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 May 06, 2020
Ep. 83 - The Open Mic Ft. Chase Bonin - Find the Good News with Brother Oran
Wednesday May 06, 2020
Wednesday May 06, 2020
EP. 83 - The Open Mic Ft. Chase Bonin of the Lake Charles Comedy Scene
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I talk a lot about love and compassion on this show. I truly believe they are medicine, and two of the greatest gives that can be given and received, but there’s another very human gift that brings great healing, and I know I don’t talk about it enough, and that gift is laughter.
When I look back on my life, laughter has often been a huge component to my well being, and a good belly laugh has always been a sign that reconciliation may have occurred, and deep grief is settling, or a cosmic awareness of the silliness and beauty of life has hit me square in my forehead. The truth is, I want to get the great joke and laugh through my tears, and these beings that have the ability to pull the chuckles out of me when I need it most are acting as healers.
I had to laugh at myself yet again when Chase Bonin, local comedian and organizer of the Lake Charles Comedy scene, came in for a visit on Find the Good News.
I’m guilty of being one of those people, you know, the ones that say, “I wish we this-or-that here in our area." Well, the joke was on me. I truly didn’t know we had an active and growing stand-up comedy scene in Southwest Louisiana, and visiting with Chase reminded me, yet again, that I don’t always know what I think I know.
Chase loves comedy and is a student of stand-up, and he is using that love and high-interest to bring local and regional talent to our area. I enjoyed hearing about his road to stand-up. He’s honest, funny, and somewhere between those things I found a really authentic bit of wisdom as well, and that’s really good news.
I invite you to listen to my conversation with Chase Bonin, a really funny guy with an open mic if you think you might be funny too.
The world may still be trying to figure out how to kickstart all the old systems, but for the time being, just lay those things down.
Chase Bonin has some chuckles to share. So, take a drive, a walk, put in some earbuds, then dust off your smile. Prepare to laugh and have a genuinely good time, then press play on a little good news.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS ON PATREON >> www.Patreon.com/FindTheGoodNews
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CONNECT WITH CHASE BONIN >> www.facebook.com/chase.bonin.9
LEARN ABOUT THE LAKE CHARLES COMEDY SCENE >> www.facebook.com/lakecharlescomedy/
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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Tuesday Apr 21, 2020
Ep. 82 - The Encouragers Ft. Ashley Gatte - Find the Good News with Brother Oran
Tuesday Apr 21, 2020
Tuesday Apr 21, 2020
EP. 82 - The Encouragers Ft. Ashley Gatte of Empire of the Seed
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Sitting down at the right-round table in studio with a guest is starting to seem like a distant memory. It’s hard for me to express this, but there is something special about the space where I meet with my guests. It conveys an openness, creative energy, and joy that is reflective of the types of conversations I hoped to have with each person that’s come to visit.
Since the stay-at-home orders associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the serious distancing measure required, I haven’t been able to meet in person with the good people that make our local communities better. Before our world hit a massive pause, I had the pleasure of visiting with several people doing good works in our communities. The conversation I’m sharing with you today is one of those recorded in studio, and as I listened to it again it made me nostalgic for a time not too long ago when proximity to new people was a commodity. Today, I’m sharing my visit with Ashley Gatte of Empire of the Seed.
Empire of the Seed is an altruistic entity in Southwest Louisiana that has a long plan to invigorate an already existing cultural landscape by revitalizing historic properties into venues and businesses that expand upon a community with a rich mix of art, music, and cuisine. The Empire of the Seed has seen many successes, and the people of the Lake Charles area have benefited in many ways. After meeting with Ashely Gatte, it was easy to draw lines from many of their accomplishments directly to her efforts as the President of Historic Events.
It was clear to me that helping others reach for their full potential was highly important to Ashley. This was a gift that others had shared with her, and giving it back seemed to be one of the ways she has shown her gratitude.
As a talented lifelong musician, Ashley has shared her passion for song with her community. Combining that personal passion with the resources of Empire of the Seed has given birth to venues where other artists and musicians can share their love in turn. From my perspective, this is good compounding on good, a type of rebirth and renewal that the world sorely needs more of.
She’s an athlete, a planner, an organizer, a songwriter, musician, and singer, but most important of all, she is kind, filled with joy, and carries a smile that makes a person want to share their own.
I’ve enjoyed many digital conversations with some wonderful people since the coronavirus shutdown, but revisiting my conversation with Ashley makes me long for a time that I hope isn’t too far away, when I can sit down and breath the same air as my guests.
I invite you to listen to my conversation with Ashley Gatte, one of the good people who has done good works in the world, someone that I am sure is ready to continue doing that in any way she can.
