Army of Normal Folks

HIGHLIGHTS: The 4 Things Every Family Should Do Before Disaster Hits Sep 22, 2026 2017 It's not a matter of if a disaster hits your community. It's when. And when it does, the first person on the scene isn't first responders or government officials. It's your neighbor. Jeff Byard has spent 24 years in disaster response - from the Marine Corps to Alabama Emergency Management to FEMA. Then he left to go work with Team Rubicon - a volunteer lead disaster relief organization. In this ep

Before You Ask “What’s Wrong With Them?”, Listen To This Sep 18, 2026 1405 In this Shop Talk, Bill and Alex break down ACE scores - Adverse Childhood Experiences - and what the research says about how childhood trauma shows up decades later in our health, our relationships, and our choices. Bill shares his own score, and makes the case for why understanding this data might be the most important thing you can do before you walk into a tough neighborhood and wonder why peo

Why America Is in Better Shape Than You've Been Told | Unify USA Sep 15, 2026 5264 In this episode, Bill sits down with Teagan and Koston McCoy of Unify USA: how Teagan, 21 and fed up with the division on his phone, pulled an American flag off his truck, ran 22 miles on a whim, and turned eight million views into flag runs across seven states. He gets spit on, has cigarette butts thrown at him, and tells them he loves them anyway. That opens a bigger conversation about what actu

HIGHLIGHTS: Why America Is in Better Shape Than You've Been Told | Unify USA Sep 15, 2026 2103 In this episode, Bill sits down with Teagan and Koston McCoy of Unify USA: how Teagan, 21 and fed up with the division on his phone, pulled an American flag off his truck, ran 22 miles on a whim, and turned eight million views into flag runs across seven states. He gets spit on, has cigarette butts thrown at him, and tells them he loves them anyway. That opens a bigger conversation about what actu

He Built a Confessional—But He Did the Confessing Sep 11, 2026 1466 At one of the most secular campuses in America, a group of Christians set up a confessionial booth during a wild campus party. But they weren't there to hear confessions. They were there to give them. Tony Kriz sat in that booth and apologized to skeptical strangers for the ways Christians had failed to love people. Students who came in ready to argue left having opened up about their own struggle

What a Former Heroin Addict Will Teach You About Relationships | Ariel Moore Sep 8, 2026 5275 Ariel Moore lost nearly everything - her home, her freedom, and even her child. But that's not where her story ends. In this episode, Ariel sits down with Bill to talk about how she rebuilt her life from the ground up, what it looks like to be restored rather than just recovered, and why she believes God didn't save her just for herself. If you’re at a low point in your life and looking for

HIGHLIGHTS: What a Former Heroin Addict Will Teach You About Relationships | Ariel Moore Sep 8, 2026 2175 Ariel Moore lost nearly everything - her home, her freedom, and even her child. But that's not where her story ends. In this episode, Ariel sits down with Bill to talk about how she rebuilt her life from the ground up, what it looks like to be restored rather than just recovered, and why she believes God didn't save her just for herself. If you’re at a low point in your life and looking for

We Have A Morality Problem. And We’re The Problem Sep 4, 2026 1128 In this Shop Talk, Bill and Alex break down the speech Bill gave at the West Tennessee Faith and Community Summit in Memphis, with the governor, the mayor, and a ballroom full of faith leaders in the room. Bill's argument: crime, homelessness, kids who can't read on grade level, and young people aging out of foster care aren't our problems. They're symptoms. The real problem is a morality problem,

43 Million Americans Can’t Read Well Enough to Work (Here’s the Fix) Sep 1, 2026 5707 Nearly 2/3 of American kids aren't reading proficiently by 4th grade. And if they don't catch up, - they're far more likely to drop out, struggle to find work, and cycle through a lifetime of limited options. Right now in the United States, 43 million adults can't read well enough to hold a basic job. This week, Bill sits down with Tony Kriz, co-founder of the Children's Literacy Project, who beli

