An Army of Normal Folks

An Egyptian engineer, a Hispanic Navy Seal, and an Italian construction manager walk into a building. It sounds like the beginning of a joke, but it’s the beginning of real-life heroism. The building was the World Trade Center’s North Tower and Father Mark Hanna is the only one of the 3 amigos to survive 9/11.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Egyptian engineer, a Hispanic Navy Seal, and an Italian construction manager walk into a building. It sounds like the beginning of a joke, but it’s the beginning of real-life heroism. The building was the World Trade Center’s North Tower and Father Mark Hanna is the only one of the 3 amigos to survive 9/11.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Shop Talk, we feature Army member Erik Lokkesmoe's reflections on what he wishes someone had told him when he was 30 or 40 years old. Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Father Dennis Lewis was assigned to St. Michael’s parish in Milwaukee, he discovered a growing number of Hmong and Laotians seeking refuge from the Vietnam War. Many were subjected to a terrible slumlord and so Father decided to start a homebuying ministry that helped coach them through the process. 33 years later, Acts Housing has helped 4,000 low-income families purchase homes!Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Father Dennis Lewis was assigned to St. Michael’s parish in Milwaukee, he discovered a growing number of Hmong and Laotians seeking refuge from the Vietnam War. Many were subjected to a terrible slumlord and so Father decided to start a homebuying ministry that helped coach them through the process. 33 years later, Acts Housing has helped 4,000 low-income families purchase homes!Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill reflects on Army member Erik Lokkesmoe's powerful article, "For All The 50-Year Old Men Who..." Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin was tired of walking by people experiencing homelessness, not doing anything, and undermining his own humanity and theirs each time. So he finally did something and his accidental nonprofit Miracle Messages has since reunited over 1,100 people with their families!Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin was tired of walking by people experiencing homelessness, not doing anything, and undermining his own humanity and theirs each time. So he finally did something and his accidental nonprofit Miracle Messages has since reunited over 1,100 people with their families!Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Shop Talk, we explore the idea of potentially experimenting with a few local chapters of the Army this year. Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ginny Manguno, a teacher at Briarcrest Christian School, assigned listening to the podcast in her high school class. And so we decided to interview Ginny and her 15 students! Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ginny Manguno, a teacher at Briarcrest Christian School, assigned listening to the podcast in her high school class. And so we decided to interview Ginny and her 15 students! Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill shares his deeply personal experience with Father's Day. Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

9/11 firefighter Tim Brown helped save lives that fateful day, but he also lost 100 friends who chose to save others knowing it would likely be the last act of their lives. His mission is to honor this Army of Normal Folks and make sure that America never forgets them.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