The world may have pressed pause, but let’s set some time aside, feel some joy, share a space for a little while, and press play on a little good news.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS ON PATREON >> www.Patreon.com/FindTheGoodNews
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CONNECT WITH ASHLEY GATTE >> www.facebook.com/ashley.gatte.71
LEARN ABOUT EMPIRE OF THE SEED >> www.empireoftheseed.com/
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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Saturday Apr 11, 2020
Ep. 81 - The Comforter Ft. Eugenie Tullos - Find the Good News with Brother Oran
Saturday Apr 11, 2020
Saturday Apr 11, 2020
EP. 81 - The Comforter Ft. Eugenie Tullos
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More often than not, my visits with guests of Find the Good News take place nearly a month or more before they air. Normally, that’s not a sobering or surreal experience, but so much has changed in our world since the time that this episode was recorded. Not long after this visit, as I’m quite certain you know, the world was changed by the new coronavirus and the medical complications brought on by COVID-19.
Social distancing. Quarantine. Masks. Gloves. Disinfectant. Shortages. Misinformation. Sacrifices. Selfishness. Selflessness. Despair. Hope. Isolation. Innovation. Lies. Heroes. Takers. Helpers. These are just the words that come immediately into my mind as I reflect on the current state of the world as framed by my conversation with the guest in this episode, Eugenie Tullos.
If anything, the state of the world today actually made key moments in our conversation stand out even more. Eugenie Tullos is a one of the helpers, the heroes, the innovators, one of the beings that has been working in the world in a selfless way, sacrificing, and comforting others with presence, truth, and hope. Her job as a loving care-giver has required physical closeness for many years, so hearing our visit in the light of this time of distancing reminded me of the crucial value of human proximity, especially now that we don’t have it.
This conversation isn’t about the global pandemic, but it is filled with advice, perspectives, and information about the very best nature of humanity. It’s that best nature, Eugenie’s nature, the nature of love, care, and truth, that will be so important when the blanket of this virus is lifted from the world.
Human closeness will return, and when it does, I plan to cherish it in ways reflective of this visit.
I invite you to listen to my conversation with Eugenie Tullos, a time not too long ago when I, like many others, may have taken those around me for granted in small, almost undetectable ways, a time when togetherness was in abundance, presence was a luxury, and the smiling faces of strangers were not covered by protective masks.
Now, let’s press play on a little good news.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS ON PATREON >> www.Patreon.com/FindTheGoodNews
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CONNECT WITH EUGENIE TULLOS >> www.facebook.com/eugenie.tullos
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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Wednesday Apr 01, 2020
Wednesday Apr 01, 2020
Ep. 80 - The Clunky Oars - A Beacon Series Interview Ft. Greg Soden of The Classical Idea Podcast
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It wasn’t long after I started listening to podcasts that I got the bug to produce one, the one you’re listening too right now.
Over this past year of producing and listening, I’ve learned a lot, and whether they know it, many of the hosts and producers of my favorite podcasts have been unwitting instructors. Long before the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, I had an opportunity to visit with the gracious host and producer of one such show, “The Classical Ideas Podcast.”
I don’t know how you discover new podcasts, but I typically find new shows when I search for specific topics, and the day that I landed on Greg Soden’s show, I was searching for conversations about one of my favorite wisdom books, “The Tao Te Ching." As it turns out, it’s one of Greg’s favorite books as well. I listened to that episode, and then another, and then another, and before long I was a devoted listener, subscriber, and Patreon supporter.
Through the course of Greg’s show, I feel like I got to know him and his interests as he would interview his diverse range of guests across the spectrum of religion and philosophy. It’s strange how that happens, how in the course of interviewing others there is a transference of small details that accumulate over time, creating a wonderfully rich portrait of the host.
That’s how I came to learn many of the details of Greg Soden’s journey to “The Classical Ideas Podcast,” which was born during his time as the language arts and religious studies teacher in Columbia, Missouri. Greg is now a teacher and assistant trainer for the University of Missouri College of Education’s K-12 program, and he is still bringing us new episodes of “The Classical Ideas Podcast,” where he shares his wide-spectrum conversations.
He’s brought us colorful and interesting interviews, such as Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ian Johnson, and the daughters of famous Zen philosopher Allen Watts. “The Classical Ideas Podcast” has brought us conversations about indigenous religion, Unitarian Universalism, Buddhism, Taoism, Sufism, the Tao Te Ching, the Bhagavad Gita, St. Francis of Assisi, Evangelical Christianity, the Baha’i, Nordic studies, and many, many more.
I felt that Greg and I had an instant rapport, and I hope you will sense this during our visit. I’m grateful for his time, and for the good work, he is doing to help anyone seeking multicultural and interfaith knowledge to find it.
I believe this with all my heart; this world will always need beings like Greg Soden.