HIGHLIGHTS: 43 Million Americans Can’t Read Well Enough to Work (Here’s the Fix) Sep 1, 2026 2172 Nearly 2/3 of American kids aren't reading proficiently by 4th grade. And if they don't catch up, - they're far more likely to drop out, struggle to find work, and cycle through a lifetime of limited options. Right now in the United States, 43 million adults can't read well enough to hold a basic job. This week, Bill sits down with Tony Kriz, co-founder of the Children's Literacy Project, who beli

What Jesse Itzler's $18 Office Can Teach Us About Service Aug 28, 2026 751 When Jesse Itzler was broke and sleeping on a friend's couch, he couldn't afford an office. So he made the Beverly Hills Hotel his office - for the price of an $18 salad and four hours of iced tea refills. He sat, watched, listened, and showed up until the right people noticed him. The rest is history. In this Shop Talk, Bill and Alex take that story and flip it toward service. Because most people

His Tool Helped 13,000 Families Out of Crisis. This is How | Restore Hope Aug 25, 2026 5301 Paul Chapman spent years doing charitable work until he finally got frustrated by this: the people trying to help were often doing great work — but they were doing it in silos and too many families still weren’t flourishing.  So he built "HopeHub” to connect nonprofits, churches, law enforcement, child welfare, treatment providers, and others around the very same family, so

HIGHLIGHTS: His Tool Helped 13,000 Families Out of Crisis. This is How | Restore Hope Aug 25, 2026 2298 Paul Chapman spent years doing charitable work until he finally got frustrated by this: the people trying to help were often doing great work — but they were doing it in silos and too many families still weren’t flourishing.  So he built "HopeHub” to connect nonprofits, churches, law enforcement, child welfare, treatment providers, and others around the very same family, so

The Forgotten Club That Once Had 1 Million Members Aug 21, 2026 1192 In this Shop Talk, Bill and Alex dive into the odd history of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows - one of the largest organizations most Americans have never heard of. At their peak, they had over a million members and thousands of lodges across the country. They cared for widows and orphans, built hospitals, and more than 800 cemeteries. And then, slowly, they disappeared. If you've ever wonder

How $1 Can Erase $100 of Medical Debt in Your Community Aug 18, 2026 4519 1 out of every 3 Americans carries medical debt. It's the #1 cause of bankruptcy in the country - and the single greatest predictor of whether you end up in it isn't your income or your insurance. It's whether or not you get sick. Allison Sesso is a normal person leading an abnormal (and awesome) nonprofit doing something about it. Undue Medical Debt has erased nearly $50 billion in medical debt f

HIGHLIGHTS: How $1 Can Erase $100 of Medical Debt in Your Community Aug 18, 2026 2256 1 out of every 3 Americans carries medical debt. It's the #1 cause of bankruptcy in the country - and the single greatest predictor of whether you end up in it isn't your income or your insurance. It's whether or not you get sick. Allison Sesso is a normal person leading an abnormal (and awesome) nonprofit doing something about it. Undue Medical Debt has erased nearly $50 billion in medical debt f

The Lost Art of Talking to Strangers Aug 14, 2026 978 53% of Americans ages 18-29 say talking to strangers is exhausting. But small interactions with everyday strangers actually make your life more meaningful. In this Shop Talk, Bill and Alex dig into why everyday human connection has declined and how you can integrate it into your life. This one is a reminder that community isn't always built through grand gestures, it starts with just saying hello.

Inside the Town Run Entirely By 10-Year-Olds | Junior Achievement Aug 11, 2026 4681 Economic mobility has dropped 45% in recent decades. The American Dream - doing better than your parents did - is getting harder to reach. But Leigh Mansberg and Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South are doing something about it. In this conversation with Bill, Leigh breaks down how Junior Achievement uses experiential learning to unlock economic mobility for kids K-12 - and why giving a

HIGHLIGHTS: Inside the Town Run Entirely By 10-Year-Olds | Junior Achievement Aug 11, 2026 2124 Economic mobility has dropped 45% in recent decades. The American Dream - doing better than your parents did - is getting harder to reach. But Leigh Mansberg and Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South are doing something about it. In this conversation with Bill, Leigh breaks down how Junior Achievement uses experiential learning to unlock economic mobility for kids K-12 - and why giving a

