View From a Hearse

As I began to put this 15-minute episode together, it became clear these deleted voicemails were not only a microcosm of my career but also of my life.You will listen to controlled chaos until it not controlled anymore. I believe you can relate too.

From cleaning lady to boss, Bibiana left Colombia South America at the age of 25 to make a life for herself.  She had to start from scratch but she is accomplishing more than she could even imagine.  There are huge lessons here including love of country, the power of single acts of kindness and a never give up attitude. Bibiana Rummier will inspire you and you will agree she is simply amazing. 

My oldest sibling, Mac Goddard, died two months ago on May 24, 2025. He was 83. On his 75th birthday, I (along with several others), said a few words to him and about him at the gathering. I just found an audio recording of my remarks. For posterity's sake, here it is. The message is only about 10 minutes, but the life lesson lasts a lifetime.

Jim Cumbee is a lawyer who later received an MBA from Harvard Business School. He has served as Assistant Attorney General of Missouri, worked on the staff of the Governor of Missouri, spent years as a commercial real estate developer, and held executive positions at the Walt Disney Company. He also purchased a Gospel Music Radio network, grew it, and sold it. Today, as a very successful business broker, he has earned the titles of expert negotiator and mediator and has authored a best-selling book: “Home Run: A Pro’s Guide to Selling Your Business.” There are business lessons in his story and, more importantly, life lessons. Jim Cumbee is a gift, but he also has a gift. If you are wondering what it takes to be successful, be sure to tune in.

My guest is Bobby Ward, a member of the Miniature Golf Hall of Fame and winner of two US Opens, and a Masters, among about 200 other events. He talks about his putting career, the game, and its bright future. You will learn about this incredible game and be inspired to find the nearest facility to you and take it up. This is really good stuff.

My brother Mac died on May 24, 2025, after a brief illness. This is a little of his story and passion as I know it, as we begin to turn the page from a tough few weeks.

Rick Knight was a highly popular radio personality in Macon, GA, during the 1980s and 1990s with the "Rick Knight Road Show" on WDEN until he was terminated from the station, and his life fell apart. Rick ended up serving time in a Federal Penitentiary. This is a story of wrong choices, consequences, accountability, and redemption.

A 12-minute or so snippet of a "View from a Hearse" live performance. Funny only. And sometimes that is enough.

Be sure to go to YouTube and search "View from a Hearse Podcast" to see the slides that go along with this incredible story of an immigrant family who moved to a small rural southern town and made a life for themselves and those who came after them. You will be inspired by how these families found the American dream.

The Annual Georgia Strawberry Festival will be April 25-26 in Reynolds GA. The festival kicks off with Gospel Fest on Friday evening (25th) and all the other festivities being Saturday morning, April 26th. I have three of the ladies behind it as my guests and they will talk about what you can expect.

Randy Toms, a former two-term Mayor of Warner Robins, GA, and retired Lieutenant with the Warner Robins Fire Department is my guest. He currently serves as Executive Director at the Georgia Firefighters Standards and Training Council. Randy is an expert on fires: That is literal fires and spiritual fires. A gifted communicator, and ordained minister, he teaches others how to live "Out of the Fire."

Ephraim K Johnson was a special needs man who taught me much and had no idea he was teaching. This is his story and his story causes us to consider the real purpose of our lives. If you have a special needs person in your life, this will hit home.

On the 10th anniversary of this death, this is a rerelease of "Steve Mack Unveiled,' which was first released in November 2023. My guests are a few of the people who worked for him and with him and they speak of the lessons he taught.

Laney Blair (LB) Davis is my guest and maybe the biggest 20-year-old UGA football fan ever. Inspired by Loran Smith while in high school, she began writing letters to the late great Larry Munson in heaven to keep him up to date on Georgia football. Her only dream was to become a student at UGA. When the time came to apply, she was rejected. She thought her dream was shattered but realized it was only deferred. For Georgia fans and college football fans everywhere, this story is about the power of college football but, more importantly, a story of never giving up on your dreams.

A reading of a couple of blog articles I wrote about 15 years ago on pain and the lessons we get from it.

Boaz Shalgi, who was featured here on Episode #120 in June of 2024, speaks to me again from the land of the Bible with updates on Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the ongoing war and conflicts. He also speaks of how this war has impacted his family. As before, if you want to help him and his family financially, you can contact me at goddardrb54@gmail.com, and I will give you instructions. Also, if you are interested in having Boaz speak to your church or group and how what is going on in Israel is important to the US and all Christians, he is planning a tour of the states and would love to speak to your group. Feel free to contact me at the email address above for more information.

A lesson on kindness. This episode will take only five minutes of your time.

My guest is the legendary and beloved Loran Smith of the University of Georgia. Among other things, he tells stories of Larry Munson and talks about his friends, such as Butts, Tarkenton, Dooley, and Smart, and gives his unique perspective on the recruitment of Herschel Walker. He also talks about the dilemma of NIL. He also tells how he became the sideline reporter for UGA radio. This is good stuff.

Recently retired small town Pharmacist and pharmacy owner, George Launius, talks about how Big Pharma is affecting our lives and our health and the resulting dilemma of the pharmacy industry.

This is the last part of a four-part series with my lifelong friend Jimmy Childre, Jr. Jimmy's dad also joins us. Jimmy, who is on the Board of Councilors of the Carter Center, talks about Jimmy Carter, whose funeral was being held while we recorded this conversation. We end this series with some more profound questions for Jimmy.