Now, it’s time to tune your brainwaves to this Good New Beacon, and press play on a little good news.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS ON PATREON >> www.Patreon.com/FindTheGoodNews
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SUBSCRIBE TO THE CLASSICAL IDEAS PODCAST >> https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-classical-ideas-podcast/id1268915829
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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Tuesday Mar 31, 2020
Tuesday Mar 31, 2020
Ep. 79 - The 1-Hour Mountain - A COVID-19 Beacon Series Interview Ft. Diana Vallette
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Today, human beings all over the world are making social and economic sacrifices to stop the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19. Now, I’m going back to visit with many of the Good Newsy guests that helped build the foundation of this show to learn how they’re navigating these strange times.
In this special Beacon Series episode, I visit with my spiritual sister, ally, and friend, Diana Vallette.
My proximity to Diana mostly begins and ends within social media apps, and yet I feel like I really do know her. From my perspective, one of Diana’s great gifts is her ability to self reflect, and then share her discoveries with little-to-no filter. Since the time I connected with Diana online, I feel like I’ve watched her go through a series of changes, and that’s one of her other great gifts; she allows herself to change.
I could tell you that I wanted to talk to her as a part of this series because I wanted her perspective on homeschooling or spin a yarn that it was because of her spiritual contemplations. The truth is, both of those things are true, but honestly I just wanted to talk to her, and I’m glad I did. Diana opens a door and makes a safe space for people to explore their spiritual boundaries, and that’s a place I like to hang out.
Full disclosure? I needed this conversation. It was invigorating, exciting, and I could feel my heart and mind connecting throughout our talk. I learned, yet again, that people may be physically distant, but when the Spirit connects them they are never far apart.
With this COVID-19 Beacon Series, I invite you to take a break from mainstream news and spend some time with good people that are dealing with some of the same struggles you are.
Now, seek out that inner space, relax, open your mind, and press play on a little good news.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS ON PATREON >> www.Patreon.com/FindTheGoodNews
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CONNECT WITH DIANA >> www.facebook.com/DianaVDorta
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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BRIMSTONE MUSEUM >> www.brimstonemuseum.org or Call (337) 527-0357
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Monday Mar 30, 2020
Monday Mar 30, 2020
Ep. 78 - The Spiritual Gumbo - A COVID-19 Beacon Series Interview Ft. Carl and Chelsea Boudreaux, Owners of the Yoga Center and Stellar Beans in Lake Charles, Louisiana
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Today, human beings all over the world are making social and economic sacrifices to stop the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19. Now, I’m going back to visit with many of the Good Newsy guests that helped build the foundation of this show to learn how they’re navigating these strange times.
In this special Beacon Series episode, I visit with Carl and Chelsea Boudreaux, owners of the Yoga Center and Stellar Beans in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Carl and Chelsea were the first couple I visited with on Find the Good News, so I thought it would be great to check in with them during this time COVID-19 distancing to see how they were modifying their businesses and personal lives to cope. I’m so thankful that they shared their time and advice with me. As a small business owner myself, it provided me with some comfort knowing that they were facing some of the same challenges, but more importantly that they were using this time to be creative with their solutions.
With candor, they offer solid human advice for anyone that’s still trying to figure out how to sail these seas. The bright light they offer is perspective, applying the spiritual and wellness practices that have defined their businesses and personal lives. Even with all they have to do in adjusting their two businesses, and their personal lives, they still took the time to visit with me, and I am thankful.
With this COVID-19 Beacon Series, I invite you to take a break from mainstream news and spend some time with good people that are dealing with some of the same struggles you are.
Now, seek out that inner space, relax, open your mind, and press play on a little good news.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS ON PATREON >> www.Patreon.com/FindTheGoodNews
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FOLLOW THE YOGA CENTER >> www.facebook.com/YogaLakeCharles
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FOLLOW STELLAR BEANS >> www.facebook.com/StellarBeans
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS
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BRIMSTONE MUSEUM >> www.brimstonemuseum.org or Call (337) 527-0357
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Monday Mar 30, 2020
Monday Mar 30, 2020
Ep. 77 - The Home Team - A COVID-19 Beacon Series Interview Ft. Kari Hankins Founder of the SWLA Youth Foundation
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Today, human beings all over the world are making social and economic sacrifices to stop the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19. Now, I’m going back to visit with many of the Good Newsy guests that helped build the foundation of this show to learn how they’re navigating these strange times.
In this special Beacon Series episode, I visit with the founder of the Southwest Louisiana Youth Foundation, and creator of the Truth, Facts, and Lies youth program, Kari Hankins.
Kari was one of the first people that agreed to be on Find the Good News, another person right here at home that helped get the Good News on a solid trajectory right out of the gate. Kari is the founder of the non-profit, the Southwest Louisiana Youth Foundation, and the creator of the Truth, Facts, and Lies youth program, but she’s also a mother and a nurse practitioner.
