On Carlson Drive

Every family has them—the things you do without really thinking about why. In this episode, we explore tradition… not just the formal, meaningful kind, but the everyday, often silly patterns of behavior that quietly shape family life. From declaring “Everybody be quiet!” into an already quiet room, to quoting lines from The Princess Bride like second nature, these are the inherited and customary habits that stick—whether we remember where they came from or not. Along the way, we revisit taco Saturdays, homemade pizza Sundays, the Whippy Dip drive-by routine, and a Pictionary game that somehow turned the Florida Everglades into a mountain range. Along the way, we consider why some traditions endure while others fade, and what gives even the smallest moments their staying power. In the end, traditions aren’t just about what we do—they’re about what we share, repeat, and hold onto together. And fair warning: don’t mess with the sugar cookies. Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive. Official show website: OnCarlsonDrive.com Follow us: Facebook: @OnCarlsonDrive Instagram: @OnCarlsonDrive Email the show

So what’s it really like to be married to a musician? In this episode, Wendy tells the stories that live just behind the music—from a tiny cowboy singing on a chair, to pianos played at all hours, to a wedding arrangement written at the very last minute (of course). “I’m With the Band” is a fond, funny look at life alongside Randy’s musical journey: early talent, unlikely recording sessions, road trips, motherhood, and the quiet, often invisible support that keeps the music going. It’s part love story, part backstage pass, and part gentle reflection on learning to cheer loudly—and eventually step back into your own song too. Because sometimes you might not be the one in the spotlight… but you're with the band. 🎶 Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive. Official show website: OnCarlsonDrive.com Follow us: Facebook: @OnCarlsonDrive Instagram: @OnCarlsonDrive Email the show

Once upon a time, old people complained too much. Then one day… surprise! — you throw your back out picking up a sock and a decades-old scar decides to snack on your bowels. Welcome to adulthood. In this episode, Wendy takes you along on an unexpected hospital adventure filled with paperwork, fruit cocktail, night nurses, and a crash course in pain, patience, and perspective. Along the way, she reflects on the strange full-circle nature of hospitals — the same place that delivered her babies now housing her newest (and least glamorous) medical saga – and the scars that tell stories, the people who care for us when things fall apart, and why some hospital freebies are worth keeping long after you’re discharged. Then join Wendy and her husband Randy as they revisit the "attack of the bowel-eating hernia" and embrace the humor that can be found even in the midst of uncertain moments. Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive. Official show website: OnCarlsonDrive.com Follow us: Facebook: @OnCarlsonDrive Instagram: @OnCarlsonDrive Email the show

In this episode, Wendy's daughter, Grace, reflects on a grandmother known less through shared stories and more through fleeting moments—glances, gestures, and the soft presence of a woman living with dementia. While others remember Ruth as a vibrant writer, advocate, and force of personality, Grace explores the version she knew: gentle, distant, and deeply human. Through images, metaphors, and family reflections, this episode honors both the grandmother she didn’t get to know and the one she did—revealing how love can be carried not just through stories, but through what remains when memory fades. Then join Wendy and her sisters-in-law Robin and Rhonda for an emotion-filled conversation about the Ruth they knew as they meditate on shared memories, inheritance, and the quiet ways love endures. Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive. Official show website: OnCarlsonDrive.com Follow us: Facebook: @OnCarlsonDrive Instagram: @OnCarlsonDrive Email the show

Turns out, not all storytellers talk nonstop around the dinner table. In this episode, Wendy wrestles with what it means to be a storyteller—not the off-the-cuff kind, but the slow, thoughtful kind who writes, revises, and listens closely. She shares how her grandchildren, a summer on Lake Michigan, and small moments of wonder sparked a new chapter of creativity: writing children’s books rooted in tenderness, imagination, and hope. It’s a quiet meditation on art, family, and the courage to keep adding a little bit of goodness to the world. Then, Wendy is joined by illustrator Erin Johnson as they discuss creating their new book, A Little Boy to Love, and how creativity continues to be integrated into their worlds. Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive. Official show website: OnCarlsonDrive.com Follow us: Facebook: @OnCarlsonDrive Instagram: @OnCarlsonDrive Email the show