9/11 firefighter Tim Brown helped save lives that fateful day, but he also lost 100 friends who chose to save others knowing it would likely be the last act of their lives. His mission is to honor this Army of Normal Folks and make sure that America never forgets them.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill reflects on Army member Andrew Maue's email. Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Kim found out that thousands of kids in her suburban community were going hungry in the summer, she couldn’t look away from the problem. Her nonprofit Festa now feeds over 800 children in the summer, but as Kim puts it, they don’t just want to help people live in poverty a little bit better. So they serve 1,166 people with America's only 3-generation family English as a Second Language program, to help their families escape poverty.   Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Kim found out that thousands of kids in her suburban community were going hungry in the summer, she couldn’t look away from the problem. Her nonprofit Festa now feeds over 800 children in the summer, but as Kim puts it, they don’t just want to help people live in poverty a little bit better. So they serve 1,166 people with America's only 3-generation family English as a Second Language program, to help their families escape poverty . Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill reflects on some fascinating studies that show people are far more willing to help us than we might expect. And what this means for the Army. Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Norman is a normal dude who made a blood platelet donation one day. When his colleague told him that donated platelets helped save her life, John decided to keep rolling with the donations. He donates every other week, which is now over 160 times! Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Norman is a normal dude who made a blood platelet donation one day. When his colleague told him that donated platelets helped save her life, John decided to keep rolling with the donations. He donates every other week, which is now over 160 times! Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill tells the story of learning about "church schools" from his football players. It's a sad history that is not well known. Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tanya is a hairstylist who decided to bake some cakes for some firemen. And next thing you know, she’s baking over 450 cakes a year for firemen on their birthday! We cannot wait for you to meet “The Cake Lady”.   Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tanya is a hairstylist who decided to bake some cakes for some firemen. And next thing you know, she’s baking over 450 cakes a year for firemen on their birthday! We cannot wait for you to meet “The Cake Lady”.   Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Shop Talk, we feature portions of Eboo Patel's powerful talk "Could A Potluck Dinner Save Our Democracy?". Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Erin Steele saw seniors light up around children, she had an idea for combining a senior living facility and a childcare center into one place! And there's all kinds of benefits for both generations by being with one another everyday. Meet The Heritage Home in Alma, Kansas.       Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Erin Steele saw seniors light up around children, she had an idea for combining a senior living facility and a childcare center into one place! And there's all kinds of benefits for both generations by being with one another everyday. Meet The Heritage Home in Alma, Kansas.   Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Shop Talk, Army member Charlotte Dance shares a beautiful tribute to her late dad that's titled, "On Being A Junkman". And how it relates to the Army. Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For our special series “Supporting Greatness”, where we typically interview those who’ve achieved public greatness about their own Army of Normal Folks that supported them, this time we interviewed award-winning sportswriter Michael Arkush. He's written books with Scottie Pippen and Sugar Ray Leonard, about the top 100 golfers in history, and he celebrates each of their Army of Normal Folks that supported them.   Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For our special series “Supporting Greatness”, where we typically interview those who’ve achieved public greatness about their own Army of Normal Folks that supported them, this time we interviewed award-winning sportswriter Michael Arkush. He's written books with Scottie Pippen and Sugar Ray Leonard, about the top 100 golfers in history, and he celebrates each of their Army of Normal Folks that supported them.   Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UPS driver Tim Daniels and his customers in the East Lake neighborhood of Atlanta truly love each other. So when Tim had a surgery that took him out of commission for a few months, his customers stepped up and showed him just how much they love him. And "The Dancing UPS Man" decided to surprise all of them. Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April is National Autism Acceptance Month. And in honor of it, we wanted to bring back to you one of our most compelling episodes about autism, with Army member Stacy Horst. Her daughter Erin was bullied and excluded by her peers because she had autism, which led to taking her own life at 17 years old. Only four days later, Stacy and her husband Darren heroically decided that they would do everything in their power to prevent any other family from going through this. Their non-profit, Erin’s Hope for Friends, opened a physical location called “e’s Club” where more than 400 teens and young adults with autism go on the weekends and build friendships.   Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April is National Autism Acceptance Month. And in honor of it, we wanted to bring back to you one of our most compelling episodes about autism, with Army member Stacy Horst. Her daughter Erin was bullied and excluded by her peers because she had autism, which led to taking her own life at 17 years old. Only four days later, Stacy and her husband Darren heroically decided that they would do everything in their power to prevent any other family from going through this. Their non-profit, Erin’s Hope for Friends, opened a physical location called “e’s Club” where more than 400 teens and young adults with autism go on the weekends and build friendships. Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill and Alex dive into the tariff war. And what we can learn from it as Army members. Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On September 11th, Welles saved 12 of the only 18 survivors who were at or above the floors where the plane struck the World Traded Center’s South Tower. He’s known as “The Man In The Red Bandana”, because that’s what he wore that day and had with him every day since he was a young boy. His mother Alison pays tribute to her late son.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On September 11th, Welles saved 12 of the only 18 survivors who were at or above the floors where the plane struck the World Traded Center’s South Tower. He’s known as “The Man In The Red Bandana”, because that’s what he wore that day and had with him every day since he was a young boy. His mother Alison pays tribute to her late son.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Shop Talk, Tom Purcell celebrates the 70th anniversary of the polio vaccine. Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie’s 2.5-year-old son died from choking on chicken. And her close friends couldn’t have kids, experienced late-term miscarriage, and breast cancer at 30 years old. They became magnets for others walking through tremendous suffering and realized that not everyone had their support network. Together, they founded Faithfully Restored, which has served 2,929 women with prayers and specialized care packages.   Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie’s 2.5-year-old son died from choking on chicken. And her close friends couldn’t have kids, experienced late-term miscarriage, and breast cancer at 30 years old. They became magnets for others walking through tremendous suffering and realized that not everyone had their support network. Together, they founded Faithfully Restored, which has served 2,929 women with prayers and specialized care packages.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Shop Talk, Coach Bill tells the story of Oseola McCarty, the washerwoman who donated $150,000 to a school she never visited.  Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alan Barnhart is the CEO of Barnhart Crane & Rigging, which gives away 50% of its profits and he believes is God’s company. His personal commitment to earn a normal person salary makes Alan one of the most unique members of the Army.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alan Barnhart is the CEO of Barnhart Crane & Rigging, which gives away 50% of its profits and he believes is God’s company. His personal commitment to earn a normal person salary makes Alan one of the most unique members of the Army.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Shop Talk, we dive into the late Jimmy Valvano’s speech at the ESPY Awards, which he delivered only 58 days before losing his battle with cancer. Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris is a 4-time international whistling champion who’s whistled for Presidents and 60,000 people. But what makes him an Army member is how he whistles happy birthday to 700 people every year!Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris is a 4-time international whistling champion who’s whistled for Presidents and 60,000 people. But what makes him an Army member is how he whistles happy birthday to 700 people every year!Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Shop Talk, we dive into Dr. Martin Luther King’s incredible speech that’s become known as “The Street Sweeper Speech”.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After losing his job, Brian felt called to contribute to society in some way while looking for a new gig. He found mowing his own lawn to be therapeutic, so he figured why not offer to do it for folks in need. His accidental nonprofit I Want To Mow Your Lawn has grown into its own army of 1,404 normal folks who’ve mowed the lawns of over 2,000 people!Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After losing his job, Brian felt called to contribute to society in some way while looking for a new gig. He found mowing his own lawn to be therapeutic, so he figured why not offer to do it for folks in need. His accidental nonprofit I Want To Mow Your Lawn has grown into its own army of 1,404 normal folks who’ve mowed the lawns of over 2,000 people!Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Shop Talk, Clay Routledge challenges our culture's perspective on what counts as serving others.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vox writer Rachel Cohen had disregarded individual action as an unhelpful distraction to the more important systemic change that was needed to solve our problems. And then she had a change of heart & mind. She wrote an extraordinary article about her transformation that’s titled "Why I Changed My Mind About Volunteering" and we dive deep into it with her.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vox writer Rachel Cohen had disregarded individual action as an unhelpful distraction to the more important systemic change that was needed to solve our problems. And then she had a change of heart & mind. She wrote an extraordinary article about her transformation that’s titled "Why I Changed My Mind About Volunteering" and we dive deep into it with her.Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#joinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.