifelong Cubs fan. Play ball!Recorded at the Drury Inn lobby in Collinsville, Illinois near St. Louis, Missouri. August 28, 2025.
When I see the St. Louis Arch it's time to start looking for David Sandusky's BEAST Craft BBQ in Belleville, Illinois. Ribs with his creamy mac and cheese call my name every time.David is a highly acclaimed chef and pitmaster and knows his way around several television shows on Food Network. His passion is more like an obsession. Throw a bib on and get ready to get sauced!Recorded at BEAST Craft BBQ Company in Belleville, IL on August 27, 2025.
Everyone has experienced Rockford, Illinois in a genuinely original way.Whether you’re 22 years old or 92, you have a very unique short story. To help celebrate 815 Day (August 15th, 2025), your host Tim Larson has collected snippets from longtime friends and complete strangers. This is the ultimate Storytellers Studio podcast episode. See much more and other shows at timlarsonmedia.com.
The Big 89 WLS radio celebrated the 65th anniversary of the Musicradio format of the 60's and 70's. They were the Rock of Chicago! In addition to an epic party, Ted Gorden Smucker gathered the finest radio announcers of that era for a roundtable conversation and on-air excerpts from the past. It was a beehive.Scott Childers hosted the show. Guests included Tommy Edwards, Chuck Knapp, Catherine Johns, Chuck Buell and Jim Kerr.The behind-the-scenes production team included Art Vuolo, Ted Gorden Smucker, Bill Shannon, Tim Larson, Don Beno, Tyler Bravo, Joey Domenick and Kipper McGee. This show is called Unwound to compliment the WLS/WCFL programming on Labor Day Weekend each year on Rewoundradio.com and the Memorial Day Rewind specials on WLS back in 2007 and 2008.Recorded at the WLS studios in the NBC Tower in Chicago, Illinois on July 25, 2025.
Steve Scorfina and Kathleen Sullivan had only met your host Tim Larson two weeks prior to the recording of this episode. They were all attending a charity event at the Hard Rock Casino in Rockford, Illinois. One conversation led to another very quickly and the next thing ya know Tim was photographing the REO Speedwagon Legacy Reunion Concert in the city where it all began. Steve's stories are amazing and will leave you saying, "There's no way a person can make this up!"Recorded the day after the show on the terrace of the I Hotel in Champaign, Illinois.June 15, 2025.
Mark Finnegan has directed a caravan of veterans to Washington, DC since 2010. You'll hear about the logistic magic and also that of Bill Hunter. The emotional floods are overwhelming and the partnerships are incredible. Mark lives the passion for our military heroes and you can hear it in his voice.Recorded at Finnegan's RV Center in South Beloit, Illinois on May 14, 2025.
It was a thrill to visit with Fred Winston in southwest Michigan. I have been a huge fan of his performances on Chicago radio for forty seven years (since 1978). He's very quick witted and an all around good guy. Don't worry. If you're not familiar with Fred since you live far away from Chicago, I will gladly bring you up-to-speed in the first fifteen minutes of the show. Thank you so much to Ted Gordan Smucker for co-hosting this episode and making all the arrangements. Recorded inside the Public House of the Round Barn Brewery in Baroda, Michigan on April 24, 2025.
Duncan and Tim Larson are connect eight ways to Tuesday. You'll find out how during the episode. Learn about The Masters at Augusta, Georgia, Norris Aldeen and the restoration of the golf course's famous barn. You don't have to be a golfer to enjoy this episode. After the exit of the show, listen for the song "Hooked on Hayward" referenced in the conversation.Duncan is currently the Executive Director at the Park Chamber of Commerce for Loves Park and Machesney Park, Illinois.Recorded April 15, 2025 in the clubhouse of the Aldeen Golf Club in Rockford, Illinois.
Your host Tim Larson decided about two months ago to try his hand at songwriting. Actually laying down his thoughts that were scribbled on many small sheets of paper over the previous year. With absolutely no musical skills, he sent the lyrics to London, England. The producers magically use Ai to combine genre, tempo and singer gender choices into a song.Here are the inspirations and back stories for each of Tim's first nine songs. You have complete freedom to rate these songs as if you were in the audience of American Bandstand with Dick Clark.Recorded on April 3, 2025 at the Podcast Movement Evolutions 2025 convention at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois.
Bobby Roth and I met briefly just three hours before our conversation. He was conducting a Director's Panel at the Beloit International Film Festival in Wisconsin. He's made films and television shows for over fifty years. You will instantly recognize nearly the entire list. We agreed on an afternoon meeting time and location for recording this episode. After the workshop, everyone rushed off to various film screenings and a quick bite to eat. We reconvened later and within three minutes of pleasantries the microphones were on. Our exchange of stories are close to the length of a feature film. Enjoy.Recorded on March 30, 2025.
Learn about the workings, volunteers and the community reach of the Beloit Art Center. There's never a shortage of appealing art in Beloit, Wisconsin. It's easy to be impressed.Jerry is a long time volunteer and the main gallery bears his name. Dawn is the CEO of this group who fills four galleries in this ever growing southern Wisconsin city. Recorded March 27, 2025.
Kat Williams and her group are spearheading the monumental project of bringing an International Women's Baseball Center to Rockford, Illinois. The Rockford Peaches at Beyer Stadium put Rockford on the women's sports map in the 1940's. The world zeroed in on that compass in 1992 through the film A League of Their Own. Learn about the past and the future of this amazing side to the game of baseball.Recorded at Movement Fitness in Rockford, Illinois on March 5, 2025.
Whitney Martin and Tim Larson have known each other for a long time. Sharing the back stories of television and radio is just the beginning. Charity work together, bloopers and dancing. You'll have to tune in to sort it all out.Recorded at the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau in downtown Rockford, Illinois on January 30, 2025.
Tim Larson founded his promotional advertising company the very same year the Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition handed out their first awards. Tim has sponsored, volunteered and supplied trophies even since. Between the three of them, Laura, Kellie and Tim will draw back the curtain and share little know facts about what it takes to conduct this 39 year old winter display.Recorded in the Rockford Park District Board Room on January 27, 2025.
Tim Johnson and Tim Larson worked side by side at WROK radio in Rockford, Illinois in the med '80s. Our promotional meetings were always a high level of brainstorming. They mastered the art of connecting listeners and sponsors to the overall on-air experience for the good of the station. Say it was simply fun would be a huge understatement. Tim Johnson was also a terrific host in the Houston area when Tim Larson needed it most.Recorded at the Edgebrook Studio in Rockford, Illinois on December 23, 2024.
Phil and Sharon Raines have been vendors at Edgebrook's Farmers Market for as long as I can remember. He's never met a stranger and is filled to the brim with bee knowledge.It was a fun conversation which ranged from "going commando" in a bee suit to selling live bees to veterinarians to treat horses.Recorded in Rockford, Illinois at our Edgebrook Studio: December 11, 2024.
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