Old news. Bad news. Fake news. Sometimes you want to shut down and get no news at all! I aim to change that by focusing on good people doing good works. I visit with artists, educators, civic & spiritual leaders, musicians, business owners, students, volunteers, and everyday citizens who are using their creativity, resources, and talents to bring hope, happiness, and goodness to their corner of the world.
Episodes
Wednesday Oct 31, 2018
Ep. 11 - The Summer of 1995 Ft. Jody Taylor - Find the Good News with Oran Parker
Wednesday Oct 31, 2018
Wednesday Oct 31, 2018
Jody Taylor has been working behind the scenes to bring live music and art experiences to Southwest Louisiana for over 20 years. I asked him to share some of his heart on this episode of Find the Good News. Jody traces his inspiration for organizing creative events directly to the summer of 1995. That's when local youth collective Pourquoi Pas changed the music scene in Lake Charles before a scene existed. I could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice; Jody is still chasing the magic of that summer. He's held onto that passion and uses it to make the past present by bringing us some pretty damn good events.
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THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
Thursday Oct 25, 2018
Ep. 10 - The ABCs of Caring Ft. Becky Girola - Find the Good News with Oran Parker
Thursday Oct 25, 2018
Thursday Oct 25, 2018
In this episode of Find the Good News, I had the chance to catch up with Becky Girola, the Director of ABC Crisis Pregnancy Center in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Becky has a positivity and energy that hits you right in the heart. She shares her inner spirit and faith without reserve. It's easy to see how her call to non-judgment and love have placed her in the right position to serve young girls and women that face the fear and uncertainty that an unplanned pregnancy can bring. Becky and ABC offer something that is just as valuable as their resources and services. They provide companionship, kindness, compassion, and hope. For a young woman in crisis that can be the good news they need to hear.
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THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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FOR INFORMATION ABOUT ABC CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER >> www.ABCPRC.com
Tuesday Oct 23, 2018
Ep. 9 - The Otherly Love Ft. Tony Bourque - Find the Good News with Oran Parker
Tuesday Oct 23, 2018
Tuesday Oct 23, 2018
In this episode of Find the Good News, I have a long discussion with Tony Bourque, the pastor at Waters Edge Church in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He took me into territory that I did not expect from a bible-belt pastor, especially when our conversation wandered into the cosmic nature of Christ. He shared his own vulnerabilities and an unapologetic love for all of God's children. We cover a lot of ground in this episode and one thing was crystal clear by the end; Tony has a good heart. He cares about people, especially those that may have been disenfranchised, disregarded, cast out, those shunned by society and, sadly, shunned by many other churches. Tony and I discuss that not only is loving the other a good thing, it's a deeply Christian thing. It seems that's what Tony Bourque and the community at Waters Edge is doing—loving people as they are—and I think that's pretty good news.
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS SPONSORED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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FOR MORE INFO ABOUT TONY BOURQUE AND WATERS EDGE >> www.watersedgegathering.com
Saturday Oct 20, 2018
Ep. 8 - The 50 Cent Soda Ft. Owen Clanton - Find the Good News with Oran Parker
Saturday Oct 20, 2018
Saturday Oct 20, 2018
One of the blessings I receive from producing Find the Good News is in visiting with someone I've never met before and seeing their passion for service to others. This motivating episode with Owen Clanton—principal at F.K. White Middle School—started as soon as he walked in the studio door. He's a deep thinker, an infectious leader, and it's clear that he cares about bettering the lives of his faculty and students. We meander into some interesting places. In getting to know Owen it affirms again that there are good people out there changing the world 50 cents at a time.
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS SPONSORED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
LEARN MORE ABOUT OWEN CLANTON >> www.facebook.com/owen.clanton
Friday Oct 19, 2018
Friday Oct 19, 2018
Find the Good News is rewarding because I get to visit with people I truly admire. This particular episode is a treat because I finally get to do that with talented muralist, Ronnie Collins. What I discovered is something that I already suspected; Ronnie is a genuinely nice person. The friendliness and kindness that he presents is authentic in every way. To me, Ronnie a true renaissance man. He paints, writes, sings, and plays original music, he teaches, and his beautiful murals adorn walls and rooms all over the world. He's one of the good guys, and it makes me happy to know he's in the world.