What started as “just band” turns into a deeply personal reflection on British-style brass banding, Salvation Army roots, and a six-generation musical legacy that stretches back to England. From cornets instead of trumpets to family mentors, competitions, and the joy of making music together, this episode explores how tradition, humility, and love for the craft matter far more than being the best. A story about gratitude, heritage, and the music that binds generations together. Then, join Wendy and Helen Harrelson – world-renown brass band instrumentalist, conductor, and enthusiast – as they talk about all things brass band. Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive. Official show website: OnCarlsonDrive.com Follow us: Facebook: @OnCarlsonDrive Instagram: @OnCarlsonDrive Email the show

From popcorn-and-movie nights to summer movie marathons and Oscar parties, this episode reflects on how films shaped family life, conversation, and connection in a house full of girls. It’s a gentle meditation on why some of us crave bright, hopeful stories while others like to dive deep into darker themes—and how both approaches can coexist under one roof. Along the way, there are favorite films, quotable lines, a few hard no’s, and a reminder that movies, at their best, are a shared escape that bring us together. Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive. Official show website: OnCarlsonDrive.com Follow us: Facebook: @OnCarlsonDrive Instagram: @OnCarlsonDrive Email the show

D.I.Y., home makeover, fixer upper...whatever you call it, we're right there with you. Sometimes you either like to do the work or you need to do the work yourself. And we've had our share of projects around the house. In this episode, Wendy talks about the many do-it-yourself house work that we either chose to do or was forced on us. Wendy is joined by her husband Randy as they relive some of the funny moments along their home renovation journey. Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive. Official show website: OnCarlsonDrive.com Follow us: Facebook: @OnCarlsonDrive Instagram: @OnCarlsonDrive Email the show

Have you ever looked in the mirror and said, "Whoa. I look like my mom"? A picture of Wendy's aunt's hands calls to mind the ones who have gone before and serves as an opening for a flood of memories. Then, join Wendy and her Aunt Nancy as they talk about the threads that weave a family together, including the keeper of names and teller of bad jokes. Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive. Official show website: OnCarlsonDrive.com Follow us: Facebook: @OnCarlsonDrive Instagram: @OnCarlsonDrive Email the show

Just in time, OUR CHRISTMAS EPISODE drops! This one is about telling stories and a reminder that who is listening really matters. And in response, Wendy crafts a special Christmas story for the little ears that we know are tuning in (and picking up a lot more than we realize). The conversation that follows is one where we set up a microphone to see what we might be able to catch with Wendy and her grandson, Micah. Then Wendy and Erin (Micah's mom) discuss what little ears hear (and repeat) and how one particular child is so particular about a nativity set. Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive. Official show website: OnCarlsonDrive.com Follow us: Facebook: @OnCarlsonDrive Instagram: @OnCarlsonDrive Email the show

It's not like she meant to be eavesdropping – or did she? – but what she heard was her mother talking about her. Sometimes living in the same house can be challenging. The conversation that follows is between Wendy and Grace. They discuss the way people can see the world from different perspectives, even when you share a whole lot in common. Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive. Official show website: OnCarlsonDrive.com Follow us: Facebook: @OnCarlsonDrive Instagram: @OnCarlsonDrive Email the show

An unexpected relationship begins after a difficult diagnosis and a friendship emerges. And while there is so often joy in the journey, sometimes that journey also involves walking alongside others in the midst of their suffering. Ann's story is one of deep loss, yet it is one filled with hope, joy, and gratitude. The conversation that follows is between Wendy and Ann's husband, Ron. They discuss the challenges of Alzheimer's, watching your loved one deal with its unrelenting grip, and the gift of having shared life with someone like Ann. Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive. Official show website: OnCarlsonDrive.com Follow us: Facebook: @OnCarlsonDrive Instagram: @OnCarlsonDrive Email the show