Meet The Ordinary Radicals Aug 7, 2026 1280 What if the most radical thing you could do was just show up? In this Shop Talk, Bill and Alex dive into Shane Claiborne's book The Irresistible Revolution - and the idea that changing the world has never required extraordinary people. Just ordinary ones who refuse to look away. They talk about what it really means to let your life answer the question, why the most important move you can make is t

The 100,000-Man Movement That Will Change Your Life Aug 4, 2026 4222 Frank Schwartz is the CEO of F3 Nation, a 100,000-man volunteer led movement built around fitness, fellowship, and faith. Men at 5,000+ locations worldwide show up at 5:30am - no matter if it’s raining, snowing, or freezing - for free peer-led workouts. But the workout is just the entry point. What F3 is really doing is cultivating a brotherhood and teaching men how to lead, so they can take

HIGHLIGHTS: The 100,000-Man Movement That Will Change Your Life Aug 4, 2026 2175 Frank Schwartz is the CEO of F3 Nation, a 100,000-man volunteer led movement built around fitness, fellowship, and faith. Men at 5,000+ locations worldwide show up at 5:30am - no matter if it’s raining, snowing, or freezing - for free peer-led workouts. But the workout is just the entry point. What F3 is really doing is cultivating a brotherhood and teaching men how to lead, so they can take

What 40 Million Tax Returns Reveal About America Jul 31, 2026 1099 Researchers at Harvard analyzed the tax records of 40 million Americans to answer one of the most debated questions in the country: does the American Dream still exist? The good news is that the dream is alive, but where you grow up dramatically shapes your odds of reaching it. In this Shop Talk, Bill breaks down the 4 factors researchers found that consistently predict whether children will flour

HIGHLIGHTS: This State Is Solving The Foster Care Crisis (Here's How) Jul 28, 2026 2178 This is the shorter "highlights" version of the episode. Coach Bill Courtney sits down with Chris Campbell, Executive Director of Oklahoma's 111 Project, to unpack how Oklahoma has cut the number of children in foster care nearly in half—from 11,500 to 6,000—and what communities across America can learn from their success. Rather than pointing fingers at government, Chris shares h

This State Is Solving The Foster Care Crisis (Here's How) Jul 28, 2026 5734 Coach Bill Courtney sits down with Chris Campbell, Executive Director of Oklahoma's 111 Project, to unpack how Oklahoma has cut the number of children in foster care nearly in half—from 11,500 to 6,000—and what communities across America can learn from their success. Rather than pointing fingers at government, Chris shares how churches, nonprofits, everyday citizens, and public agencie

America Is Running Out of Friends Jul 24, 2026 938 The number of Americans with no close friends has increased fivefold since 1990. But this isn't just a loneliness crisis. It's a community crisis. And the data suggests we may be further from fixing it than we think. In this Shop Talk, Bill dives into a striking report on the collapse of American friendship and reflects on what it reveals about the way we live today. Fewer close friends, shrinking

Why Half of America Is Socially Disconnected—and What You Can Do About It (Pt 1) Jul 21, 2026 2139 More than half of Americans are socially disconnected. But what if the problem isn't so much that we've forgotten how to connect—it's that we've stopped building the kinds of communities where connection naturally happens? In this thought-provoking conversation, Coach Bill Courtney sits down with Aaron Hurst, founder of the U.S. Chamber of Connection, to explore one of the largest chall

Why Half of America Is Socially Disconnected—and What You Can Do About It (Pt 2) Jul 21, 2026 4108 More than half of Americans are socially disconnected. But what if the problem isn't so much that we've forgotten how to connect—it's that we've stopped building the kinds of communities where connection naturally happens? In this thought-provoking conversation, Coach Bill Courtney sits down with Aaron Hurst, founder of the U.S. Chamber of Connection, to explore one of the largest chall

The Pyramid That Explains Almost Everything Jul 17, 2026 994 In this Shop Talk, Coach Bill dives into one of his favorite topics, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs! An Army of Normal Folks diving into Maslow's pyramid is one of the most important things you can do too, as it reveals how people truly flourish and how you can help empower the most vulnerable Americans to do so at increasingly higher levels. ARMY ACTIONS Subscribe to the podcast and rate &

