Best Phyllis Thomas Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 89: Waiting for the End of the World: The Incoming Kingdom Missionary Unit 51:25

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2h ago51:25

51:25

The fourth episode in our series, Movements on the Margins, examines the establishment of a cult on the banks of the Buffalo in the early 1920s. John Battenfield, a charismatic preacher and scholar of Hebrew and Greek, moved with a group of his followers to Gilbert, Arkansas, to prepare for a worldwide war between Catholics and Protestants. In shor…

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Episode 88: The First Lady of the Ozarks, Kaitlyn McConnell, is on the Chronicles! 1:06:07

6d ago1:06:07

1:06:07

Kaitlyn McConnell has given her life to preserving the culture and stories of the Ozarks. Her focus is not simply on the past: She is also concerned with the activities and lives of Ozarkers today. Her passion has taken her all over the Ozarks, and in this episode, you'll learn more about Kaitlyn and her online project, Ozarks Alive! We hope you'll…

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Episode 87: Ozarks Icon Phyllis Speer: Ready and Loaded for Bear! 1:14:28

13d ago1:14:28

1:14:28

Join the Chronicles for a delightful conversation with Phyllis Speer as she talks about her adventures hosting the wild game cooking show, Cooking on the Wildside, with John Philpot; hunting and fishing the beautiful Arkansas Ozarks; and the pleasure (and ethics) of cooking what you kill. Spend an hour with Phyllis, and you'll see why her show ran …

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Episode 86: Arming for Armageddon: Vincent Anderson and the Covenant, Sword, and Arm of the Lord 1:24:22

20d ago1:24:22

1:24:22

Vincent Anderson joins the OFC for our third in the series, Ozarks Movements on the Margins, to recall for us one of the most notorious cults ever planted in these hills, the Covenant, Sword, and Arm of the Lord. From the earliest days of Ellison and Noble to the invasion of the compound in 1985, Anderson guides us through the history and aberrant …

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Episode 85: From Coven to Christianity: The True Story of a Contemporary Ozarks Witch 1:10:13

28d ago1:10:13

1:10:13

The Movements on the Margins series continues with Kimberly, a former Wicca witch who recalls her experiences with the occult. Kimberly not only talks about the attraction of magic and the community that revolves around the practice of witchcraft, but she also recounts the events in her life that led to her conversion to Christianity. Kimberly's jo…

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Episode 84: Ozarks Religious Movements on the Margins: A Conversation with Dr. John Schmalzbauer 49:24

1M ago49:24

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Most Ozarkers are familiar with Gerald L.K. Smith, the founder of the Sacred Projects, e.g., The Great Passion Play and the Christ of the Ozarks, in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, but Dr. John Schmalzbauer, the Blanche Gorman Strong Chair in Protestant Studies at Missouri State University, takes us behind the veil to unpack Smith's more heterodox and to…

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Episode 83: Thomas Hart Benton, Ozarks Artist and Renegade of Folk 43:35

1M ago43:35

43:35

In this episode, the Chronicles celebrate the truly impressive Thomas Hart Benton, Missouri's most famous artist! Curtis and Hayden survey Benton's boyhood in the Ozarks; his education as a young man in Paris, Kansas City, and New York; and his success as a mature artist to create a picture of a true Renegade of Folk. Friend to both Vance Randolph …

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Episode 82: Dr. Jared Phillips Discusses the Pace of the Past and the Wave of the Future in the Ozarks 1:10:02

2M ago1:10:02

1:10:02

Dr. Jared Phillips is a multi-generational Ozarker with an intense passion for the hills. He joins the Chronicles to discuss a wide range of topics: From the measured pace of farming with animals to the frenzy of current development, Jared is both a thoughtful custodian of past values, an honest critic of past prejudices, and a citizen concerned ab…

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Episode 81: Mike Mills and the Buffalo River 1:00:05

2M ago1:00:05

1:00:05

Mike Mills sits down with the Chronicles to talk about canoeing the Buffalo, wearing your life jacket, and sticking with your dreams. From his childhood to his days in college to his first rental business with aluminum canoes, Mike shares his love for the Arkansas Ozarks and some of his favorite river stories, too! Don't miss this episode with Ozar…

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Episode 80: Didja Hear the One about the Yale Grad Student Who Came to the Ozarks? A Conversation with Christian Badach 1:11:34

2M ago1:11:34

1:11:34

Christian Badach, a graduate student in photography at Yale University, has made the rural northwest a subject of his photography for some time now. After researching the Ozarks, he felt drawn to come here to expand his vision of rural America, focusing in particular on the intersection of landscape and culture. With an open mind and heart, Christi…