Kari is an honest and positive individual and filled with Type-A energy, so I was very interested to find out how the COVID-19 winter was affecting her normal momentum, her life at home, at work, and her non-profit programs. It seems that she and her family, like many, are taking it in stride, making the very best of the situation, and most important of all, they are working as a team.
She reminds me that we are all in this together, here in our region, in our state, across the country, and throughout the world.
With this COVID-19 Beacon Series, I invite you to take a break from mainstream news and spend some time with good people that are dealing with some of the same struggles you are.
Now, seek out that inner space, relax, open your mind, and press play on a little good news.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS ON PATREON >> www.Patreon.com/FindTheGoodNews
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FOLLOW KARI HANKINS >> www.facebook.com/kari.c.hankins
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS
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BRIMSTONE MUSEUM >> www.brimstonemuseum.org or Call (337) 527-0357
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Friday Mar 27, 2020
Friday Mar 27, 2020
Ep. 76 - The Sound Of Your Name - A COVID-19 Beacon Series Interview Ft. Grammy Winner Mickey Smith, Jr.
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Today, human beings all over the world are making social and economic sacrifices to stop the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19. Now, I’m going back to visit with many of the Good Newsy guests that helped build the foundation of this show to learn how they’re navigating these strange times.
In this special Beacon Series episode, I visit with Southwest Louisiana educator, and recent Grammy Winner, Mickey Smith, Jr. Mickey was the very first Good Newsy, my very first guest on Find the Good News. He really set the tone for the whole show, helping get that first foot forward on a good path. It was nice to circle back around and talk to him.
As an educator, there was an almost instant disruption to his day-to-day routine, and he was very candid about how he is coping with the major changes to his life during this COVID-19 winter. Mickey’s influence has always gone so far beyond just music. I wasn’t surprised to find that he’s using this time to point his insight inward, reflecting on how he can use this time to better himself.
In our visit, Mickey reminded me that none of us are ever truly finished, and if we allow it, we continue to become even better versions of who we are.
With this COVID-19 Beacon Series, I invite you to take a break from mainstream news and spend some time with good people that are dealing with some of the same struggles you are.
Now, find a space, take some time, relax if you can, open your mind, and press play on a little good news.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS ON PATREON >> www.Patreon.com/FindTheGoodNews
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FOLLOW MICKEY SMITH, JR. >> www.facebook.com/hubermickey.smithjr
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS
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SULPHUR TODAY >> www.facebook.com/sulphurtoday / #SulphurToday
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BRIMSTONE MUSEUM >> www.brimstonemuseum.org or Call (337) 527-0357
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Wednesday Mar 25, 2020
Wednesday Mar 25, 2020
Ep. 75 - The Skills We Have - A COVID-19 Beacon Series Interview Ft. Artists Danny and Morgan Allain
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Today, human beings all over the world are making social and economic sacrifices to stop the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19. In this special Beacon Series episode, I visit with the husband and wife dynamic artistic duo of Danny and Morgan Allain.
Danny and Morgan are Good Newsies, past guests of my Find the Good News podcast, and I wanted to reconnect with them to find out how their family is facing the challenges of the C19 spread. I was not surprised to find that they were approaching these hard times with every skill they have, including their good nature and cheer. Like many, they spend their days doing the real work it takes to keep their family safe and secure, but at the same time, they both continue to share their artistic gifts with others so they don’t feel so alone in this time of distancing.
Talking with them reminded me how nice it is to hear other human voices laughing, and to see people smile. I think that’s something we’ll all need to cherish in the weeks and months ahead.
I invite you to take a break from mainstream news and spend some time with good people that are dealing with some of the same struggles you are.
Now, press play on a little good news.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS ON PATREON >> www.Patreon.com/FindTheGoodNews
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FOLLOW DANNY ALLAIN >> www.facebook.com/danny.allain.9
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FOLLOW MORGAN ALLAIN >> www.facebook.com/HopelessClassicist
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS
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SULPHUR TODAY >> www.facebook.com/sulphurtoday / #SulphurToday
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BRIMSTONE MUSEUM >> www.brimstonemuseum.org or Call (337) 527-0357
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Saturday Mar 21, 2020
Find the Good News - FB LIVE 2 - Fishing For Goodies with Oran and Jonah Parker
Saturday Mar 21, 2020
Saturday Mar 21, 2020
Find the Good News - FB LIVE 2 - Fishing For Goodies with Oran and Jonah Parker
** Recorded LIVE on Facebook • March 20, 2020 **
On #FindTheGoodFriday my son Jonah and I teamed up to bring you a special "Find the Good News" LIVE conversation.
If you listen to my podcast then you know all about the section of our show called "Fishing for Goodies." That's the part of the show where I step aside and let the infamous Good News Fishbowl take over... and the Fish Bowl always provides!