The 36 Year-Old Single Woman Who's Fostered 67 Kids—And Will Change Your Life (Pt 1) Jul 14, 2026 2126 At 25 years old, while many young people are still trying to way their way in life, MK Hill made one of the most mature decisions you can make—to foster a child. Today, at just 36 years old, the single woman has fostered 67 children, adopted six, and has built a home where kids who have experienced unimaginable trauma can find safety, love, and belonging. Even if we never reach MK&rsquo

The 36 Year-Old Single Woman Who's Fostered 67 Kids—And Will Change Your Life (Pt 2) Jul 14, 2026 2381 At 25 years old, while many young people are still trying to way their way in life, MK Hill made one of the most mature decisions you can make—to foster a child. Today, at just 36 years old, the single woman has fostered 67 children, adopted six, and has built a home where kids who have experienced unimaginable trauma can find safety, love, and belonging. Even if we never reach MK&rsquo

The Hero’s Journey (and Why Ours Starts With Normal Folks) Jul 9, 2026 1054 The Hero's Journey isn't just the formula behind Star Wars, Rocky, Pixar classics, and countless Hollywood blockbusters. It's the oldest pattern found in real-life heroic action—and true across cultures, centuries, and civilizations. And it always begins the same way: with an ordinary person. Someone like you. In this episode, Bill and Alex unpack why the timeless archetype matters and intro

The Secret Coffee Club That Can Heal Your Community (Pt 1) Jul 7, 2026 2334 What if one of the biggest solutions to loneliness, toxic division, and disconnection isn't another app or social media platform—but a simple cup of coffee? Ron Sparks and his friend Adam Foster started inviting small groups of people to semi-secret coffee gatherings in beautiful outdoor spaces. There was no agenda. No networking. No politics. Just coffee, conversation, and community. What b

The Secret Coffee Club That Can Heal Your Community (Pt 2) Jul 7, 2026 2685 What if one of the biggest solutions to loneliness, toxic division, and disconnection isn't another app or social media platform—but a simple cup of coffee? Ron Sparks and his friend Adam Foster started inviting small groups of people to semi-secret coffee gatherings in beautiful outdoor spaces. There was no agenda. No networking. No politics. Just coffee, conversation, and community. What b

He Worked for Free—Then Changed My Life (From The Vault) Jul 3, 2026 1008 We're bringing back Shop Talk #3. Because it's been years and it's beautiful! What would make someone work an entire weekend without pay? When Coach Bill Courtney's lumber company was on the brink of collapse after 9/11, one employee refused to go home. For 72 straight hours, Sam Quinn—a former Marine living in a halfway house—worked alongside Bill to save the business, asking for noth

What Your Brain Does With Trauma—And How to Finally Heal It (Pt 1) Jun 30, 2026 2362 Dan Jarvis came home from Afghanistan carrying wounds that didn't show up on any medical chart. In this episode, he breaks down what trauma actually does to the brain - why it hijacks your responses, why willpower alone can't fix it, and how understanding the neuroscience behind your pain is the first step to healing it. Dan built Healing the Hero, a nonprofit that has helped over 18,000 people re

What Your Brain Does With Trauma—And How to Finally Heal It (Pt 2) Jun 30, 2026 4894 Dan Jarvis came home from Afghanistan carrying wounds that didn't show up on any medical chart. In this episode, he breaks down what trauma actually does to the brain - why it hijacks your responses, why willpower alone can't fix it, and how understanding the neuroscience behind your pain is the first step to healing it. Dan built Healing the Hero, a nonprofit that has helped over 18,000 people re

The Paradox of Quitting—So That Your Work Can Live Jun 26, 2026 638 In this Shop Talk, we reflect on a simple question that can haunt all of this: What do we need to quit so our best work can truly live? Featuring Erik Løkkesmoe's powerful essay "I Quit," Coach Bill explores the things that quietly pull us away from meaningful work—chasing applause, feeding the algorithm, climbing ladders, waiting for permission, and letting urgency replace purpo

