Army of Normal Folks

After having been abandoned as a baby, Monica Kelsey has gone on to help save the lives of 227 babies! Her nonprofit Safe Haven Baby Boxes offers a compassionate and secure option for mothers in crisis who are unable to care for their newborns. Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

And they might just impact your life too. Our latest Shop Talk on visiting the elderly.  Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a 6 year old, Nate saw his parents die right before his eyes. He was living out of his car and then in prison, until his English teacher Stan Deen decided to try to save his life. This extraordinary story is the subject of Angel Studios’ latest film Brave the Dark, which is in theaters now. Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

As a 6 year old, Nate saw his parents die right before his eyes. He was living out of his car and then in prison, until his English teacher Stan Deen decided to try to save his life. This extraordinary story is the subject of Angel Studios’ latest film Brave the Dark, which is in theaters now. Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

For An Army of Normal Dead Folks, Larry Reed tells the story of the Polish hero who spied on the Nazis and the Soviets. And paid the ultimate price for it. Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Merriam-Webster’s 2024 Word of the Year was "polarization." For Shop Talk, we explore what we can do to ensure that this never happens again. Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Todd is the founding director of Calvin Prison Initiative, an accredited bachelor degree program that’s inside of a prison. And one that’s not only transformed their students’ lives, but most fascinating is how it’s cultivated An Army of Normal Prisoners who've completely transformed the culture inside of Michigan’s prisons!  Support the show: https://www.no...

Todd is the founding director of Calvin Prison Initiative, an accredited bachelor degree program that’s inside of a prison. And one that’s not only transformed their students’ lives, but most fascinating is how it’s cultivated An Army of Normal Prisoners who've completely transformed the culture inside of Michigan’s prisons!  Support the show: https://www.no...

For our series "An Army of Normal Dead Folks", Larry Reed tells the story of his friend Nicholas Winton, who rescued 669 mostly Jewish children who were at risk of being killed by Nazi Germany.  Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Army member asked for producer Alex to share the origin story of An Army of Normal Folks. And so he did.  Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inga Arvin felt called to move to the challenging Louisville neighborhood of Portland, but her husband Shawn didn’t want to because he used to buy drugs there. Their obedience strangely led them to get a house for free if they bought a community center, which of course led them reinvigorating it with over 200 kids playing basketball, a 400 person fish fry, a school, and a thrift store. Welco...

Inga Arvin felt called to move to the challenging Louisville neighborhood of Portland, but her husband Shawn didn’t want to because he used to buy drugs there. Their obedience strangely led them to get a house for free if they bought a community center, which of course led them reinvigorating it with over 200 kids playing basketball, a 400 person fish fry, a school, and a thrift store. Welco...

For "Shop Talk", Coach Bill dives into the paradox of An Army of Normal Folks doing abnormal things. Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

50 friends paid off their college debt, 7 families helped them buy a house, and they joined in on buying cars for 4-5 people. Branden and Ashley are members of an extraordinary Army of Generous Folks and show us what living in community can look like! Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

50 friends paid off their college debt, 7 families helped them buy a house, and they joined in on buying cars for 4-5 people. Branden and Ashley are members of an extraordinary Army of Generous Folks and show us what living in community can look like! Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For "Shop Talk", Coach Bill reflects on an Army member's email about cell phones and young kids.  Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

America is one of the most generous countries in the world and yet many of our worst problems aren't getting any better. One of the greatest reasons why is the lack of return on investment analysis that is expected in the business world, but is pervasively absent in philanthropy. Slingshot has conducted this analysis for 55 Memphis nonprofits, which empowers givers to fuel the most effective nonpr...

America is one of the most generous countries in the world and yet many of our worst problems aren't getting any better. One of the greatest reasons why is the lack of return on investment analysis that is expected in the business world, but is pervasively absent in philanthropy. Slingshot has conducted this analysis for 55 Memphis nonprofits, which empowers givers to fuel the most effective nonpr...

For our series "An Army of Normal Dead Folks", Larry Reed tells the story of Fanny Crosby, who became blind and yet still holds the records for the most number of songs written & most number of Presidents met.  Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For "Shop Talk", we share Army member Ken Morris' reflection that he is in fact a Turkey Person. And what he's going to do about it.  Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buddy was a Golden Gloves boxer who bit his opponent's ear, a union organizer who landed in prison, and ultimately the founder of The Rock Ministries. In the Philadelphia neighborhood of Kensington, The Rock started by serving inner-city boys with boxing and the Gospel, and it’s grown to serving over 11,000 kids through sports, arts, music, and mentoring. And all of this is taking place amid...

Buddy was a Golden Gloves boxer who bit his opponent's ear, a union organizer who landed in prison, and ultimately the founder of The Rock Ministries. In the Philadelphia neighborhood of Kensington, The Rock started by serving inner-city boys with boxing and the Gospel, and it’s grown to serving over 11,000 kids through sports, arts, music, and mentoring. And all of this is taking place amid...

For “An Army of Normal Dead Folks”, we celebrate Harriet Tubman, the runaway slave who rescued over 100 slaves on the Underground Railroad. And Real Heroes Larry Reed reveals fascinating stories about her that we had never heard before!  Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For "Shop Talk", Coach Bill's hot take on fake vs. real Christmas trees and somehow he relates this to our legacies.   Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This title doesn't make much sense, unless you listen to the episode. JT is the founder of Both Hands, whose own Army of nearly 145k normal folks in 45 states has raised $21 million to adopt 1,648 kids by serving 1,632 widows!  Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.