There are over 400 questions in the Fish Bowl, and Jonah and I sat in the hot seat that every Good Newsy has been in, drawing 3 questions, and then talking about our answers.
You never know what the Fish Bowl will offer up. We laugh. We cry. We learned some things about each other, and maybe you'll learn some things about yourself too.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS ON PATREON >> www.Patreon.com/FindTheGoodNews
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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Saturday Mar 21, 2020
Find the Good News - FB LIVE 1 - Coffee Talk with Brother Oran
Saturday Mar 21, 2020
Saturday Mar 21, 2020
Find the Good News - FB LIVE 1 - Coffee Talk with Brother Oran
** Recorded LIVE on Facebook • March 18, 2020 **
No one should feel isolated or alone right now. Let's talk about everything going on in the world, what's going on in our individual lives, ask each other questions and have a generally good chat among friends.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS ON PATREON >> www.Patreon.com/FindTheGoodNews
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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Tuesday Mar 17, 2020
Tuesday Mar 17, 2020
EP. 74 - The Brodozer of Bass Ft. Trip Wamsley
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When Trip Wamsley entered the studio with his bass guitar, I had a feeling our conversation was going to be a lot of fun. I had never met Trip before, but we were friends on Facebook, and based on his posts, I picked up that he was in tune with an unorthodox string theory. There was no doubt that I was in for a treat, and Mister Trip Wamsley didn’t disappoint. He sat down in front of the mic and said, “Whatcha got,” and we dove in from there. His wit and response flowed quickly from one topic to the next, just as fluidly as I’d seen his fingers float across his guitar. My questions were dim compared to his vibrant answers. Trip would come in sideways with exciting details and perspectives, which lead us into territory that my hum-drum questions would have never gone. It was a real trip—pun intended—to say the least. What I experienced in this visit with Trip Wamsley was an extremely talented individual that truly puts it all in when it comes to musical experimentation. His mind is geared explicitly toward thinking about the wonder of everything. He described himself as a musical mad scientist, and I can think of no better description. What I loved most about Trip was his authentic presentation. There was no pretension. What he presented was raw, uncut, and barely filtered. Trip is a truly rare piece of the Universal Creative Principle that has been lopped off and put right here in our community to observe and share the musical mysteries of the Earth. This is my conversation with Trip Wamsley.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS ON PATREON >> www.Patreon.com/FindTheGoodNews
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CONNECT WITH TRIP WAMSLEY >> www.facebook.com/trip.wamsley
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS
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BRIMSTONE MUSEUM >> www.brimstonemuseum.org or Call (337) 527-0357
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Friday Mar 06, 2020
Friday Mar 06, 2020
EP. 73 - The Human Capital Ft. Kimberly Dellafosse, Assitant City Administrator for the City of Lake Charles, Louisiana
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Each Good Newsy is different, and getting to experience the uniqueness of each guest is one of the joys of hosting a podcast like Find the Good News. Joy is the word that I would use to describe the conversation I had with Kimberly Dellafosse, the Assistant City Administrator for the City of Lake Charles, Louisiana after she came to visit with me at the Right Round Table. The truth is if we would have had mics turned on from the moment she walked in the door, I think the podcast would have been even more dynamic. We had an instant rapport that I can't take credit for; she brought the good news with her when she entered the studio. Kimberly's love for her work with the City of Lake Charles is invigorating and confidence-inducing. She has a firm working knowledge of the City's programs. She has infused her personal passion for people in every aspect of her job. For Kimberly, the most crucial infrastructure in Lake Charles can be found in its people, and the City's future is found in its youth. She doesn't encourage young people to change. Rather, she presses them to unfold and become a more lovely version of who they already are, asking that they plant their beauty in this place they call home. In her role as the Assistant City Administrator, Kimberly has embraced an understanding of how all the parts of City government can work together to nurture the next generation young people and entrepreneurs. Many say that the children are our future. After this visit, I can tell you that she believes it. This is my conversation with Kimberly Dellafosse of the City of Lake Charles, Louisiana.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS ON PATREON >> www.Patreon.com/FindTheGoodNews
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FOR MORE INFO ON THE CITY OF LAKE CHARLES PROGRAMS
>> https://www.cityoflakecharles.com/egov/apps/document/center.egov?view=item;id=5797
>> https://www.facebook.com/LakeCharlesLouisiana/
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS
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Thursday Feb 20, 2020
Thursday Feb 20, 2020
EP. 72 - The Ambassadors Ft. the Visit Lake Charles Team