The One Thing You Need Before Grit, Resilience, or Confidence (Pt 1) Jun 23, 2026 2391 Contrary to popular belief, hope isn't a feeling. It's a formula that Dr. Ashley Cross is about to teach you about. And according to research, it's the single best predictor of wellbeing. More than grit, resilience, confidence, and it’s needed to unlock all of them.  Dr. Cross is one of the nation's leading practitioners of the "Science of Hope” through the incredible work of her

The One Thing You Need Before Grit, Resilience, or Confidence (Pt 2) Jun 23, 2026 4446 Contrary to popular belief, hope isn't a feeling. It's a formula that Dr. Ashley Cross is about to teach you about. And according to research, it's the single best predictor of wellbeing. More than grit, resilience, confidence, and it’s needed to unlock all of them.  Dr. Cross is one of the nation's leading practitioners of the "Science of Hope” through the incredible work of her

The Plane Was in the Bay. Then He Said Something Remarkable. Jun 19, 2026 921 In today's Shop Talk, Bill and Alex discuss the Asoh Defense — the forgotten leadership principle that says admitting your mistake honestly and immediately is more powerful than any excuse you could make. This one's for anyone who's ever been wrong about something. So, everyone. Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He Was a Pastor With a Sex Addiction. Now He's Helped 25,000 Men Heal (Pt 1) Jun 16, 2026 2336 Nate Larkin spent 20 years hiding a sex addiction. For 5 of those years, he was a pastor. When it was exposed and everything collapsed, it could have been the end of his story. It turned out to be the beginning. In this conversation, Nate shares what it took to rebuild and how that journey led him and a dozen guys to start the Samson Society, a community built on radical transparency, vulnerabilit

He Was a Pastor With a Sex Addiction. Now He's Helped 25,000 Men Heal (Pt 2) Jun 16, 2026 4328 Nate Larkin spent 20 years hiding a sex addiction. For 5 of those years, he was a pastor. When it was exposed and everything collapsed, it could have been the end of his story. It turned out to be the beginning. In this conversation, Nate shares what it took to rebuild and how that journey led him and a dozen guys to start the Samson Society, a community built on radical transparency, vulnerabilit

Eric Church Compared Life to a Guitar. And It Went Viral. Jun 12, 2026 1046 Most commencement speeches are forgotten within days. But when country music star Eric Church compared life to a guitar with six strings that must stay in tune—faith, family, relationships, ambition, community, and identity—the message struck a chord with millions. In this Shop Talk, Bill and Alex unpack the viral speech and explore what it means to keep your own life in tune when the

The Generosity of Scars: How Your Hardest Moments Can Help Others Heal (Pt 1) Jun 9, 2026 2356 After nearly taking his own life during a difficult transition from the military, retired Green Beret Scott Mann discovered an unexpected path to healing: telling the stories he most wanted to hide. In this conversation, Scott shares lessons from combat, leading Operation Pineapple Express (rescued 1,000 Afghanis from the Taliban), and his new book, The Generosity of Scars, showing us how our hard

The Generosity of Scars: How Your Hardest Moments Can Help Others Heal (Pt 2) Jun 9, 2026 4511 After nearly taking his own life during a difficult transition from the military, retired Green Beret Scott Mann discovered an unexpected path to healing: telling the stories he most wanted to hide. In this conversation, Scott shares lessons from combat, leading Operation Pineapple Express (rescued 1,000 Afghanis from the Taliban), and his new book, The Generosity of Scars, showing us how our hard

She Heard One Podcast and Drove Nine Hours to Volunteer Jun 5, 2026 1303 For Shop Talk, the extraordinary story one Army member inspiring another one, which inspires us and hopefully you! Amy Crenshaw's nonprofit ComeUnity Cafe where you can donate money or work for your food inspired Lisa Fox to drive 9 hours from Wellington, OH to Jackson, TN to volunteer there for several days and explore if she can do something similar in her community. Listen to this episode and t

The 7 Things Every Person Needs to Flourish (Pt 1) Jun 2, 2026 2353 What does it actually take for a person—and a whole community—to flourish? That's the nut that Joe Woodward from Stand Together is trying to crack in Wichita, as part of their goal to make it a model city for the country. In this episode, Joe shares the 7 conditions every person needs to thrive, why healthy families and communities matter more than we realize, and how ordinary people c