A phone call. A surgery. A terminal diagnosis. Sometimes life takes an unexpected turn that alters everything we once knew. And on the other side of goodbye, there is tremendous sorrow, grief, and gratitude. The conversation that follows is between Wendy and her friend, Lori. They discuss the gift of a good father, what it means to reflect on a life well lived, and how their own grief brings about a deep sense of gratitude. Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive. Official show website: OnCarlsonDrive.com Follow us: Facebook: @OnCarlsonDrive Instagram: @OnCarlsonDrive Email the show

Fathers are tall trees, especially to this girl. In this episode, Wendy takes a walk down Carlson Drive in an attempt to capture the man, the myth, and the legend of Dad - who can only be captured because of a sharp stick in the eye. The conversation that follows is between Wendy and her three daughters - Erin, Hannah, and Grace - as they each share their unique views of what it was like to hug a tree trunk. Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive. Official show website: OnCarlsonDrive.com Follow us: Facebook: @OnCarlsonDrive Instagram: @OnCarlsonDrive Email the show

In this episode, an encounter with a neighbor's missing tree opens up a deep river of grief. Then Wendy is joined again by her husband Randy to discuss people and trees as a preview of the next set of episodes coming up on On Carlson Drive. Come take a walk through the neigborhood with us On Carlson Drive. Official show website: OnCarlsonDrive.com Follow us: Facebook: @OnCarlsonDrive Instagram: @OnCarlsonDrive Email the show To hear "The Beautiful" by David Wilcox, please visit this link!

A visit to the beach reveals the creativity of human beings and their creator. And we just can't stop gawking at them all. In this episode, Wendy recounts looking down (literally) on a populated beach to see the beautiful and playful collection of mankind frolicking in the sand. Then Wendy is joined by her husband Randy and they discuss their fascination with the cornucopia of curious behaviors exhibited through the various expressions of homo sapiens. Come take a walk down the beach with us On Carlson Drive. Official show website: OnCarlsonDrive.com Follow us: Facebook: @OnCarlsonDrive Instagram: @OnCarlsonDrive Email the show

As a Christmas gift, Wendy received a book of stories from her daughter Grace. In this episode, Grace shares one of her stories about high school, relationships, and friends drifting apart. Then, Grace is joined by her friend Adam for a tangential, goofy, and insightful conversation on how our friendships shape us and how high school stays with us while we, thankfully, leave it behind. Come take a walk to school with us On Carlson Drive. Official show website: OnCarlsonDrive.com Follow us: Facebook: @OnCarlsonDrive Instagram: @OnCarlsonDrive Email the show

There comes a day when you realize you have become your own version of Gladys Kravitz*...but you're kind of okay with it. In this episode, Wendy takes a walk through her neighborhood to introduce you to the wonderful people of Walmer Street. Then, Wendy sits down with her daughters as they discuss what it was like growing up and growing older in the neighborhood. Come take a walk down Walmer with us On Carlson Drive. Official show website: OnCarlsonDrive.com Follow us: Facebook: @OnCarlsonDrive Instagram: @OnCarlsonDrive Email the show *For those under 50, this is a reference to the nosy neighbor character in the 1960s sitcom, Bewitched.

Our lives are fleshed out in homes and apartments that are found in neighborhoods that have...*gasp*...people in them. You know, the people that you meet each day. Frankly, those neighbors can be pretty entertaining at times. In this episode, Wendy recounts her early married years and the interesting crew that that surrounded her those days. Then, Wendy follows up with a conversation with her husband, Randy, to talk about the different colors neighbors have brought to their lives. Come take a walk with us through our neighborhood On Carlson Drive. Official show website: OnCarlsonDrive.com Follow us: Facebook: @OnCarlsonDrive Instagram: @OnCarlsonDrive Email the show

In the long awaited third season, Wendy recounts the arrival of a new member of the family and the joys and challenges of extended families and new grandchildren. Then, Wendy sits down with Jami Johnson (the "other woman") to have a conversation about merging families, raising grandchildren, and the difficulties of sharing. Come take a walk with us On Carlson Drive. Official show website: OnCarlsonDrive.com Follow us: Facebook: @OnCarlsonDrive Instagram: @OnCarlsonDrive Email the show