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It's really great to sit down at a table and have a fun conversation with friends, teammates, and creative partners. It's something I've always enjoyed. I'm thrilled when a conversation moves like a wave, rising with meaningful dialogue, cresting with useful information, sinking into comfort and laughter, only to have the wave's energy cycle again. That's the type of conversation I had with members of the Visit Lake Charles team—President & CEO, Kyle Edmiston, Communications Director, Angie Manning, and Sales Director, Eric Zartler—when they visited me on Find the Good News. I've been blessed to work with the crew and the Southwest Louisiana Convention & Visitors Bureau for many years. In that time, I've witnessed many professional connections develop into friendly personal relationships. Visit Lake Charles has always been staffed and steered by good-natured people; it's one of the things that I've always admired about this vital entity. The crew at Visit Lake Charles is passionate about sharing the treasures of our region with the rest of the world. In doing this job, they also provide touchpoints for locals to discover the wonder of their own backyard. Beyond that, they have always worked to germinate new and exciting events and festivals that put our best features forward, while attracting even bigger and better activities to Southwest Louisiana. We all benefit from their good works. Each person working at Visit Lake Charles has enhanced the quality of life for everyone that calls Southwest Louisiana home. The overall spirit of this conversation is joyful. I feel the interactions between Kyle, Angie, and Eric are a true reflection of the positive and dynamic relationship that is shared by their entire staff. It's an insight into how their team lovingly works to bring travelers to this gulf coast jewel we call home. This is my conversation with Kyle Edmiston, Angie Manning, and Eric Zartler of Visit Lake Charles.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS ON PATREON >> www.Patreon.com/FindTheGoodNews
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FOR MORE INFO ON VISIT LAKE CHARLES >> www.visitlakecharles.org
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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Thursday Feb 06, 2020
Thursday Feb 06, 2020
EP. 71 - The Patron Saint of 3A.M. - A Tribute to Brian Moore
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS ON PATREON >> www.Patreon.com/FindTheGoodNews
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS
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Thursday Jan 30, 2020
Thursday Jan 30, 2020
EP. 70 - The Unintentional Pedestal Ft. Shakiyla Solomon
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One of the most gratitude producing activities I think one can participate in is meditating on the origins of things. When you look closely at any good thing in your life and trek backward, beautiful worlds of intersecting experiences and chance circumstances begin to unfold. A bigger picture is revealed, and new light shines on individuals, revealing value that may not have been fully appreciated at the time. Reflecting on this blessing in my life—this podcast I call "Find the Good News"—it was clear that its origins flowed from many places, like little streams connecting into this one river of conversation. One of those streams formed during a video interview I conducted many years ago with a local educator named Shakiyla Solomon. I interviewed many of the best-and-brightest teachers in our region for that project, but there was a special light about Shakiyla. She spoke with uncalculated care, in a manner and tone that made every word seem important. While she was talking specifically about education, there was an undercurrent of wisdom that seemed to carry her words along effortlessly. In the full-scope of that mini-documentary, only a fraction of what Shakiyla and I talked about made the final cut. Reflecting on that project put the idea in my head that perhaps there was a way to capture more of these beautiful conversations in the long-form. If you listen to this podcast, then you can draw the connections from there. A lot has changed for Shakiyla since we visited at Washington Marion High School. She answered the call to serve as an educator in a Christian village in Nigeria. At the time of our conversation, she had been working there for one year. In speaking with Shakiyla, it was very clear to me that her time in Nigeria has expanded her comforting presence, deepened her gratitude, and strengthened her faith. It has shown her that one who chooses to teach can do so in ways that reach beyond the classroom walls, radiating out to others through small everyday actions. Teaching can be shared through a kindness shown, or even in the ways one teaches others how to value themselves just as they were created. In Nigeria, Shakiyla is gaining a new perspective, revealing a communal way of living that I am sure will continue to shape her as she moves on to the next stage of her journey. She has been a part of my journey too. Now, she can be a part of yours. This is my conversation with Shakiyla Solomon.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS ON PATREON >> www.Patreon.com/FindTheGoodNews
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FOR MORE INFO ON BETH FIELDS BUNCH >> https://www.facebook.com/shakiyla.renae
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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BRIMSTONE MUSEUM >> www.brimstonemuseum.org or Call (337) 527-0357
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Wednesday Jan 15, 2020
Ep. 69 - The Surrender Ft. Beth Fields Bunch - Find the Good News with Oran Parker
Wednesday Jan 15, 2020
Wednesday Jan 15, 2020
EP. 69 - The Surrender Ft. Beth Fields Bunch of Almost Home Ministries