The 7 Things Every Person Needs to Flourish (Pt 2) Jun 2, 2026 3721 What does it actually take for a person—and a whole community—to flourish? That's the nut that Joe Woodward from Stand Together is trying to crack in Wichita, as part of their goal to make it a model city for the country. In this episode, Joe shares the 7 conditions every person needs to thrive, why healthy families and communities matter more than we realize, and how ordinary people c

The Christian Leader Who Challenged The Left And Right (And Maybe You) May 29, 2026 890 After surviving poverty, racism, violence, and a near-fatal beating, John Perkins chose a path few people ever would: forgiveness. This Shop Talk explores the life of one of America's most influential Christian leaders and his radical vision for building what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called "the beloved community."Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for

What Happens When You Finally Listen to Foster Kids (Pt 1) May 26, 2026 2169 When Brian Mavis and his wife learned there were hundreds of foster kids in Colorado that nobody was stepping up to adopt, they realized the problem wasn’t that people didn’t care — it’s that they’d never truly heard the kids’ stories. In this powerful conversation, the founder of America’s Kids Belong shares how recording video testimonies of foster child

What Happens When You Finally Listen to Foster Kids (Pt 2) May 26, 2026 4538 When Brian Mavis and his wife learned there were hundreds of foster kids in Colorado that nobody was stepping up to adopt, they realized the problem wasn’t that people didn’t care — it’s that they’d never truly heard the kids’ stories. In this powerful conversation, the founder of America’s Kids Belong shares how recording video testimonies of foster child

They Came For Food. They Left With Financial Freedom May 22, 2026 843 What if many food pantries (and other types of nonprofits) are solving the wrong problem? This week on Shop Talk, Birch Community Services reveals a radically different model that helps families escape financial instability — and offers lessons that could reshape how you think about service, dignity, and what it actually takes to help people flourish.Support the show: https://www.n

The Hidden Crisis Facing 14 Million Single Parent Families (Pt 1) May 19, 2026 2179 Unannounced, Robert Beeson's ex-wife abandoned him and their 3 young daughters one morning. In this important episode, he vulnerably shares why single parents suffer in silence and how there were almost no resources available to 14 million fellow Americans in his position.  So Robert did what every member of Army of Normal Folks does—he saw a need and he’s filling it. Today, his n

The Hidden Crisis Facing 14 Million Single Parent Families (Pt 2) May 19, 2026 4296 Unannounced, Robert Beeson's ex-wife abandoned him and their 3 young daughters one morning. In this important episode, he vulnerably shares why single parents suffer in silence and how there were almost no resources available to 14 million fellow Americans in his position.  So Robert did what every member of Army of Normal Folks does—he saw a need and he’s filling it. Today, his n

What If Success Isn’t What America Told You It Was? May 15, 2026 864 What happens when a self-made millionaire realizes he’s losing everything that actually matters? This episode tells the unbelievable true story of Millard Fuller giving away $10 million (in today's dollars), intentionally making himself poor, and expectedly building one of the most well-known charities in America.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener f

70% of Foster Families Quit—And You Can Help Change That (Pt 1) May 12, 2026 2263 Within 3 years, 70% of foster families stop fostering—not because they don’t care, but often because they’re overwhelmed and unsupported. In this powerful conversation, Joshua Conley shares how Foster Village Memphis is helping keep foster families going through practical support, community, and relationships that change everything. Joshua will show you how your smalls act of sup

70% of Foster Families Quit—And You Can Help Change That (Pt 2) May 12, 2026 4923 Within 3 years, 70% of foster families stop fostering—not because they don’t care, but often because they’re overwhelmed and unsupported. In this powerful conversation, Joshua Conley shares how Foster Village Memphis is helping keep foster families going through practical support, community, and relationships that change everything. Joshua will show you how your smalls act of sup