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Episode 79: In Part Two of Our Conversation, Jason Harmon Asks, Was Ralph Baker a Lawman, an Outlaw, or Both? 1:00:00

2M ago1:00:00

1:00:00

When journalist and author Jason Harmon began digging into the alleged crimes of Sheriff Ralph Baker four years after the lawman's death, his research led Harmon to "marijuana moonshiner" Dave McElyea. In Harmon and McElyea's book When Money Grew on Trees, McElyea describes Baker in great detail as a law officer on the take. Other, more powerful me…

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Episode 78: Part One: Jason Harmon's Wild Ride with Marijuana Moonshiner, Dave McElyea 1:08:24

3M ago1:08:24

1:08:24

Author, journalist, and historian Jason Harmon wrote When Money Grew On Trees in collaboration with David McElyea, a Michigan transplant to the Ozarks in 1980 whose goal was to create a marijuana farm. After he was busted by local enforcement, Dave formed a relationship with the local sheriff, and together they colluded in a venture that would make…

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Episode 77: The Story of the Scots Irish Settlers in the Ozarks: A Conversation with Todd Wilkinson and Champ Herren 1:21:01

3M ago1:21:01

1:21:01

Champ Herren and Todd Wilkinson share a deep love of our Ozarks hills. As far back as their time at MSU (then SMSU), they read everything by Vance Randolph they could get their hands on, and for some years, they presented these stories around campfires to various groups. Now Todd and Champ are together again in this podcast about the Scots Irish im…

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Episode 76: Meet the Pilgrims: Loving the Land, Preserving the Culture, and Raising a Family in the Ozarks 48:10

3M ago48:10

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Roy and Aviva Pilgrim were invited to participate in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival because of their talented musicianship and authentic life in the Ozarks. Roy is a logger who cares about sustainable forestry, and Aviva is a luthier, gardener, and artist who cares about preserving the best of Ozarks culture. Their life and livelihood could serv…

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Episode 75: Photographer Henry O. Head talks about his new book and coming of age in the Ozarks 1:03:51

3M ago1:03:51

1:03:51

Henry O. Head has taught workshops on photography in the US, Greece, and Ireland and his photos have been exhibited in places as diverse as South Korea and Rogers, Arkansas. Some of his recent photos were featured in the Guardian. His masterpiece, however, is his debut book Twelve Acres, a photographic exploration of coming of age in the Ozarks and…

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Episode 74: Todd Wilkinson and the Magic of Montauk 56:32

4M ago56:32

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Curtis and Hayden travel to Dent County, Missouri, to talk with their good friend, Todd Wilkinson, about Montauk Spring, the headwaters of the Current River, and the state park that bears its name. Todd is the Assistant Superintendent of Montauk State Park and has a passionate for the rivers and streams of the Ozarks, having taught canoeing, kayaki…

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"Tony Awards and BET Awards 25 - Is It Still Going On?" - TVMusic Network Podcast with Phyllis and Belinda Season 8 Episode 2 1:51:59

4M ago1:51:59

1:51:59

Tony Awards and BET Awards 25 - Is It Still Going On? - TVMusic Network Podcast with Phyllis and Belinda Season 8 Episode 2 Check out the lastest epsiode of the TVMusic Network Podcast with Phyllis and Belinda. In this episode, The Thomas Sisters tackle the Tony Awards and the 25th Anniversary of the BET Awards. With Cynthia Erivo hosting the Tonys…

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Episode 73: The Bizarre Case of Adam God 54:01

4M ago54:01

54:01

The Ozarkian Folk Chronicles posts its very first episode, "The Strange Case of Adam God," a story recorded by Vance Randolph in Haldeman-Julius's Little Blue Books and confirmed by contemporary newspapers. From the Call he received while plowing his field to parading naked through the streets of Oklahoma City to his hardy old age, James Sharp, aka…

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Episode 72: Rose O'Neill, Renegade of Folk 1:06:07

4M ago1:06:07

1:06:07

Famous for her creation of the Kewpies, Rose O'Neill was much more than an illustrator of children's cartoons. Rose was a daring woman in an era of male domination, and her courage in forging her own path remains an inspiration. She traveled to Europe several times and spent time in London, studied painting in Paris, and hobnobbed with the likes of…

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Episode 71: Todd Parnell and the fight to save Ozarks rivers 1:01:29

4M ago1:01:29

1:01:29

Todd Parnell, former bank president, president of Drury University, and advocate for our Ozarks environment, talks about floating the entirety of the Buffalo River twice and the remarkable influence of the Buffalo on him and his sons. Todd has served on the boards of various organizations whose mission is the preservation of clean water and pristin…