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Finding out that there are even more good people doing good works in your hometown is always exciting to me. A year ago, I would have never believed that people would just come up to me when I’m out and about and hand me a slip of paper with a lead on someone doing some excellent service in the community I grew up in, but that’s my new reality. Still, as often as it happens, I can’t get used to the light that rises in me, that warm feeling that drives away sneaky thoughts of gloom and doom, and replaces them with something that’s sorely missing in this world. That rising light is hope. That’s what I discovered once again when Beth Fields Bunch agreed to come and visit me on Find the Good News. Beth runs Almost Home Ministries, a Christian recovery ministry in Sulphur, Louisiana that helps individuals rebuild their lives while overcoming the heavy burdens and sorrows caused by substance abuse, and subsequent addictions. Beth and those in her ministry meet people in their hopelessness and brokenness, offering them a ladder out of the deep hole of despair they’ve often climbed. Almost Home Ministries provides loving structure and guidance, helping those that many have written off as lost causes. Christian discipleship pays off for Beth and those in her ministry. They take the call to love and serve the lost sincerely. Where others may see a burden, Almost Home Ministries sees a fellow child of God. Many aren’t able to look past the stigma and the shame of past mistakes, but Beth believes in transformation, using the genuine pains and troubles of the past as gifts to reach others that may be on the same sorrowful path. She understands this because her feet trod that same road, and she found a better way. For Beth, the path to rebuilding and healing presents itself when, in our brokenness, we surrender to something greater than ourselves. It is this something greater that changed her life and gave birth to Almost Home Ministries. For individuals shattered by substance abuse and addiction, It is this something greater that continues to hem frayed edges, knitting and reforming their lives, healing broken families. It is this something greater that offers them the rising light of hope.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS ON PATREON >> www.Patreon.com/FindTheGoodNews
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FOR MORE INFO ON BETH FIELD BUNCH & ALMOST HOME MINISTRIES
BETH FIELDS BUNCH >> https://www.facebook.com/bunch2love
ALMOST HOME MINISTRIES >> https://www.facebook.com/AHBunchofus/
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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BRIMSTONE MUSEUM >> www.brimstonemuseum.org or Call (337) 527-0357
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Wednesday Jan 01, 2020
Wednesday Jan 01, 2020
EP. 68 - The Shot in the Dark Ft. Pastor Sean Barron
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Most of my conversations on Find the Good News start off right at the round table. In the case of Pastor Sean Barron, I got to have a long friendly chat with him the night before we recorded. I usually get to see each guest as they walk up to the studio door. With Sean, I walked right up to him as he was coming in, and what a joyous greeting he provided. He offered a genuine smile, a hug, and one of my favorite gifts to receive, the gift of common ground. Sean shared happy memories with me of his youth spent scouring the shelves of my Daddy's local video and gaming store, Bo's Videos. I think fondly on those times in the 80s and 90s, and it was clear to me that Sean does as well. In my case, and I think perhaps in Sean's, those times hold high-value because they were before the troubles. You know the troubles. We each have them in our lives, to one varying degree or another. Depending on the ever-changing variety of circumstances in life, the troubles could be little speed bumps, or they could be tire-shredding potholes. In Pastor Sean's case, the troubles came, and they came again, and again. These troubles became the very ground on which Sean's salvation was built, the tilled earth that gave our region the Christian recovery program "Freedom Ministry of the South. He said something to me in our conversation that stood out, partly because it was familiar and mostly because it was powerful. "My name is Sean, and my life has become unmanageable." Maybe you've said some version of this, or perhaps you're on your way there. Wherever you're at, whatever your troubles, however unlovable you feel you are, Sean Barron and "Freedom Ministry of the South" is there to give you the gift of common ground. You haven't fallen anywhere that they haven't fallen too. Because they've been shredded in the same potholes, they know how to change a tire and get you back on a better path. Sean has been there himself, and he knows the way out is through loving and compassionate Christian accompaniment. His message is one of falling down, getting up, redemption, love, transformation, and hope. This is my conversation with Pastor Sean Barron.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS ON PATREON >> www.Patreon.com/FindTheGoodNews
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FOR MORE INFO ON PASTOR SEAN BARRON & FREEDOM MINISTRY OF THE SOUTH
PASTOR SEAN >> https://www.facebook.com/seanB009
FREEDOM MINISTRY OF THE SOUTH >>https://www.facebook.com/FREEDOMMINISTRYOFTHESOUTH337/
SEAN'S BOOK "FINISH YOUR MILK (AND DON'T DRINK THE KOOl-AID)" >> https://www.facebook.com/finishyourmilk/
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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Wednesday Nov 27, 2019
Wednesday Nov 27, 2019
EP. 67 - The Disciple - Beacon Series Ft. Susan Stabile, Author of "Growing In Love And Wisdom: Tibetan Buddhist Sources For Christian Meditation"
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If you listen to this show, then you've often heard me allude to a spiritual experience that took place when I was a much younger man. While I have spared the full linear details, it's sufficient to say that the experience changed my mind and gave me a reason to follow my heart. In an attempt to understand this experience of my youth, I wandered as a pilgrim, searching and studying the religions and wisdom traditions of the world. While I found treasures in many, I have never felt more at home than I have in the teachings of Jesus, the Christ, and Sidhartha Gautama, the Buddha.