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS SPONSORED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
LEARN MORE ABOUT RONNIE COLLINS >> www.facebook.com/ronnie.collins.75
Monday Oct 15, 2018
Monday Oct 15, 2018
This episode of Find the Good News is close to my heart. My spiritual sister—Ann Richard Magee—shares her story of tragedy and redemption. Ann talks openly about her brother's murder, the hole she found herself in after his death, and the renewed hope that she has today. This isn't a sugar-coated episode; Ann tells things as they are, and paints a clear picture of the despair she experienced, the prayerful people that lifted her during this time of grief, and the new purpose she's found on the other side of loss. I have no doubt that her story will do someone some good.
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS SPONSORED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
Wednesday Oct 10, 2018
Ep. 5 - The Inkling Girl Ft. Morgan Allain - Find the Good News with Oran Parker
Wednesday Oct 10, 2018
Wednesday Oct 10, 2018
In this episode of Find the Good News, I got to visit with one of my favorite Southwest Louisiana artists—the Inkling Girl—Morgan Allain. Morgan's work caught my eye years ago where it was on display at a local coffee house, and I recently became one of her patrons on Patreon. She has a clever wit and infectious joy. She opened up about the anxieties of stepping out with her art, and her insights are just as uplifting as the art she creates. Morgan is using her talents to spread happiness and kindness. I smiled the whole time we talked, and seeing the good was easy.
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS SPONSORED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
TO FIND "THE INKLING GIRL" MORGAN ALLAIN >> Twitter/Instagram: @TheInklingGirl, www.TheInklingGirl.etsy.com
Wednesday Oct 10, 2018
Ep. 4 - The Still Small Voice Ft. Bob Richard - Find the Good News with Oran Parker
Wednesday Oct 10, 2018
Wednesday Oct 10, 2018
In this episode of Find the Good News, I had a chance to visit with the director of the Beacon Center, Bob Richard. It seems Bob has always had a particular calling to serve his homeless brothers and sisters, and he shares that not too long ago he was given a vision from God which gave new focus and purpose to his particular calling. He chose to act on this divine inspiration, get out of God's way, and do the work he's been asked to do through the Beacon Center. He shares his faith in God openly, honestly, and with kindness. It was a good conversation, and I think you'll find the good in it too.
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS SPONSORED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >>www.ParkerBrandUp.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BEACON CENTER >> www.BeaconLC.org
Sunday Oct 07, 2018
Sunday Oct 07, 2018
In this episode of Find the Good News, I had the opportunity to visit with Grammy-nominated educator, saxophonist, public speaker—and my new friend—Mickey Smith Jr. I really got a lot out of this conversation and I think I could have stayed inside of his headspace for several more hours. Mickey puts himself out there and really opens up, which I think is crucial to connecting with other people. Our conversation was uplifting and invigorating, and I found myself reflecting on what we talked about well into the night. It's been easy for me to find the good in Mickey, and I think you'll find something good as well.
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS SPONSORED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
Friday Oct 05, 2018
Friday Oct 05, 2018
In this episode of Find the Good News, I visit with Kari Hankins—nurse, mother, wife, daughter, sister, non-profit founder, and creator of Truth, Facts, and Lies. She says she's ordinary and that there's nothing special about her; I tend to disagree. I see her standing up and helping teens when she could have easily done nothing and just worried about herself. Maybe the fact that she's ordinary, but doing extraordinary things is precisely what makes her special. She's the right person at the right time to do the work she's doing. I think she's good, and I think you'll find the good in her too.
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS SPONSORED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
Tuesday Oct 02, 2018
Ep. 1 - The Introduction - Find the Good News with Oran Parker
Tuesday Oct 02, 2018
Tuesday Oct 02, 2018
Old news. Bad news. Fake news. Sometimes you want to shut down and get no news at all!
With Find The Good News I aim to change that by focusing on good people doing good works. I visit with artists, educators, civic & spiritual leaders, musicians, business owners, students, volunteers, and everyday citizens who are using their creativity, resources, and talents to bring hope & happiness to their corner of the world.
In each episode, I dig into the hearts & minds of my extraordinary guests. We have street-level conversations about relatable things going on in their lives. I discover the critical life experiences that shaped them, the perspectives that drive them, and the fundamental beliefs that have anchored them to a path of goodness.
There's a lot of news in the world. I'm going to find the good.