Across the DinerVerse

Death of a Diner in Pine Valley, California. After 62 years, Major's Coffee Shop owners Debbie and Larry took big financial hits over COVID, lockdowns, inflation, mandatory wage increases, and $36K in unpaid rent. The building's owner canceled their lease--but that's not the full story. One of Major's owners was murdered in front of the diner, and Debbie and Larry suffered an u...

Episode nine hails from the Bear Paw Cafe in St. George, Utah, a diner that journeyed from its original location outside Anchorage, Alaska by a Mormon family with strong ties to the LDS Church. The owner/manager is a third-generation son who works 60+ hours a week keeping this popular food destination hopping. We hear from four people--all Millennial/Gen Zer's starting their journeys of life,...

This is not a full episode as I'm on the road to Aiea, Hawai'i to visit the Forty-Niner diner and learn how the island's cost of living is forcing many native Hawaiians to leave the state. Last week's episode (EP 7) was called Crimes and Misdemeanors and was recorded at Randy's Southside Diner in Grand Junction, CO., one of America's top crime communities. After I rec...

I recently discovered that some of the most crime-ridden and dangerous cities in America are not the ones you might expect, like, Detroit, Chicago or New York. Many are small to midsize communities such as Memphis, Tennessee, Lubbock, Texas, Stockton, California and Grand Junction, Colorado. So, I hopped in my car and drove to Grand Junction to find a diner to record a podcast about small-town cri...

Episode six originates from the Budget Cafe in San Luis Obispo, or SLO as the locals call it. SLO is home to California Polytechnic State University and a ton of science-minded brainiacs hell bent on changing the world. But first, I was a little confused when I discovered there was an actual cafe in town called "Budget." That word is fine when you're renting cars, buying blinds or f...

This episode originates from Dottie's Restaurant in Palm Bay, Florida near Melbourne, and the two distinct areas of the Atlantic shoreline known as the Space and Treasure coasts. 23-year-old manager/owner, Erik Minton, shares his family's story of how Dottie's came to be, how awesome he thinks Central Florida is, they mystery of people stealing spoons and the restaurant's signa...

This episode originates from the cozy Lunch Box Cafe + Deli in La Mesa, Ca. The place caters to a wide diversity of folks who agreed to talk with me. Karen and Isaac are 25-year-old ex-lovers who're still friends. She's an undocumented Hispanic who used America's DACA program to earn a college degree and works as an HR director for Wells Fargo. She hates all social media, millennial...

Recorded at Detroit Coney Grill in Scottsdale, AZ, podcast host John Murphy discusses the shifting political landscape in the traditionally red state. Support the show

Two brothers from Detroit came up with a special recipe for serving up a special hot dog that came to be known as the Coney Dog. Support the show

Host John Murphy learns a station chief with the CIA loved going to diners to meet and study people. Wow! Support the show

NFL kicking great, Nick Lowery, talks persistence to achieve what you really want! Support the show

Recorded at the Detroit Coney Grill in Scottsdale, Arizona, host John Murphy talks with co-owners, Dave and Merrill, a couple of Motor City foodies who desired to bring the flavor of Detroit to the desert. Learn how the Coney Dog got its name and how it was actually created in Motown, not New York. Murphy's mantra is, "You never know who'll you meet in a diner!" And it holds tr...

Host John Murphy ran into NFL kicking legend, Nick Lowery, who discusses making it big time after being cut eleven times by eight   different NFL teams! Support the show

Clip from Pastor Albert's interview at the Beeliner Diner in Alexandria, VA. Support the show

Host John Murphy talks with diner co-owner, Noelie, about being raised in a hippie commune in Seattle and finding acceptance at a small cafe called--you guessed it, the Beeliner. Noelie shares the joy of her diner being a place for comfort after a local tragedy brought people together to share in their grief, creating an atmosphere of healing. A man named, Albert, tells his story of growing up in...

The premiere episode of this new podcast. Recorded at the famous Pie n' Burger in Pasadena, Ca. which opened in 1963, the diner is located near Cal Tech and is the comfort-food home to many PhD's, rocket scientists, Nobel Prize winners and Hollywood celebrities. USC student Michael Osborn landed a parttime job there 50 years ago and never left! You'll hear his emotional story that l...

Coming 11/29/22: Across the DinerVerse , searching for the heart and soul of America one diner at a time. Podcast host John Murphy talks to everyday people in diners about their lives, their community and how they feel about America. Support the show