The Plane Ride That Turned Steve Young Into an MVP (And Can Change Your Life) May 8, 2026 891 In this episode of Shop Talk, we unpack the unexpected plane ride conversation that transformed Steve Young from being stuck in victim mode into an NFL MVP — and why Stephen Covey’s challenge to “find out how good you can get” applies far beyond football. It’s a powerful story about ownership, mindset, and the moment you stop making excuses and start becoming who you&

How Former Gangsters Pulled 1,000 People Out of Gang Life (Pt 1) May 5, 2026 2393 How do you convince someone to walk away from a life they’d die for? In this episode, former gang member Beni Santibanez shares how “Hope 4 Da Hood” has helped over 1,000 people leave gang life by exposing their lie of loyalty and helping them discover their true identity & value. It’s a raw look at transformation and how you can help people break cycles that most

How Former Gangsters Pulled 1,000 People Out of Gang Life (Pt 2) May 5, 2026 4981 How do you convince someone to walk away from a life they’d die for? In this episode, former gang member Beni Santibanez shares how “Hope 4 Da Hood” has helped over 1,000 people leave gang life by exposing their lie of loyalty and helping them discover their true identity & value. It’s a raw look at transformation and how you can help people break cycles that most

The Hidden Reason You Feel Overwhelmed—And It’s Not Your Schedule May 1, 2026 806 This Shop Talk gets into a hard truth: you don’t feel overwhelmed because your schedule is full—you feel overwhelmed because of expectations. We unpack why the very thing many are cutting—service and connection—might actually be the thing holding your life together.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why Your “Safe Life” Isn’t Actually Safe (Pt 1) Apr 28, 2026 2308 If every part of a community doesn't have the opportunity to flourish, the community can't flourish. Violence will penetrate your safety and all of us will suffer. Greg Spillyards felt convicted to shift from transactional real estate that made him more money to projects focused on transforming Memphis' forgotten places. And his story will show you how to make a deeper impact without leaving your

Why Your “Safe Life” Isn’t Actually Safe (Pt 2) Apr 28, 2026 4585 If every part of a community doesn't have the opportunity to flourish, the community can't flourish. Violence will penetrate your safety and all of us will suffer. Greg Spillyards felt convicted to shift from transactional real estate that made him more money to projects focused on transforming Memphis' forgotten places. And his story will show you how to make a deeper impact without leaving your

How to Build a Life That 10,000 People Show Up For Apr 24, 2026 1100 A 24-year-old man dies—and over 10,000 people show up to his funeral, revealing a hidden life of quietly showing up for others. This Shop Talk explores how Pier Giorgio Frassati built that kind of life—and how you can too.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

9/11 Isn’t History. It’s Still Happening (Pt 1) Apr 21, 2026 2387 2,977 people died on 9/11—but the tragedy didn’t end that day. Since then, over 3,000 people have died from Ground Zero-related illnesses, including 409 FDNY firefighters—more than died on the day itself. Niels Jorgensen was part of a whole Army of Normal Folks who put their own lives at risk by volunteering to clean up Ground Zero for 8 months and he contracted the rar

9/11 Isn’t History. It’s Still Happening (Pt 2) Apr 21, 2026 4989 2,977 people died on 9/11—but the tragedy didn’t end that day. Since then, over 3,000 people have died from Ground Zero-related illnesses, including 409 FDNY firefighters—more than died on the day itself. Niels Jorgensen was part of a whole Army of Normal Folks who put their own lives at risk by volunteering to clean up Ground Zero for 8 months and he contracted the rarest form o

How Service Became Someone Else’s Job Apr 17, 2026 823 Service didn’t disappear—it got outsourced. In this Shop Talk, we unpack the trend of nonprofits shifting from relying on volunteers to paid staff members, how it’s weakening our communities—and why reclaiming responsibility starts with normal folks like you choosing to show up.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for priva

How To Find Light in Life’s Darkest Corners (Pt 1) Apr 14, 2026 2374 Most people don’t find purpose after losing a child—Joe Herr did. After his 4 year-old son died from complications of having cerebral palsy, he started Logan’s Heart and Smiles, a nonprofit that’s helped 450 other families with disabilities by building wheelchair ramps and home modifications —and showing us how service can bring light to the darkest corners of our liv

