Cookin' Up A Story

When Andrew Martin finally met his birth parents, not everything went as he'd hoped, though he learned valuable lessons in doing so. One of those lessons was how to say "no." But it also helped keep him focused on providing other young men with the tools they need to be successful in life, such as the calmness needed to keep fishing while the motor is on fire. In this one, we hear A...

Andrew Martin was raised in a loving home in the suburbs of Texas with his mom, dad, and two older sisters. When he was 12-years-old, he discovered he was adopted. It would be another 13 years before he began to unravel the mystery of his origins. It wasn't that he wanted to replace his mom and dad, but that he was naturally curious about how he spent a few months in the foster system before...

When you travel to Alaska to hunt, you expect to see wildlife everywhere. Reality doesn't comport with that expectation. That's one of the things that makes hunting there a dream. In part two of our latest, Lance Nations and Keith Hull get into the details of hunting in the Last Frontier, from the importance of maintaining your equipment to tent etiquette, with a few rabbit holes along t...

What do ducks, corn, and bacon have to do with one another? How does God control the deer population? How did Lance Nations and Keith Hull meet? What are their hobbies and where did they come from? Find out the answers to these questions, and more, in this episode of Cookin' Up a Story. Give it a listen, it's a good one.

For the Kimball Family, training is just part of the journey toward championships. It's also an opportunity to overcome a variety of other struggles, from airports to cutting to helping others in the community. In part two of our discussion with them, we dive into what motivates them, what keeps them centered, and why they do it. Give it a listen. It's a good one. Amazon Wishlist

For Annika, Aryanna, Axil, and Xander Kimball, of TCB Boxing/MMA, not fighting was never a consideration. They were born into it. Honorary Kimball Darrin, he was adopted into it. It's not just about the fighting, though. It's also about the discipline, perseverance, and accomplishment of overcoming not just their opponents, but themselves. In this episode, we talk with five young fighter...

In part two of our interview with Herb Hodde, we learn a few tricks of the trade, the pervasiveness of magic throughout history, where the word "abracadabra" originated, and get to listen to Martinez getting sawed in half. Does Herb put him back together? The only way to find out is to listen because it's a good one.

When Herb Hodde was in elementary school, he decided he wanted to become a magician. And eventually he did, though there were more than a few twists and turns along the way. In this episode, hear Herb share how he learned the craft, how his career wound around a few rabbit holes, and what it was like to try grits for the first time. Give it a listen, it's a good one. Amazon Wishlist

In the second installment of our latest with Yanni Constantin, we go down more than a few rabbit holes, often leaving one hole and instantly heading into another. From pillows and mattresses to AI and robots, we discuss myriad current events as well as diving into our opinions on the future of work, what it takes to make it, and why you should never give up. Give it a listen, it's a good one.

When Yanni Constantin headed out from Romania for Greece, there wasn't much of a plan. There also wasn't much of a guide to get he and his friends across various borders along the way. Yet, as we heard during his first appearance, they did make it. In this episode, Yanni goes deeper into the journey and the whole crew takes a similarly circuitous route through his travels, the cost of br...

Tim Kizer doesn't refer himself as a philosopher, but he is a bit of one. In part two of our interview with Tim, hear him discuss his fondness for Catholic theologian Thomas Merton, why he always looks for the multiple dimensions present in everyone, and how all of us on earth are connected. Give it a listen, it's a good one. 

Tim Kizer isn't much for planning, but that hasn't stopped him from living a good life. From Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Kentucky to Fayetteville, things have tended to work out for him, so long as we're not talking duck clubs. Listen to Tim discuss his childhood, said lack of planning, tragedy, success, and why he doesn't want to be an angry old man in this episode. It's a go...

In part two of our latest, we get into questions y'all wanted answered. We dive into when and where we'd be if we could be anywhere, what excites us, our feelings on tater cakes, and more. Give it a listen, it's a good one. 

You've all heard the tales about Joe's trip to Alaska and his plan to cook an entire moose. Now you can hear how it all went down, including a trip to a possible murder house, a dreadlocked woman, a salvaged rotisserie, and a mountain shaped like a vagina. Give it a listen, it's a good one.  This one is brought to us by Value for Value and Hoosier Hat Works. Give them a follow on Fa...

Well, the unthinkable has happened and we were unable to record a show this week. In our absence, go back to some of your favorites, send us some suggestions for topics and guests, and enjoy the short explanation about what happened. Listen to it. It's not a good one, but it is short.

Matt Stephens was in and out of prison, but it wasn't until he served 14 consecutive years that he got the message society was trying to tell him and got his act together. Now, he's working as a counselor and change agent hoping to prevent others from going down the path he did, and causing the destruction he caused along the way. In this episode, Matt and Brentt Tumey discuss their desc...

By the time he was 13 years old, Matt Stephens was already slinging dope. Fast cars, stacks of cash, women - he had it all. But soon, the police started coming around more and stacks of charges replaced the stacks of cash. By the time he was rehabilitated, Matt had spent 18 years of his life in prison, including 14 consecutive years in federal prison. Listen to him discuss how he ended up a felon...

From puncher to security agent overseeing inaugurations and the pope, Richard Nevels has always been on the move. Because of that, he didn't stop once he retired from the TSA and ended up in Northwest Arkansas, instead setting his sights on a different type of safety than that he oversaw when protecting all manner of citizen. In this installment, listen to him discuss divine innovation and ho...

Richard Nevels always knew he wanted to be a cowboy and when he finished high school, he did exactly that. While he was never one for the wild lifestyle, he was nonetheless a rock 'n' roller. He was also, and remains, a man of deep faith with an immense work ethic. That combination of traits led Richard on a wild ride through life. In part one, listen to him discuss just part of that lif...

In part two of our look back on the show from start to its current state, we get into a couple of loaves of homemade bread Justin's wife made, holistic medicine, taking care of yourself, and Wilson's future in television. Give it a listen. It's a good one. 

On May 3, 2022, Cookin' Up a Story launched. Initially, it was just Aaron and Joe, though the guests soon started arriving. Two of those guests, Redwords, who was interviewed in July of that year, and Martinez, who came on to help interview Gary P. Nunn in August, would become full time hosts of the show. Rich came along a few years later, also first as a guest.  Today, we've given the l...

Wine is often associated with high culture whereas beer with low. Inmates in prisons only make one of the two, though, because the art of making beer is much more intense than that of wine. In part two of our discussion with Florian, we get into the nuts and bolts of brewing as well as discussing more of what made him love living in America. Give it a listen. It's a good one. 

When Florian Aufdenblatten signed up to be a foreign exchange student, he didn't expect to land in Gravette, Arkansas, but he did. Listen to our conversation with him as we discuss stereotypes, coming from Switzerland to Arkansas, and chase more than a few rabbits down some holes. Give it a listen, it's a good one.  #switzerland #gravette #foreignexchange

On this episode, we get deep, discussing mortality, funeral arrangements, and being remembered. We also discuss some of the things we're currently watching on TV, though, so it's not all heavy. Give it a listen, it's a good one.

In this freeball episode, the crew goes without a guest to discuss turkeys, ticks, conductors, camp etiquette, and more. Give it a listen, it's a good one.