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Episode 70: Big Smith: Legendary, Lyrical, Kin 1:16:09

4M ago1:16:09

1:16:09

In this extra-special episode, Mark Bilyeu, Jody Bilyeu, and Rik Thomas talk about their legendary group, Big Smith. Not only do they perform live versions of some of their most iconic songs--"Trash," "Backwater," and "Whip-poor-will," among others--but they describe growing up in the Ozarks, the importance of family, the influence of folk, bluegra…

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Episode 69: Champ Herren and the Lynching of Dick Cullen 1:03:02

5M ago1:03:02

1:03:02

Champ Herren, the OFC's official "renegade newscaster," digs back into the Ozarks archives and unearths the story of Dick Cullen, who murdered his four-year-old step-brother but didn't live to tell about it. Sometimes, people make damned sure that crime doesn't pay. Champ is a master storyteller and a diligent researcher, and he applies his talents…

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Episode 68: Hoss Braden: Legendary Actor, Storyteller, and Iconic Ozarker 58:52

5M ago58:52

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Hoss Braden, born and bred in the Ozarks hills, has turned his life into art, both in the Legend of the Lost Silver Mine that played in Branson West and currently, in the long-running Shepherd of the Hills drama at the Shepherd of the Hills Adventure Park. Hoss has lived a storied life, but he has also learned stories, dozens of them, that he share…

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Episode 67: Introducing the Renegades of Folk: Vance Randolph 1:06:52

5M ago1:06:52

1:06:52

The word "folk" conjures up people rocking back and forth in cane bottom chairs and dipping snuff, and though that's an admittedly enviable lifestyle, it's not the whole story. The early folk song and folktale collectors were largely from "off" and belonged to an avantgarde circle of artists, socialists, and bohemians, in short, renegades. Our new …

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Episode 66: Stories from the James River: A Conversation with George Scott and Tom Koob 56:28

5M ago56:28

56:28

Ozarkers love a good story, and George Scott and Tom Koob have some great ones! From Leonard "Shock" Short, moonshiner, bank robber, and husband of George's Aunt Lillian, to Vance Randolph, who fell in love with Lillian after Shock's death, to the myth of Virgin Bluff, and all the way back to the Civil War with George's great-grandfather, George an…

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Episode 65: Saving the Ozarks One Creek at a Time: A conversation with the Kipfers 56:46

6M ago56:46

56:46

Bob and Barb Kipfer retired from lucrative jobs in the medical field to the hard work of natural conservation. From their initial purchase of 80 acres on Bull Creek to their current preserve of 400 acres, the Kipfers have restored the riparian field, shored up the banks, and planted trees and other vegetation along beautiful Bull Creek. Barb has al…

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Episode 64: Crescent Dragonwagon and Her Life in the Ozarks 1:04:29

6M ago1:04:29

1:04:29

Join Curtis and Hayden when they sit down with author, chef, and innkeeper, Crescent Dragonwagon! Since her arrival in the Ozarks over fifty years ago, Crescent has published over fifty books in several genres including novels, children's books, and cookbooks. She has embraced the hills as her home, and the hills have embraced her right back! Cresc…

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"General Hospital and The Gates Effect" - TVMusic Network Podcast with Phyllis and Belinda - Season 8 Episode 1 1:25:24

6M ago1:25:24

1:25:24

Take a listen to our latest episode of the TVMusic Network Podcast with Phyllis and Belinda. In this episode, the Thomas Sisters discuss General Hospital. We discuss the General Hospital and the stories that are currently being shown right now, including Lulu, Lucas, Trina, Emma, and Elizabeth. Will Trina get her own storyline and when will Dante a…

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Episode 63: The Creek Rocks and the Vance Randolph Folksong Collection 35:18

6M ago35:18

35:18

When Mark Bilyeu and Cindy Wolf visited the archives at the Library of Congress, they discovered and returned home with a treasure trove of folksongs collected by Vance Randolph himself. On this episode, you'll hear original tracks from well-known Ozarkers like May Kennedy McCord, Rose O'Neill, and Vance himself, as well as lesser known figures. We…

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Episode 62: Comic Songs of the Ozarks with Emalee Flatness-Combs and Lillyanne McCool 57:13

6M ago57:13

57:13

Emalee Flatness-Combs, performer with the Homestead Pickers at Silver Dollar City, and Lillyanne McCool, national old time banjo champion, bring the old songs to life with their beautiful voices and superb musicianship. From the wife so mean the devil threw her out of hell to the whimsical "Froggy Went A-Courtin'," Emalee and Lillyanne will waft yo…