How To Find Light in Life’s Darkest Corners (Pt 2) Apr 14, 2026 2496 Most people don’t find purpose after losing a child—Joe Herr did. After his 4 year-old son died from complications of having cerebral palsy, he started Logan’s Heart and Smiles, a nonprofit that’s helped 450 other families with disabilities by building wheelchair ramps and home modifications —and showing us how service can bring light to the darkest corners of our liv

Why Your Worst Mistake Doesn't Have to Define You Apr 10, 2026 810 In this Shop Talk, we unpack how Kobe Bryant’s powerful redemption story proves that your worst mistakes don't have to define you. And how An Army of Normal Folks can make a difference, even when our stories aren’t perfect! Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Crazy Pastor Teaching Us The Right Kind of Crazy (Pt 1) Apr 7, 2026 2072 Pastor Corey Brooks has helped transform the most violent area of Chicago into one that’s not in even in the top 35! And he’s done it by being utterly crazy—sleeping on a rooftop for 343 days in the Chicago winter to raise money, literally walking across America, and building a $40 million community center in the hood because they deserve it. Brooks will teach you how to act craz

The Crazy Pastor Teaching Us The Right Kind of Crazy (Pt 2) Apr 7, 2026 2495 Pastor Corey Brooks has helped transform the most violent area of Chicago into one that’s not in even in the top 35! And he’s done it by being utterly crazy—sleeping on a rooftop for 343 days in the Chicago winter to raise money, literally walking across America, and building a $40 million community center in the hood because they deserve it. Brooks will teach you how to act craz

What Zig Ziglar Got Right (And Modern Self-Help Gets Wrong) Apr 3, 2026 1157 Zig Ziglar didn’t build his success on hype or shortcuts—he built it on discipline, service, and helping others win first. In this Shop Talk, we break down the simple principles that can improve how you live, work, and serve—and why modern self-help has made them far more complicated than they need to be.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listene

25,000 Babies Experience Withdrawal Every Year—So This Mom Took Action (Pt 1) Mar 31, 2026 2271 Every year, 25,000 babies experience withdrawal from addictive substances after birth. Jill Kingston saw this up close as the very first 2 babies that she decided to decide to foster were withdrawing from heroin. This normal mom felt convicted to do even more and so she founded Brigid’s Path, which helps both these newborns and their parents to heal. And they’re so successful that when

25,000 Babies Experience Withdrawal Every Year—So This Mom Took Action (Pt 2) Mar 31, 2026 3442 Every year, 25,000 babies experience withdrawal from addictive substances after birth. Jill Kingston saw this up close as the very first 2 babies that she decided to decide to foster were withdrawing from heroin. This normal mom felt convicted to do even more and so she founded Brigid’s Path, which helps both these newborns and their parents to heal. And they’re so successful that when

Wanna Make A Difference? Join An Army of Normal Babymakers! Mar 27, 2026 1184 America’s birth rates have fallen below replacement level—we’re no longer having enough children to sustain the country. In this Shop Talk, we explore why building and supporting families might be one of the most radical acts of hope—and service—there is.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You Walk Past Them—Here’s How to Actually Help (Pt 1) Mar 24, 2026 2289 Most of us walk past someone on the street because we don’t know how to help—or if it will even make a difference. Jonathan Kumar built Samaritan to change that, giving normal folks a simple way to offer relational and financial support that empowers people experiencing homelessness. They’ve helped over 5,000 people so far and they need us, An Army of Normal Folks, in the game to

You Walk Past Them—Here’s How to Actually Help (Pt 2) Mar 24, 2026 4738 Most of us walk past someone on the street because we don’t know how to help—or if it will even make a difference. Jonathan Kumar built Samaritan to change that, giving normal folks a simple way to offer relational and financial support that empowers people experiencing homelessness. They’ve helped over 5,000 people so far and they need us, An Army of Normal Folks, in the game to

What Happens When a Country Stops Living Together Mar 20, 2026 965 Charles Murray’s book Coming Apart revealed a hard truth: we stopped living with people who aren’t exactly like us. This Shop Talk looks at the destruction it birthed and how proximity can bring us back together again.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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