My Dad's Stories

Season 2, ep. 21: Dad recounts the time he took a lie detector test, the most cockroaches he's ever seen, and how he stopped a grifter.

Season 2, ep. 20: We're back with part TWO of Dad's trip to Texas with Mom. After they arrived just in time to pick up their new trailer, then came their next challenge: getting it home.

Season 2, ep. 19: Featuring a special guest! Dad and Mom decided to buy a camping trailer...in Texas. Along the way, they encountered an unexpected delay. Would they make it in time?

Season 2! Ep. 18: We're back with more of Dad's stories. There have been some major changes in his life since last season. This time we talk about how he retired, what are pensions, and why his surprise party was ruined.

Ep. 17: It's the Halloween edition of My Dad's Stories! Dad shares his tales of getting robbed by teenagers, scaring a full movie theater, winning a costume contest, and why he likes haunted houses.

Ep. 16: This time around I ask Dad about his first alcoholic drink. We talk about why he was the designated driver for his friends, when he impressed a bartender with his dance moves, and what happens if he has more than one Mai Tai.

Ep. 15: Dad has visited Hawaii twice (so far). Once at 16 with his grandmother and 40 years later with Mom. Both trips were filled with memories...scaling a volcano, getting tossed by ocean waves and air turbulence, horseback riding with Shania Twain, and a surprise visit from a humpback whale.

Ep. 14: Dad recalls some of his favorite memories with pets, including Jock the toy poodle, Buffy the cocker spaniel, and a tough cat named McKeever. He also shares how he met Archie, a mixed breed dog with a surprising first impression.

Ep. 13: When Dad was growing up, every boy had a knife in his pocket and every young man had a rifle hanging in his truck. In this episode, Dad recalls some of his most memorable moments with knives and guns, from how he got the scar on his thumb to the time he may or may not have shot a deer in the knee (we'll never know).

Ep. 12: Little Grandma left her little house to Dad, but it needed some major renovating to catch up to modern times. It was originally housing for workers building the river dam. Dad shares about how the house was moved to its current location, remodeling the house in the middle of winter, what they found in the attic, and surprising encounters with wildlife.

Ep. 11: Aaaand we're back! In the mid-90s we used to live with my great-grandmother (nicknamed "Little Grandma"). There were six of us all living in a two-bedroom, one-bathroom house. I don't remember much from back then, so Dad tells me what it was like moving in with her and being her in-home caretaker for the last years of her life. The side effects from her medications included some interestin...

Ep. 10: This time Dad finally shares the full story of how he met my Mom and started going out together. The secret to their happiness? They ruined each other's vacations. He also tells what it was like becoming a step-father and how he learned to control his temper for the sake of the kids.

Ep. 9: Dad shares some of his strongest--and strangest--memories from owning the portrait studio. He also talks about the risks of starting a small business and what it was like working with Mom.

Ep. 8: Dad finally tells me how he started his first business, the portrait studio. We talk about what were the keys to his success, lessons he learned along the way (such as "listen to your wife"), and what caused its eventual demise. He reveals tricks of the trade (hint: folder colors matter) and how he found his niche in the local market.

Ep. 7: While Dad was still living with his parents, he bought himself a waterbed. In this episode he tells me about his mom's reaction and what it was like moving out of his parents' house. He also talks about his two roommates (both named Bob) and what it takes to get along with the people you live with.

Ep. 6: This time Dad talks about fishing with his folks when he was young. He went dog sledding on a frozen lake, caught his biggest fish by the tail, and survived a storm on the Pacific coast. He also tells me more about his step-dad and the special connection we had when I was a baby.

Ep. 5: Dad's car is special to him. In this episode he tells me the strange circumstances around how he got it and how finding this car showed him God was listening. He also shares the funny secret an old car salesman uses to predict who has good credit.

Ep. 4: Welcome back to a new episode! This time we talk about why Dad's parents were scared to teach him how to drive and how his motorbike scarred his leg. He also tells me the story of how he got his first car and how other kids pranked his car in high school. Finally, I ask him what it was like teaching me to drive.

Ep. 3: This episode we dig into what it was like growing up in the 60s and 70s and what happened when he had to redo the second grade. We also talk about the important influence "Little Grandma" had on his life.

Ep. 2: Dad picks up where he left off with the story of how he got his favorite job. After working at the high school for over a decade, Dad realized he needed a change. It wouldn't be easy, though, after his new supervisor put an official reprimand on his record.

Ep. 1: Welcome to My Dad's Stories! To kick off this podcast, I ask Dad what his first job was. We talk about ice cream, newspaper routes, and whether it's good for kids to get work experience. He also tells me about the work he does now and what happened when a new supervisor shook up his responsibilities.