Matt’s Story: A Normal Day Is Awesome

Alea-Lovely-11-680x1024

Earlier in this season we met Hannah Pithers, a young personal trainer with a big health issue , Crohn’s Disease, in “Hannah’s Story: The Big Comeback.” In the course of the interview, I learned that I had two great inspirational stories on my hands.

This episode focuses on Matt, Hannah’s husband, and his side of this same story.

They Can’t All Be “The Original:” The True History of Frozen Pizza

Frozen_Pizzadreamstime_xxl_10214661

Who hasn’t had a frozen pizza? Many of them claim to be “the Original” frozen pizza. That’s pretty big talk. So, who’s right? In this encore episode from Season One, we delve into that important question and the history of oven-ready pizza!

 

Revolver: A Story Will Rogers Would Love

willrogers

 

Will Rogers, Oklahoma’s favorite son, worked his way from failed rancher to Wild West show performer to the highest paid performer in Hollywood.  His homespun philosophy won him favor with Presidents and the common man.

But this story centers on a gun, a Colt 32.20, that was shipped to Muskogee, Indian Territory in 1904. Could it be the gun in Will’s holster pictured above? The Humber family story suggests that it could very well be…but it’s also so much more.

 

 

But You Don’t Look Indian… : The Art of Bobby C. Martin

You Dont 4

 

One of the most-heard comments at showings of his work by Indian artist Bobby C. Martin is “But you don’t look Indian…” The theme of much of Bobby’s work centers around the subject of Indian identity – in fact, his last show took it’s title from that often repeated phrase.

Our conversation took place just a day or so after a national news story, involving Senator Elizabeth Warren and President Trump, ignited a debate about…Indian-ness.

Listen as Bobby describes his rediscovery of a  Native American identity that was never really lost and what it means in the broader American culture of the 21st century.

Keeper of the Stories

428467_428642910501251_389675771_n

 

As best as we can determine, this picture was taken in the spring of 1913. The baby in the photograph is my paternal grandmother surrounded by her older sisters. In today’s episode we discuss the importance of learning and keeping the family stories. Photos, such as this one, can provide a great entry into the family story. Family stories connect us to the past, places and an extended cast of characters all of which are a part of your story. It makes your story more colorful.

Being the nosy little kid with questions about everything, I was lucky enough to stumble upon the story of my grandparent’s wedding day. The story was unknown to the generation that followed them and would have been lost had I not asked the right question at an opportune time. This holiday season, find a few lost family stories of your own!