Cookin' Up A Story

Rustin Chrisco has done many things in his life, but one constant has been he's always worked. In part one of our talk with him, listen to Rustin discuss his childhood and early jobs and how those led him into becoming a paramedic. From rural Arkansas to Saudi Arabia, he's helped people in a variety of settings, though the most interesting one didn't come in service to a king or a p...

When Ashley embarked on her Only Fans career, she quickly found it to be a lucrative one. However, it is not a pursuit that comes without risks, from those who want to push her boundaries to those who want to find her in real life. Listen to her recount her rise from TikTok to Only Fans and how it's changed her life in this episode. It's a good one. 

By the time she hit 20, Ashley had experienced a lot of life. From divorced parents to living with extended family to foster parents to the Navy, she bounced along, never quite finding her place in the world. She always had a knack for sales and marketing, though, and found her way in that world. Then the pandemic hit and she found herself, like so many others, bored and alone at home. There, she...

What happens when you lose your ability to drive? How do you get unstuck when you get stuck? Why did Wes Evans look like that in his driver's license photo? Get the answers to these questions and more in the latest episode. Give it a listen. It's a good one. 

Wes Evans joins the crew to kick off Season 4, with a rousing discussion about the challenges faced by farmers, as well as how technology is changing the nature of farming. As the title suggests, Wes gets into a decision farmers often have to make -- fix a jury-rigged piece of equipment or keep farming. Give him a listen as he details what life is like for the small family farm. It's a good o...

Thanks for listening and we will see you soon. As always, though, if you've got some time, treasure, or talent, let us know and we will help you get it our way. Happy New Year! 

2024 was a big year for Cookin' Up a Story, one in which lots of tall tales, great stories, and inspiring examples of overcoming obstacles gracing the listeners' ears. In this one, the crew takes a look back at the highs, lows, and in-betweens from the years. Give it a listen. It's a good one. 

David Dray and Adam Laney hang out in the studio with Joe, Joe, and Rich for this freewheeling episode. Waterbeds, BB guns, presents, and Santa Claus are just a few topics of conversation the crew bobs and weaves around. Give it a listen. It's a good one. 

When Yanni Constantin first saw America, his eyes filled with tears. And was before he truly knew what freedom and liberty were. Later, he would move here and discover things like burgers, fries, Cokes, and guns. He became a citizen, he opened a business, and started a family. Listen to Yanni tell more wild stories about the ride that brought him here and why this is the best country on earth. It&...

Yanni Constantin was born and raised in Romania when it was controlled by the U.S.S.R. Money was tight, opportunities were extremely limited, the only media was state controlled, and his future didn't look very bright. Then, a friend suggested a backpacking trip to Greece. Armed with only what they could carry and no travel visas, they set out for a "vacation," one from which they&a...

When Adam Laney's boss called him and asked him if his calendar was open, Adam responded that he'd clear anything he needed to in order to make space for his boss's request. Little did he know that he wasn't being sent to a meeting, but to hunt wolves and big cats. Roughly a month later, Adam was on a private jet on his way to British Columbia to trek through the snow on a trip...

Biltong, high fructose corn syrup, achieving observable goals on the job, fishing, zodiac signs -- all these come up in this episode, part one of our discussion with Adam Laney. Listen to us veer around a variety of topics, from deer whistles to the proper thickness for beef jerky, as we get to know Adam. And when you're done listening, give it a like, leave a comment, give us a review, and s...

Part four of our conversation with Mike Taylor and Scotto is here. In this one, we discuss the perils of launching drinks at yachts, local politics, and water districts. It's a good one. Give it a listen, give it a like, give it a share, leave a review, leave a comment. We'd sure appreciate it. 

Born and raised in Marin County, California, Mike Scotto moved to Northwest Arkansas a few years ago. What caused the move, though? Listen to Mike tell stories about life on the water, sinking, and California living in this episode. You'll also find out just how he informed his family he was moving to Arkansas, which was an unorthodox method, to say the least. Give it a listen, give it a like...

In part two of our conversation with Dr. Mike, we discuss Mervyn's, fires, policing, and more. Listen to him discuss more about his career and becoming police chief, as well as getting a hint of Italian Mike and the stories he's bringing to parts three and four. 

Mike Taylor had a rough childhood. He went from living in a barn loft to being bounced around foster homes before being reunited with his mom. He didn't let that stop him from working his way up, though. Listen to him, along with his buddy Italian Mike, discuss growing up in California, getting up because it was time to make the donuts, and working his way through the ranks in California poli...

In part two of our latest, we continue our conversation with Charles Kochel about how to get more out of life. Whether discussing fishing, work, vacations, or family, Charles highlights the importance of mindfulness, and why it's important to sometimes give yourself a break in order to maintain that mindfulness. Give it a listen and order his book, "More," here . 

Charles Kochel has worn many hats throughout his career. One of those was estate planning, a role in which he discussed with people what they wished they'd done differently during their time on earth. The replies he got were consistent, with people telling him what they wished they'd done more of. Now he's written a book outlining the lessons he learned while helping those people. L...

There are two types of people on guided hunts: shooters and hunters. The former takes the shot and lets the guide do the rest of the work. The latter gets on the ground with the guide, following the blood trail, field dressing the harvest, and doing all the work he would've done had he gone to his own stand. John Henry Roberts is a hunter. Listen to him discuss more about his trip to kill a b...

John Henry Roberts got into hunting later in life, but that didn't stop him from becoming passionate about the sport. For his 40th birthday, he wanted to do a big hunt, so he headed to Canada to hunt for a moose. Listen to John discuss the path that led him to Canada and how his hunt went in this episode of Cookin' Up a Story. 

While David Dray's life experiences shaped him, he started with a strong foundation, one provided by his family. His was large, with lots of time together. It was the bonds with his father and grandfather, though, that helped turn him into the man he became. 

David Dray learned from the men in his family, and went on to become his own man. That he had great examples didn't preclude him from experiencing hardships along the way. Listen to long-time supporter David discuss his experiences with being a first responder, being a father, and being a grandfather in this episode. You don't want to miss it. 

In part two of our discussion with Debbie Mais and Diana Phelps, we discuss what it's like to help a grown son heal, favorite pie, and some things, from the female perspective, that men can do better. Give it a listen. 

When Diana Phelps and Debbie Mais sent their sons to war, they were proud of them. They were also nervous for their boys. Aaron and Doc both came home alive, but not without injuries. Aaron was blown up in an IED attack while Doc suffered TBIs. Both also returned with the mental load that goes with serving our country. Listen to these two moms discuss what it's like to send a son to war and t...

After Stuart Collier hit rock bottom, he began the work of putting his life back together so he could again be a part of his family. Though unexpected, he ended up in real estate, building a firm that serves people all over the region. That's not his true vocation, though. His true purpose is helping others recover and stay in recovery. Listen to him and Dwayne discuss how they found sobriety...