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Episode 61: Loving the Ozarks to Death (The Kimmons Family: Part Two) 40:37

7M ago40:37

40:37

Like so many beautiful regions in the Ozarks, the Little Red River and the towns along its banks face unprecedented challenges from reckless recreators, greedy corporations, and the failure to protect a fragile environment. Kasey and Ginny Kimmons describe the challenges from ATVs that tear up river roads to the pollution that destroys precious riv…

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Episode 60: Loving the Ozarks to Life (The Kimmons Family: Part One) 1:06:03

7M ago1:06:03

1:06:03

In the early 70s, Tom and Brandy left Columbia, Missouri, where Tom was teaching at Mizzou, for the deep woods on the banks of the Little Red River, not far from Shirley, Arkansas. With nothing but a chainsaw, a hammer, and an auger, Tom built a cabin that still stands today. For ten years, Tom and Brandy lived in the cabin, and their first daughte…

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Episode 59: An Invitation to the Circle: Photographer Andrew Kilgore on Life, Art, and the Ozarks 58:23

7M ago58:23

58:23

At 84, Andrew Kilgore is still photographing, still learning, and still excited about exploring the world through the lens of his camera. Andrew shares his story of moving to the Ozarks in the heyday of the 60s, and the joy he's had in photographing the portraits of over 30,000 Arkansans. We know you'll enjoy this inspiring episode of the Ozarkian …

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Episode 58: The Mortgaged Cow Murder: Tammy Morton and Angel Wolf are back to tell the tragic story of the murder of Charlie Cobb. The conspiracy includes wives, friends, and lovers, and our guests shed ... 37:13

7M ago37:13

37:13

The Chronicle's own true crime historians--Tammy Morton and Angel Wolf--are back to tell the macabre and tragic story of the murder of Charlie Cobb. The web of conspiracy spreads out to include wives, friends, and lovers, and Tammy and Angel reveal the previously sealed account of the case by prosecutor Doug Mahnkey, the legendary Ozarks lawyer. Fa…

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Episode 57: The Genius of the Creek Rocks: Mark Bilyeu, Cindy Woolf, and the Library of Congress 1:04:55

7M ago1:04:55

1:04:55

Mark and Cindy are back to share their adventures in Ozarks folk music. They received a grant to research and arrange Ozarks folksongs collected by Sidney Robertson in the 20s and 30s and housed at the Library of Congress. Then Mark and Cindy returned with a treasure trove of beautiful folksongs that they have already begun to arrange and perform, …

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Episode 56: Icons of Christian County: A conversation with Wayne Glenn 45:12

8M ago45:12

45:12

Wayne Glenn, the Old Record Collector, joins Curtis and Hayden for a survey of Christian County history. From Clarence and Roscoe to Buff Lamb, Wayne is an encyclopedia of history and lore. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Episode 55: Joinin' the Mountain Grove School House Jam! 39:58

8M ago39:58

39:58

Curtis and Hayden are joined by Jeff Michel, David Arnold, Esther Exley, and Coy Stephan, members of the Mountain Grove School House Jam who play some old time mountain music tunes. Jeff explains the good work of the Ozarks Mountain Music Association and the ongoing efforts of "old timers" to teach a new generation of musicians in the traditions an…

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Episode 54 - Ghosts and Guests at the Crescent Hotel: A conversation with Dan Bennett 1:00:18

8M ago1:00:18

1:00:18

Dan Bennett, ghost tour guide extraordinaire, joins Curtis and Hayden for a fascinating interview about the encounters of ghosts and guests in the historic Crescent Hotel. From little Breckie to Michael the Irish stone mason, these tales of the paranormal are challenging and entertaining. Are you brave enough to book Room 218?? You don't want to mi…

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Episode 53 - Life on the Current River: An interview with Dave Tobey 53:11

8M ago53:11

53:11

Join Curtis and Hayden when they talk with Dave Tobey about the Current River. Dave has been a ranger, guide, and river enthusiast for many years, and he'll share his love for one of the most beautiful rivers in Missouri. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Episode 12 Revisited: Missing Limbs Ozarkian Folklore 50:28

9M ago50:28

50:28

is episode is a return to episode 12, a classic Ozarkian Folk Chronicles exploration of the folklore of missing limbs. The Chronicles will return next week with a new episode of freshly recorded fun! In this episode, Curtis and Hayden discuss the folklore of missing and amputated limbs with Abby Burnett, author of Gone to the Grave: Arkansas Burial…