Living with one foot in each of these religions has been an enlightening journey. It has not been without its difficulties, especially in finding an organized religious tradition I could whole-heartedly call "home." Regardless of this challenge, I have adopted much from the traditions of Christianity and Buddhism. While there are defined differences between them, I have found that love, mercy, compassion, kindness, and wisdom rise clearly to the top. It is from these that I arrange the bouquet of my personal spiritual practice and most of my perspectives.
I feel very blessed to have been born at this time on earth. The last 3,000 years have been filled with discord, conflict, war, and violence. It has also given rise to powerful voices of unity, diversity, and harmony. In the last 100 years alone, humans have gained unprecedented access to information. Many extraordinary beings have used that information to learn, grow, and find common ground. They have focused on the beauty we share, while still remaining grounded firmly in the traditions and teachings of their unique cultures. In seeking voices such as these, I have been honored to read the works of Mohandas K. Gandhi, Walt Whitman, Ram Dass, J. Krishnamurti, Henry David Thoreau, Lao Tzu, Brother David Steindl-Rhast, Tenzin Gyatso-The 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Thich Nhat Hanh.
Today, I share these names, and this more extended reflection with you, because it is all highly relevant to the nature of Find the Good News and my special guest. You see, recently, I added a new name to the list of wise voices I've come to treasure, and that name is Susan Stabile. I discovered Susan's work while seeking podcasters that may be discussing the writings of the Trappist Monk and Author Thomas Merton. I landed on a podcast called "Creo En Dios," which translates, "I believe in God." I do believe, so I pressed play. I listened. My mind was enlivened. My heart was opened. I pressed play again, and again, and again.
What I found in Susan's lectures was a highly-Catholic voice that seemed to dance effortlessly with teachings of other wisdom traditions. She dialed beautiful practices from Buddhism into a life of Christian prayer. Susan's lectures—of which there are over a hundred—became a part of my weekly spiritual life. She presented Christian teachings and scripture in a way that felt like home for me, and in all truth, the experience was very healing. Her lectures have become a part of the journey both in-and-out of my annual spiritual retreat, framing the beginning and the end of that yearly journey. Her book, "Growing in Love and Wisdom: Tibetan Buddhist Sources for Christian Meditation," presents slightly retooled Buddhist methods for Christian's—or anyone— seeking to deepen their existing prayer life.
Discovering her work has been a treasure I did not know I was seeking. Her agreeing to visit with me on this Beacon Series episode allows that work reverberate even further, so that it may enter new hearts and minds.
It is my great pleasure to send this Good News Beacon out to you. This is my conversation with Susan Stabile.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS ON PATREON >> www.Patreon.com/FindTheGoodNews
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FOR MORE INFO ON SUSAN STABILE
• BLOG >> https://susanjoan.wordpress.com/
• WEBSITE >> https://susanstabile.com/
• PODCAST >> https://susanstabile.com/podcasts/
• BOOK >> https://amzn.to/2KVVy3E
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS
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Wednesday Nov 20, 2019
Ep. 66 - The Universe Ft. Dave Evans - Find the Good News with Oran Parker
Wednesday Nov 20, 2019
Wednesday Nov 20, 2019
EP. 66 - The Universe Ft. Dave Evans
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There are people that I've wanted to have on Find the Good News since the first days of the show's inception. For one reason or another, our orbits didn't sync up. Still, I had faith that with enough revolutions, my schedule would sync up with these good people, and we'd get to sit within the gravity of the Right Round Table. One of these people was Southwest Louisiana chef, owner of Luna Bar & Grill, and founder of Chuck Fest, Dave Evans. This year, the stars aligned, and I was able to sit with Dave on Find the Good News. Visiting with Dave was an absolute pleasure because of the sheer expanse of topics relevant to my home region that we cover. Dave Evans is the type of person that echoes and reverberates. He makes a sound, and those ripples have had positive impacts on the people living in the community he serves through his endeavors. With each pulse, Dave infuses a piece of his life. Whether you're eating dinner at Luna, enjoying the downtown area of Lake Charles, or experiencing our area at Chuck Fest, you are traveling within the concentric rings of Dave Evans universe. At zero hour, the very dawn at each of Dave's passion projects, there is a reflection of himself. I believe that this is why Dave Evans' projects shine so bright. It is because they are authentic, very personal, and created with deep love.
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SUPPORT FIND THE GOOD NEWS ON PATREON >> www.Patreon.com/FindTheGoodNews
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FOR MORE INFO ON DAVE EVANS >> https://www.facebook.com/dave.evans.music or https://www.facebook.com/lunabarandgrill/
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FIND THE GOOD NEWS IS PRODUCED BY PARKER BRAND CREATIVE SERVICES >> www.ParkerBrandUp.com
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