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Episode 51 - Shirley Jo Phillips and the murder of Wilma Plaster 36:41

9M ago36:41

36:41

Join Curtis and Hayden when they sit down with Terry and DeDe Sanders and the Folk Chronicle’s true crime historian, Tammy Morton, for an in depth look at the infamous case of Shirley Jo Phillips, who murdered her friend Wilma Plaster in 1989. Sometimes a crime is remembered because it touched us in some strange and utterly unpredictable way. Such …

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Episode 50 - Tom Koob is back with a Radioactive Tale! 45:11

9M ago45:11

45:11

Join Curtis and Hayden when Tom Koob returns to the Chronicles with a wild tale about Radium Springs, a mysterious cave and spring deep in the Missouri Ozarks. From the discovery of the spring in 1879 by a small party of hunters to the exploration of the area by scientists with geiger counters in the 1950s, the story and potential pay-off of Radium…

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Episode 49 - Meet the Creek Rocks, Mark Bilyeu and Cindy Woolf! 57:09

9M ago57:09

57:09

Episode 49: Meet the Creek Rocks, Mark Bilyeu and Cindy Woolf! We hope you'll join the Chronicles for this special interview with Mark Bilyeu and Cindy Woolf, two of the finest Ozarks folk musicians anywhere. Not only do they share their musical histories--Mark was a founding member of Big Smith, and Cindy recorded her first album in 2016--but they…

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Episode 48 - Madstones, witches and ghosts: Champ Herren and Ozarks Magic 59:25

10M ago59:25

59:25

Champ Herren, Ozarks entrepreneur, farmer, and student of Randolph, joins the Chronicles to share his research into popular Ozarks superstitions. Champ sheds new light on old practices as he follows the evidence, and in the process helps clarify the bizarre beliefs of a century ago. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Episode 47 - Horsing around with Larry Sledge and Butch Gregory, the Horse Creek Band 38:13

10M ago38:13

38:13

Larry Sledge and Butch Gregory, the legendary musicians of the Horse Creek Band at Silver Dollar City, join Curtis and Hayden for a rollicking podcast of bluegrass, square dance, Gospel, Texas swing, and more! Larry and Butch also talk about their early careers and the happy times spent at Silver Dollar City. The Horse Creek Band embodies Ozarks fo…

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Episode 46 - Bulldozers and Burials on Beaver Creek: Recalling Murderer Robert Faye Adams 37:06

10M ago37:06

37:06

Join Curtis and Hayden as they visit with Dede Sanders and Tammy Morton to discuss the wild case of Robert Faye Adam's and his wife, Willa. Dede, 10 years old at the time, was driving her grandfather's bulldozer when Adam's drove up with a secret in the trunk of his car. From there...well, you'll just have to tune in to hear the story like you've n…

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Episode 45 - Musical Origin Stories with Randle and Jaynie Chowning. The Ozark Mountain Daredevils and Si Simon 1:45:39

10M ago1:45:39

1:45:39

Join Curtis and Hayden as they visit with Randle Chowning about the early days of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils; and Randle's wife, Jaynie Simon- Chowning, and her stories of her father, Si Simon, and his major influence on the music scene in Springfield, Missouri and around the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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“Fall TV Preview 2024 Part 2” – TVMusic Network Podcast with Phyllis and Belinda Season 7 Episode 12 1:01:07

10M ago1:01:07

1:01:07

“Fall TV Preview 2024 Part 2” – TVMusic Network Podcast with Phyllis and Belinda Season 7 Episode 12 Check out the latest episode of the TVMusic Network Podcast with Phyllis and Belinda Season 7 Episode 12. In this episode, the Thomas Sisters look at the new shows airing this Fall on tghe streaming channels, including Hulu and Disney Plus, Max, Pea…

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Episode 44 - Tom Koob and the Mysterious Death of Alice Stallion 42:50

10M ago42:50

42:50

Tom Koob, Ozarks storyteller extraordinaire, is back on the podcast with a tale of murder and mystery on the banks of the James River. Tom has researched the death of young Alice Stallion, and he not only brings his knowledge to this tragic episode but also his humanity. We know you'll find Tom's story fascinating! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr…

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That 90's Witch Part 6: The Circle of Three with Michael Thomas Ford 1:29:43

11M ago1:29:43

1:29:43

The 15 book young adult series, The Circle of Three by Isobel Bird, is magical time-capsule of what is was like being a young 90’s witch. The series was groundbreaking at the time because of its realistic portrayal of the Wiccan life, the Pagan community, and the struggle with mainstream society that continues to this day. It also featured topics n…